Author: Houghton STAR

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

Categories
International News

Censorship in Russia

By Joshua Carpenter

As the Russo-Ukrainian war wages on in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, another war is being fought within Russia: a war between the Russian government and the Russian citizen, between the taking of freedom and the expression of it— the war on Russian censorship.

​Since Ukraine’s Revolution of Dignity in February of 2014, which was led by Ukrainian protestors who overthrew their government in a series of deadly protests, the country has been in a state of war with Russia over its independence. The goal of the Ukrainian protestors was to turn their government away from choosing closer ties to Russia after Victor Yanukovych (Ukraine’s president at the time) was pressured by Russia into rejecting a political association and free trade agreement with the European Union (EU). According to BBC News, Yanukovych argued, “Ukraine could not afford to sacrifice trade with Russia, which opposed the [EU] deal.” But this argument did not keep the Ukrainian parliament from overthrowing him with, as Kyiv Post, the oldest English-language newspaper in Ukraine reported, a “328-0 vote to impeach Yanukovych.” Agitated, Russia considered the overthrow of Yanukovych to be an illegal coup and did not recognize parliament’s implementation of an interim (acting) government. Ukraine has been breaking ties with Russia ever since then with a focus on empowering itself as an independent nation.

​What the world is seeing in 2022 is a similar story to Ukraine’s Revolution of Dignity. Russian citizens have become increasingly aware of what many of them would refer to as government corruption, abuse of power, and violation of human rights—all of which fueled them to protest the war against Ukraine and to call for Russian President Putin’s impeachment. While doing so, however, they are being met with aggressive censorship. 

​As illuminated by the Human Rights Watch, an international non-governmental organization that reports on abuses happening throughout the world, “The 2019 ‘sovereign internet’ law [Russian law] requires internet service providers (ISPs) to install equipment that allows authorities to circumvent providers and automatically block content the government has banned and reroute internet traffic themselves.” With this law in place, Russian authorities have the legal right to suppress public expression of disapproval of the government’s official narrative (being that there is no war, only a special military operation).

​Stepping outside of the internet, peaceful anti-war protestors on the streets of Moscow are being arrested by the thousands. The Human Rights Watch reported, “The [Russian] police used excessive force against protestors while detaining them and, in several instances, inflicted abuse amounting to torture or inhuman and degrading treatment, on those in custody.”

In a security council meeting, Putin commented on what he thinks of anti-war protestors, “The Russian people will always be able to distinguish true patriots from scum and traitors and simply spit them out like a gnat that accidentally flew into their mouths.” When asked about the Russian government’s excessive force against such “scum,” Putin said, “I am convinced that such a natural and necessary cleansing of society will only strengthen our country, our solidarity, cohesion and readiness to respond to any challenges.”

For further information on the war between Russia and Ukraine, websites like The Human Rights Watch provide regular updates on this as well as other human rights violations occurring throughout the world.★

Categories
Stories In Focus

Conspiracy: Peanut Butter Expose

By Demetri Court

How many varieties of peanut butter does Metz offer? It’s a simple question, I know, but please bear with me, dear reader. How many? To many, the answer is one. You find a few of these prepackaged canisters of nutty goodness near the toasting station, maybe you even mix in regular butter for a post meal snack. There’s the decision of whether or not to indulge in peanut butter, but never an infighting of attention among differing peanut butter varieties, right? In having only one peanut butter option, we are saved from the anxieties of choice, and from this we may find contentment and serenity. Dear readers of the Houghton STAR, I am sorry. I truly am. As with most things, the issue of how many varieties of peanut butter Metz offered is far more complicated than this simple portrait. Be assured, desecrating the sanctity of peanut butter security is not something I undergo lightly. Everything that follows has been carefully cross-checked and curated through months of investigative journalism. With that out of the way, I now present you with a theory. A conspiracy theory. Of how Metz has not one, but FIVE varieties of peanut butter. Let us begin.

Now, Metz Peanut Butter, as we know it, is manufactured by Monarch, a company originating from a Gold Rush provisionary over 150 years ago. Their logo, a lion, can be seen in the upper-right corner on a standard package of Metz Peanut Butter. Monarch’s Lion stands as a symbol of trust and integrity. It is not without a sense of cosmic irony then, that right underneath the trademark on their logo can one find a number, nay, this conspiracy’s linchpin, facing perpendicular to the rest of the text. This number displays differently between individual packages but always in a range between 1 and 5. A few keen-eyed pioneers from among the student body began researching the significance of this number. One of the earliest theories was that each number corresponded to a level of saltiness, but this was quickly debunked through various taste tests. A second theory, which still holds weight among the Metz Peanut Butter Community, is that each number corresponds to a different manufacturing machine. Packages produced from Monarch’s first machine in the delectable nut butter factory would be marked with a “1,” packages from the second marked with a “2,” and so on. It appears that the results of each blind taste test change every few weeks, so it would make sense that as these machines made different batches, the synchroneity between numbers on the packages would shift too. As of now, this explanation has yet to be debunked. What does this mean for us, the peanut butterers? To find out, I undertook a carefully proctored blind taste test alongside the conspiracy’s most prolific contributors.

I will spare you the specifics of the procedure for the sake of brevity but be assured that many STEM majors were present to ensure the scientific validity of this blind test. The results were that, while subtle, I ultimately could distinguish with reasonable accuracy a difference in consistency between differently numbered packages of peanut butter. If you attempt to replicate or iterate on this experiment, which I highly encourage you to do, plan not to be blown away by the full range of consistencies and textures. Some titans of the dining hall have vocally denounced this conspiracy of having any validity altogether, but I posit that this may be due to the expectations of the individual taster. The contrasts between numbered packages are not so dramatic as to produce contrasting Ratatouille fireworks of Red and Blue, but rather of the subtle variation between Seal Brown, Café Noir, Bistre, Dark Sienna, and Olive Drab #7. Does this revelation then destroy the safety and sanctity of nutty butter options? No, I do not think so. It’s really hard to tell each of them apart. But for you aficionados, you dreamers, you champions, you mad dogs of glory, I believe nothing short of a world filled with five incredibly subtle and ever-shifting variations of peanut butter lies ahead. ★

Categories
Opinions

Need More ’84: How Surveillance Strengthens Community

By Christian Welker

Houghton College is advertised as a safe, God-fearing campus, for the most part. Students are comfortable leaving their things out without fear of them getting stolen, leaving their doors unlocked at night because they have no fear of their dorm-mates, and having conversations that, at least in theory, align with godly values and our Community Covenant. It’s a good system, a fantastic one even, but it could be better.

It only takes one bad apple to ruin the bunch. To keep Houghton the safe, God-fearing campus we know it can be, some changes must be made.

Firstly, Curfews. Anyone with a Student ID, at any time, can enter a residence hall. Now that may be “convenient for the students” but it also becomes possible for undesirable people to enter the building under the cover of darkness. Therefore, to keep our slumbering students safe, we should lock the doors to residence halls soon after quiet hours end. This would both encourage students to return to their dorms promptly and encourage people who are not part of those dorms to stay away.

While on the subject of Residence Halls, they are one of the only places on campus where students can remain almost completely unsupervised. What could be happening within those halls or behind those closed doors? Perhaps something that isn’t God-honoring, or worse, breaking the Community Covenant. There is of course an easy solution to this. Cameras. Everywhere. We are already putting them at the entrances to most buildings, why not in the halls, bathrooms, and individual rooms of every building, including dorms? Only to encourage them to maintain their righteousness no matter where they are. Remember, God, and the Office of Safety and Security, is always watching.

Now some students may protest putting cameras in previously “private” areas of the campus. However, we shouldn’t let that deter us. What do they have to hide? If they have nothing to hide, then they have nothing to fear. The fact that they are protesting against this indicates that they are afraid they will be caught doing things that don’t respect our Community Covenant. These whistleblowers should be put on academic probation for calling our actions into question so callously. Additionally, if they continue making a scene over such trivial matters as “Privacy,” or “Free Speech” their position at our campus should be called into question, perhaps removal is in order. We simply cannot have naysayers like that ruining the close, happy, covenant-based community we have worked so hard to build.

Speaking of Student Delinquents, some refuse to use our convenient, safety-oriented internet services. Some dare to use mobile hotspots to circumvent our lovingly crafted firewalls. This, above all previously mentioned offenses, cannot stand. The internet is a terrifying place and must be kept well guarded by our brave protectors at the Help Desk. We simply cannot have our students exposed to such Anti-Covenant ideas.

To combat these issues, we must strive to assure the student body is both purged of Anti-Covenant Thought and instilled with the proper moral values. A new group of Covenant Enforcers will become necessary to ensure this is properly done. These enforcers should conduct random searches of students’ phones, computers, backpacks, and dorms to assure all materials that are within align with the Community Covenant and properly use the services that have been provided by our campus. Additionally, during chapel times, they should patrol both the outside of the chapel building and the campus at large to assure all students are receiving the message we have provided for them today, no more of this “chapel skip” nonsense, would you try to use a “heaven skip” during the rapture? Didn’t think so.

These Covenant Enforcers, along with new eye-tracking cameras and microphones installed in the chapel itself, will assure that all students are paying utmost attention to the speaker and not talking out of turn or being distracted by worldly pleasures like homework or friendships. With these methods in place, Houghton College can rest easy with the knowledge that the students within are growing into the lovely young people we want them to be. These changes would make Houghton a better, more God-fearing place. After all, nothing makes you more fearless than the looming presence of our brave Covenant Enforcers.★

Christian Welker (Sophomore, History and Writing Major) was later accused of being a Privacy Advocate and found guilty of anti-covenant behavior. He was last seen being led off-campus by Covenant Enforcers to protect Houghton from his corrupted ideas.

Categories
News

Roth Rope to Replace Bridge in Stunning Student Plan

By Christian Welker

For the last few weeks, the halls of Roth have been consumed by bitter debate, all spurred by one question.

“What Should Replace the Roth Bridge?”

A large organization of students banded together to update the old design, meeting every Thursday to discuss solutions to the problem. Countless ideas were brought to the table, from slip n’ slides to a pair of carnival stunt cannons (complete with bike helmets, for safety), to a heated mat that would keep the bridge from icing over in Houghton winters (though this suggestion was laughed out of the meeting due to its ridiculousness), but in the all-hall vote that happened last week, the student’s voice rang loud and clear:

Roth Bridge will be replaced by a hanging tire swing.

The Assistant Resident Director of the dorm Micah Condie (‘23) will be heading up the process, donating his childhood swing from his old family home. Construction by a group of trained student professionals is scheduled to start later in April.

“Taking down the Bridge should be easy,” stated the head of construction Luke Schriver (‘24), “We’ll just have one of the residents jump up and down on it like twice or so, should crumble like a house of cards.”

After the bridge’s removal, the construction can begin. The Roth Rope will be suspended by a metal pole around the middle of the gap, students will take a running start, leap from one side, grab the rope, and be deposited relatively safely on the other side.

“Oh yeah we tested it,” said Science Extraordinaire Jon “The Engineering Department” Zdunski (‘23), “Around one in every ten students missed, so we already have a higher success rate than our current solution. We plan on taking the mattresses from Ghost Side and piling them up below the rope for the students that don’t make it across.”

Students are thrilled by the new plan, some already practicing their tarzan cry for when they need to rush to class. However, some have expressed concern over the amount of time it would take to construct the new Roth Rope. They worry about how long it would take before Roth Hill is accessible from the third floor entrance again. 

But the Student Geniuses have a plan for this as well. Taking a note from the outdoor renovations Lambein Hall had last semester, a single plank of wood will be laid across the gap for students to use between the bridge’s removal and the Rope’s opening.

When asked for his opinion, Dean of Students Marc Smithers said, “It’s amazing to see our community band together to solve problems and implement solutions. I’m very proud of the work this team is doing to improve our college.”

The Roth Rope Project is well into its planning stage, with several designs and blueprints already laid out. However, not everyone is happy with the direction the team is going.

“I really think that we should have done a slip n’ slide,” stated Isaiah Cornfeild (‘22), “There was going to be an inflatable elephant on one side spitting water onto the mat from its trunk, elephants are my favorite animal.”

Another student, Joey Schunemann (‘24), is quoted as saying, “When I was younger I grabbed onto a tire swing, but there was a snake inside of it. Snakes scare me, so I cried. I can’t relive that trauma again.”

Nevertheless, the project is well on its way. Students should expect to start swinging into fun on the Roth Rope by the start of the upcoming fall semester.★

This article is dedicated to all the students who tried to hurry down Roth Bridge on a snowy day.

Categories
News

“Gaerte Gear” Fashion Line Comes to Houghton

By Owen Hardiman

The Houghton Highlander Shop and Printing Press is excitedly preparing to run a new line of Houghton apparel. The designer: critically acclaimed communication extraordinaire and sweater vest aficionado Dr. Douglas Gaerte. The new line, Gaerte Gear, will be hitting the racks of the Campus Store later this month.

In an exclusive interview conducted by the STAR, Dr. Gaerte shared how he has become such a prominent influencer in sweater vest culture. “Mr. Rogers always had a sweater on when he was in his neighborhood. Like many kids are prone to do, I wanted to dress like my hero.” He additionally discussed the historically practical usage of vests. “Vests often provide a form of protection. The life vest protects us from drowning. The bullet proof vest protects us from, well, bullets. In high school, my sweater vests protected me from dating.”

Dr. Gaerte also shared with the STAR some insights into his steadfast passion for this unique form of apparel. “The sweater vest is such an iconic look,” Dr. Gaerte remarked. “It communicates both ‘I’m a professional’ and yet I am also approachable all at the same time. In that way, I think it’s the classic look for Houghton College.”

The announcement about Dr. Gaerte’s new fashion line has created an intense furor across campus, and that excitement is particularly marked among his colleagues in the Communication Department. Proficient designer and donut enthusiast Professor Murphy energetically shared her thoughts on the new line, stating that she has noticed Dr. Gaerte’s special talent for dressing people ever since he lent her one of his iconic sweater vests for a photoshoot in the Mac Lab. “That was when I realized: Doug Gaerte has a gift for working with textiles. Since then, it’s only become more and more obvious that Doug has a gift for communicating through fashion, so I’m incredibly excited that his line will soon be coming to the campus store—students are going to love it!”

Professor Murphy also noted that “fashion design seems like a very natural extension of Doug’s passion for effective communication… We say a lot with what we choose to wear, and the sweater vest is an iconic, timeless statement. I’m delighted to see him take the wealth of experience he has in making fashion statements and using it to design clothing that can speak on so many levels to so many people.” 

Many Houghton students have also expressed a strong zeal regarding the upcoming release of Gaerte Gear. Communication student Emma Norby (‘24) commented, “Dr. Gaerte will surely have a thriving side job designing sweater vests because of his motivation for everyone to wear one. He promoted his business in my interpersonal communication class the other day and stated ‘they are dressy yet movable!’ (arms flapping when stated).”

What can fashionistas and sweater vest fanatics expect to see in this upcoming line? Dr. Gaerte has kept most of the new line close to his sweater-vest-clad-chest but has teased his fans with some details, including hints about zipper front fleece vests. “I wanted to take some creative risks, so I decided to expand the Gaerte Gear sweater family with the more sporty fleece vest look. What I love most about this new line is what it communicates to the casual observer—that the wearer is a professional committed to doing his or her job well, but lurking just beneath the surface is a rugged adventurer just waiting to burst out and hit the trail for new horizons. There’s an edginess, or hint of danger and risk with the fleece zipper front that just can’t be replicated in the traditional argyle sweater vest. Hopefully this expansion of the vest look will bring more people into the Gaerte Gear family.” Dr. Gaerte assured the STAR that there are still places he will not go in his design. “Gaerte Gear will never promote the quilted puffy vest. It’s too artificial looking, and no one wants to look like the Michelin tire man.”

Professor Murphy has also teased fans with her insider knowledge of the new designs, stating “I’m actually already on the pre-order list for the Rosewood variety of his “Modern Argyle” line. I’ve had a chance to see the mock-ups, and they’re absolute genius. If I had to describe them, I’d say they’re somehow both runway fresh and comfortably classic. (But like, both, at the same time.)”

When asked for a comment, Helena Oden of the Houghton Highlander Shop and Printing Press described the eagerness and delight the campus store felt about the upcoming line. “We are very proud to be the sole distributor of Gaerte Gear so all of campus has the opportunity to look as stylish as Dr. Gaerte. Keep an eye out for his latest designs by following us on Instagram!”

In times of partisanship and uncertainty, Dr. Gaerte concluded his interview with the STAR discussing the larger impacts of sweater vest culture. “I think we would have fewer wars if world leaders wore more sweater vests. It’s those dark uncomfortable suits that make people angry. A sweater vest says ‘Hey, come give me a hug. Let’s go get coffee, and we can settle our geo-political differences over a donut.’”

In an unprecedented marketing move, Gaerte Gear will only be available at the Houghton Highlander Shop during a select set of hours on Sundays. Unfortunately, STAR reporters were unable to discover when these hours are as the campus store appears to be closed every Sunday. “It’s a cutting edge marketing strategy,” says almost-business-minor Sarah Mertzlufft (‘22). “The girls who get it, get it. The girls who don’t, don’t.” To find out more about Gaerte Gear, students simply must loiter in the campus center all day Sunday hoping to catch a vested customer slipping out of the campus store after hours.★

Categories
News

The Destruction of Shen

By Joshua Carpenter

​For Fall 2022, Houghton College has announced that instead of remodeling Shenawana Hall, it will be demolished and turned into an amusement park. 

As President Lewis said in an interview, “What Houghton College needs right now is more fun. What could be more fun than an amusement park? While Shen will certainly be missed, with plans for a new men’s dorm in discussion, students have impressed upon me the importance of making Houghton a much more enjoyable campus right now.” To accomplish this, the college has decided to construct one very large Gravitron, which will be named “Shenitron.” Accompanying Shenitron will be an arcade with mountains of popcorn. Plans for more rides in the future are already in the works.

Plans for the park have been the talk of the town recently, with students and faculty alike all trying to find out what this park is about, especially the men of Shen, who will be losing their home away from home. Some of these “Shen Men” have been approached by the STAR to find out how they are feeling amid their loss.

​With the initial reaction of “Hot diggety-dog,” Jonathan Hutmire (‘24), could not believe the news of Shen becoming the grounds for an amusement park. “I don’t think there’d be much change. Same amount of popcorn at least.” To him, “It’ll be sad to lose all the history contained within the carpet stains,” though he is looking forward to “the opportunity to form new carpet stains of our own,” wherever Shen Men end up living. Jon’s also excited about the Shenitron, in which he plans to do his laundry. “That’ll [The Shenitron] definitely will be an upgrade from the current dryers! No more still-damp laundry!”

​Micah Williams (‘23), is the 3rd floor RA of Shen and cleaner of its aromatic bathrooms. In his state of grief over Shen’s inevitable destruction, Micah has taken the time to reflect on what made Shen special to him. “I’m going to miss all the amazing scents that just attack your nostrils as you walk into the building. You never know if it’s going to be someone burning popcorn or forgetting to put water in their ramen noodles and just absolutely douse the floor in burnt food smell, or that sweaty foot smell of all the athletes leaving their shoes in the hallway, or even just that… Shen Musk. Ah! What a scent.” And though he is sad to see Shen go, he thinks that all the loud screams from inside of the Shenitron would be nothing out of the ordinary from all the shenanigans of Shen Men, which had more than its fair share of screaming.

​Chunsun Lei (‘24) has expressed to the STAR his deepest condolences as the 2nd floor RA of Shen. Lei, who prefers being referred to by his last name, cleans bathrooms on his floor and will miss his job dearly. For him, every night at work is a fulfilling night of fun and dance, of which he calls “mold dancing.” When asked about this act of his, Lei could not contain his excitement. He remarked about his passion for ensuring the Shen men have a clean environment. “Mold dancing” is representative of his enjoyment and enthusiasm for this work. Though he did admit that having a Dance Dance Revolution rig in the new arcade would do well to remind him of his experiences at Shen. Through this game, he wishes to continue on with his mold dancing passion, slipping on the stage without ever falling – all while looking perfectly cool. And one day, maybe he will even find a dance partner of the same style.

​If you would like to pay respects to Shenawana Hall as it begins a new chapter, you can attend its service of remembrance at Shen Pond. The service will start at 8pm and end at the break of dawn. Candles will be lit, and root beers will be had.

Categories
Columns

Contrasts and Way Over in Beulah Lan

By Rachel Huchthausen

During the weekend before break, the Greatbatch School of Music presented two concerts: Contrasts and Way Over in Beulah Lan’.  The Wind Ensemble’s Contrasts, on February 19, was just that—a collection of contrasts between periods and composers, as well as selections of works by the same composer that have contrasting styles.  The program included works such as selections from Percy Grainger’s famous Lincolnshire Posy, William Still’s Folk Suite based on African-American Spirituals, and, most aptly, contemporary composer Leslie Gilreath’s Oppositional Elements.  

Most interesting to me was the Wind Ensemble’s foray into electroacoustic works by Alex Sharpiro.  Her Depth blends electronic sound from the depths of the ocean with the brass and reed instruments.  Sharpiro’s Tight Squeeze is described as a mash-up of Techno, Latin Bebop, and the Twelve-tone music of Arnold Schoenberg.  If you haven’t listened to twelve-tone music before, you should give Schoenberg’s Suite for Piano a try.  You likely won’t thank me, but you would understand why I was skeptical of the combination.  I should not have been worried.  The Wind Ensemble’s performance was a delightful, foot-taping rendition of Sharpiro’s great work.  

On February 20, the College Choir presented their concert, Way Over in Beulah Lan’: Spiritual Arrangements Old and New, a collection of spirituals arranged by various composers.  These men and women—such as R. Nathaniel Dett, Florence Frice, Moses Hogan, and Rosephanye Powell—who notated the tunes and words passed down by oral tradition.  These Spirituals ranged from the melancholy stillness of Dett’s Deep River (also presented by the Wind Ensemble in Still’s Folk Suite) to the lively insistence of Hogan’s Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel, to the joy of Powell’s Good News!.  The title piece, Stacy Gibbs’s Way Over in Beulah Lan’, was conducted by graduate student Rachel Logee.  As a whole, these works expressed both longing for heaven and the present “troubles of the worl’.”  

Audience members expressed how apt this program was for celebrating Black History Month and how expressive the choir and the soloists Josey Ikker, Lydia Rech, Adeline Roeske, Caleb Durant, and Michael McLure were.  President Lewis was also in attendance.  He also expressed how timely the concert was, writing that, “The concert was easily one of my favorite Houghton experiences thus far,” and that “The performance of negro spirituals that are so central to the African American story during this year’s celebration of Black History month was very special.”  

Thank you, Wind Ensemble and College Choir for a great weekend of music making! ★

Categories
Opinions

Inspiration in Historic Icons

By Elise Koelbl

I have always found history to be fascinating. So many different cultures and worlds have existed on the same planet as we do in our own current time period. Even going back a few decades, the world was a completely different place than it is today. Our history is filled with so many heroes and adventures, protagonists and antagonists, empires and cultures that I’m surprised I don’t see people talk about the stories of old with more passion. There are so many fans of fictional stories, such as Harry Potter and Chronicles of Narnia, who love to invest in a good engaging plot. I almost wonder if people stop to consider that this earth has fascinating stories and people of its own to tell about.

One of the stories that draws me in just as much as that of Harry Potter or Prince Caspian is the story of Christa McAuliffe. For those that don’t know, Christa was selected out of thousands of teachers for NASA’s Teacher in Space program, the first of what would have been many “citizens in space” programs. By the 1980s, space launches had drastically faded from the public’s attention since their peak in the late 60s, leading NASA to decide to allow citizens to fly in space in order to gain publicity. Out of 11,000 applicants, Christa stood out as the best teacher for the job. She showed an unrivaled passion for teaching as well as abundant kindness for others. Not only would she help NASA gain publicity, but she could also help the teachers and students of America gain a passion for learning. Unfortunately what was supposed to be a joyous adventure for Christa ended with catastrophe; she perished along with the six other astronauts on board the Challenger. In just seventy-three seconds, she was gone. The Challenger disaster struck the lives of many with grief, but though the excursion ended in death, Christa unknowingly left a legacy of inspiration for the world with her passion for living. She was the kind of person that celebrated others with a homemade batch of cookies, pushed her students forward by writing college recommendation letters even moments before the launch, and without hesitation, and always became a listening ear to those that needed it most. Though she lived almost two decades before I was born, she taught me the value of living each moment to the fullest.

While looking to the stars, there is another person that took flight in the hearts of many– Amelia Earhart. I’m sure many people are familiar with her story, as Amelia Earhart was the first woman ever to cross the Atlantic by airplane. She achieved many great feats in her humble plane as she performed dangerous feats and crossed a variety of landscapes. She did all this with a strong will and passion to push herself to do more than what was already done. One of the things that stands out to me about Amelia Earhart is that she didn’t start with an easy, wholesome childhood but rather her life had a rocky start. Her father lost his job and as a result, turned to drinking. His addiction to alcohol became so bad that eventually, Amelia’s parents had to divorce. Even though Amelia Earhart had such a painful childhood characterized in many ways by her difficult relationship with her parents, she never lost her drive and passion to overcome obstacles. The thing that strikes me the most is that Amelia Earhart was fearless. She wasn’t afraid of what people thought of her and wasn’t afraid to challenge how things were at the time. She did things simply because she wanted to. The thing that inspires me the most about her is her drive and fearlessness. She didn’t let her past define who she wanted to be. 

What is it that makes history itself so inspiring? Why look to figures of the past? It’s true our world has changed since the times of long ago. Some people alive today experienced realities that are now incredibly foreign to us; but that doesn’t mean that we can’t experience them in a different way. If we’re willing to listen, there are so many people whose lives can tell stories just as exciting as fiction, if not better. If you need inspiration and guidance on how to live your future, look to the past. History is still alive and it’s waiting for you to add your chapter to its ever-expanding story. ★

Categories
News

Review: 33rd Annual Juried Student Exhibition

By Zach McKay

The reception for the 33rd Annual Juried Student Exhibition was held on Friday, March 11. The jurors were Amanda and Brian Oglesbee, a local artist couple whose work was displayed in the Ortlip Gallery this past Fall 2021. The work displayed in this year’s Juried Show was incredibly varied, spanning medium and scale. 

This year’s Best in Show piece was wandering soul, i remember everything, a gouache portrait diptych by Mary Hannah Kennedy (‘22). The first-place piece was The Shrill, a non-objective oil painting by Sarah Mertzlufft (‘22). The second-place piece was Even the Weeds, a watercolor landscape by Ellie Kettinger. The third-place piece was Quarantine Big Dude, an organic sculptural piece by Alyssa Lyon (‘23). The Roselyn Danner Memorial Honorable Mention Awards were given to Kimberlyn Brocht (‘22) for Index and Rebecca Haro (‘24) for Hannah. Jessie-Fay Abbott (‘22) received the President’s Choice Award for Glass Portrait. The two Juror’s Choice Awards were presented to Brocht for her cyanotypes, Untitled, and Zach McKay (‘22) for his watercolor painting, CAT. 

This year, the jurors also introduced a few new awards. Hayden Williamson’s (‘23) ceramic piece, Hugo, was given the Whitley Lewis Choice Award and the Noah Hodgkins Memorial Award was bestowed to Fortezza Albornoz, a large conté landscape drawing by Kennedy (‘22). 

According to gallery assistant Sarah Mertzlufft (‘22), this year’s student show had 83 submissions, “more than the juried show has seen in years.” Because of this, the jurors were forced to be highly selective, but they were impressed by the range and quality of Houghton College students and their artwork. The Juried Show will remain open in the Ortlip Gallery until April 2nd. It will be followed by the 2022 Senior Show, which will open to the public on April 11. ★

Categories
News

Houghton College Offers Drone Pilot Training

By Seth Hodgkins

Houghton College and Aquiline Drones have started a five-year partnership to offer an online drone pilot training program, Flight to the Future. Taking this course will teach students about drone technology and prepare them to take the exam required to become a licensed drone pilot under the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The course will be instructed asynchronously by Carmen McKell, the Director of the Center for Data Science Analytics. When asked who should take this course, she explained that “anyone can take this course who has the desire to learn about drone technology,” but also noted that the course is particularly helpful for “working professionals looking to enhance their skill set” and “high school students seeking early college credit.”

There are limitless applications of drones in business today. Since 2016 when the FAA granted numerous exemptions for companies to operate drones, the drone services market has grown drastically and is expected to continue to grow another 24% by 2026 according to businesswire.com. McKell listed just some of the uses: “In construction to track building projects, in oil and gas to inspect pipelines, security for homes and businesses, military intelligence gathering, real estate, and conservation research like whale monitoring, wildfire impact assessment, and disease monitoring in trees.” She also added that, “having a drone license is critical for starting your own business or starting a career in [these fields],” and “there’s never been a better time to get started in the growing field of drone technology.”

A drone pilot certification is also a fitting addition to the toolbox of a data scientist, if that’s the career you’re working towards. “Data science plays a key role in [the drone industry],” McKell explained. “Drones and their associated software generate an enormous amount of data. In addition to taking aerial photos and videos, drones can collect information about everything from the health of crops to thermal leaks in buildings.” This raw information can be used by a data scientist to find new insights for decision making.

Jake Crawford, Houghton’s Content Marketing Specialist, is a great example of the value a drone license holds in a professional career. He has enrolled in the program for a license that he can “utilize in a way that could be advantageous to Houghton, freelance work, and [his] own personal projects.” He was first recommended to get a drone license in a meeting, saying “once we had access to the resources, I was given the ability to take the class.” Crawford continued on to explain the usefulness of drones in marketing and filmmaking. “They’re incredibly helpful to enhance the scope of your environment by giving you a point of view that you would never be able to experience without the technology that a drone possesses.”

Regardless of the career you’re pursuing, having a drone license is a valuable asset in this digitally-driven world. If you are interested in drone technology, or want to learn the necessary skills to pass the pilot exam, consider taking the Flight to the Future drone pilot training course. ★