Author: Houghton STAR

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

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Stories In Focus

Feature: Houghton College Buffalo

By Jannatul Noshin

Higher education begins with a college that is both financially accessible to all and is a leader in its community, which Houghton College Buffalo provides. Houghton College Buffalo, or HCB for short, is a location where students express their gratitude for their education. If any student believes that college is not for them, Houghton College Buffalo is a cause to show them that they are wrong. Most students that enter college do not immediately know their major or what they want to study following high school graduation, but at HCB, that’s okay. HCB establishes a firm foundation in which students are led with opportunities and a path to success. HCB Dean Julian Cook echoed this, noting, “HCB students are not problems to be solved. They are a cadre of emerging leaders with the ethical vision and spiritual audacity to believe that education and faith are tools for hewing our collective destinies. Every day at HCB we live out the conviction that hope is a way of life; not a passive state of being. HCB students come together to construct hope.” The courses that students take at HCB are crucial to their career opportunities. Each student’s aim at HCB is to ensure that they do not fall behind, which is precisely what an educational institution should accomplish. HCB’s academic agenda is designed to assist any student in achieving their goals for a successful profession and life journey. Dieu-fidele Munano commented on this, noting, “I like Houghton college because they do everything on their ability to shape us and to get us ready for next steps to come.” 

Together, we are stronger, and anything is possible, and HCB is the epitome of this. At HCB, everyone works together to achieve success. Adjunct Instructor of Communication Denise Reichard commented on this, stating, “The high academic standards as well as the implementation of those standards in and out of the classroom make Houghton College elevated in many ways that we might use to evaluate higher education.” Students can work with available tutors at any time without making an appointment. HCB ensures that its students are maintaining their course load and are given practical tools and understanding to excel in any course. As a result, students are less stressed and can meet the demands that come with pursuing higher education. All other institutions pale in comparison to the level of education provided by Houghton.  

Students at Houghton College Buffalo are welcomed, respected, and cherished, and they all have a place here, regardless of gender, religion, or color. At the Symphony Circle Campus, all individuals, nationalities, and personalities are honored. Professor Steve Strand, who “moved to Buffalo in 2014 largely to work with the city’s growing newcomer communities of people from around the world”, noted this, and also added that “Houghton College Buffalo beautifully reflects rich cultural diversity and vitality, so I was pleased to join this learning community.  Working at Houghton College Buffalo has a great purpose to extend faith-based educational opportunity in the city.”

Houghton College Buffalo (HCB) will also make sure that every student feels accepted and recognized as a student. This has been the experience of student Hafal Abde, who discusses, “The reason I chose Houghton College is that it has a lot of support and I feel I will not fail in the classes. All the time teachers ask students to do the work so they cannot fail in the classes. So, they are really taking care of the students.” Houghton College Buffalo strives hard to ensure that students from underrepresented groups and New American immigrant communities are well equipped before they move on from the program. Tutors are available to assist students who are having difficulty understanding and completing their assignments. Every opportunity Houghton College Buffalo has offered for students has been a great achievement. Students can win HCB honors for their participation in activities such as career fairs, immigration debate panels, and ethnically varied food festivals.  

Students were astounded by how Dr. Wayne D. Lewis, Jr., President of Houghton College, and Cathy E. Freytag, Dean of the Faculty, made it a mission to visit the HCB Symphony Circle campus during a joyous welcoming event. It was more than just a moment of time spent, but it led to something much more significant. It created a beautiful experience. Student Kamulete Bwemere states, “When I met President Lewis, I felt that I’m important and I’m the part of Houghton College. In life I have never seen of any organization that I was in, but President Lewis reminds me that I am the best in my life, and I will fight for my own.” Every student received the opportunity to speak and engage not only their peers but also with the faculty and staff that help contribute to creating what Houghton College is today. For every student, this was a watershed moment, a major milestone, and a reassurance. They were treated with dignity and respect and felt appreciated. This was an opportunity for everyone’s voice to be heard, for every culture to be represented, and for no one to feel like an outcast.

As Professor Kushal Bhardwaj notes, Houghton College Buffalo is a wonderfully unique environment to be a part of. “As a passionate educator, I was blessed to teach Anthropology, African History and Political Science to the most unique group of students in my award-winning, multi-decade career.  The sons and daughters of immigrants, from various parts of the world, enriched MY life as I taught them how to better understand themselves and the world.” Houghton College Buffalo is an excellent option for individuals who want to see themselves succeeding and growing, since it provides all the necessary assistance, and every student is praised for their achievements. ★

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News

Symposium Returns to Houghton

By Joshua Carpenter

Another week of exploring topics relating to the worldwide intersection of faith and justice. Of these challenges, unity in the body of Christ was the symposium’s central issue, focusing on, as the Houghton website states, “how tribalism and polarization have led to the disunity in the church, and how bold conversations can help bridge the gap toward justice and compassion.”

​Ansley Green (’22), a student intern who assisted with the symposium by finding speakers and planning events, described the symposium as “a time to look at topics in the church where faith and global justice intersect.” As Green pointed out, these topics are difficult, referring back to the symposium’s focus on having fearless conversations about difficult topics, especially at a time when the church seems so internally divided. She feels that the significance of the symposium is how it “challenges us to look into the face of topics that we typically avoid because they are uncomfortable or just plain scary.”

​Brian Webb, who is the Director of the Center of Faith, Justice, and Global Engagement at Houghton, and an instructor of Environmental Studies, was the lead planner of this year’s symposium. He described the planning process as “challenging,” since there were “a lot of moving pieces and details to put together.” However, this was a challenge he gratefully accepted, since he thinks that it’s “well worth it for the opportunity to engage our campus in challenging but important conversations,” noting cultural divisions in the church as an example to explain what he means by “important conversations.” When he was asked about the goals of the symposium, Webb replied that he hopes these conversations about faith and justice would continue so that “we can become better followers of Christ,” who “pursue justice while bringing the church closer together to listen to one another.”

Though the symposium has ended, you can still direct any comments or questions to Brian Webb.★

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News

Houghton Announces Upcoming Changes to Masking Guidelines

By Owen Hardiman

On February 15, an all-campus email announced that Houghton College will undergo changes to masking requirements in the coming weeks. The email, sent from Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students Marc Smithers (‘08), reported that on Sunday, March 6, the day many students will return to campus from Winter Break, masks will no longer be required to be worn in Houghton’s residence halls or townhouses. Smithers noted that the transmission rate on campus will be closely monitored as these changes go into effect, and if COVID-19 rates remain low the school expects to further relax masking requirements the following week on Monday, March 14. These changes will require masking only in classrooms and in chapel and would allow faculty members to elect not to wear a mask in their classes provided they socially distance themselves from their students. Additionally, the Dining Hall will be fully opened to students, faculty, and community members.

When asked why the Houghton PREP (Preparing a Residential Education Plan) team decided upon a phased approach to adjusting masking guidelines, Smithers stated, “A phased approach is particularly helpful when implementing significant changes like this to our policies as this allows us an ability to see how these changes play out in the community on a more gradual scale. As we’re returning from Winter Break at this same time, we especially want to be sensitive to the risks associated with reentry to campus, so this is another reason to be more cautious in any changes we would make to our policies at this time.”

The PREP team cited the low number of cases on campus and the decreasing number of cases in the area as a key factor in the decision to modify the school’s masking requirements. These changes were greeted with excitement from many Houghton students. Leah O’Connell (‘23) enthusiastically remarked, “I’m very excited that we will no longer have to mask in a majority of places. As an RA, I especially am looking forward to not having to regulate masking in the dorms.” This sentiment of enthusiasm was echoed by Mary Vandenbosch (‘23), who remarked, “I am excited for this step forward after the extensive amount of time that has been put into making this possible. It will be wonderful to see the many smiling faces around campus again!”

Other students shared they felt a mix of emotions regarding the upcoming changes. Sarah Halvorson (‘22) shared that they already see many students not following current masking guidelines, which is a cause of anxiety and anger for them. They noted, “I wear my mask out of respect for the community even though I am fully vaccinated. Now that the choice is on the individual and it is not blatantly disrespectful to the community to be unmasked or half-masked, I’ll have one less reason to be annoyed by others. Do I think everyone should be masked? Yes. But since half the campus doesn’t do this anyways, therefore nullifying the point, at least I can enjoy being maskless in some spaces with a clearer conscience.” This blend of eagerness and apprehension was affirmed by Elizabeth Veacock (23), who said, “I found myself feeling so excited and yet so very nervous. It feels like it might be too early to lift all of the masking restrictions and things could go back to being worse like they were in the beginning. However, I feel like we have to rely on God and trust that as long as we make small steps in the right direction we can get back to the way things were before COVID happened.”

When asked about the concerns that students may have about the new masking policy, Smithers noted, “Any sort of emergence from the policies that we have known for the last two years will be, at least at first, unsettling, particularly for those individuals who are at higher risk for severe infection but also for nearly everyone as this has been what our normal life has been since early 2020.” He went on to remind students that the best defense against severe infection from COVID-19 continues to be well within the control and choices of each individual, with vaccination being the best defense. “For students who are concerned about these changes, we continue to strongly encourage our community to be vaccinated and boosted, if eligible, and to social distance from others when in environments where you are unsure of the vaccination status of others. In addition to this, individuals can still continue to choose to mask in all areas of campus. There will still be many individuals who will be masked throughout campus, as they are identified as close contacts or may be in the last five days of their isolation period, in which the CDC allows individuals to be out of isolation but still requires them to mask around others.”

It was on March 13, 2020 when Houghton announced it would be shutting down and sending students home due to COVID-19. Two years later almost down to the day, Houghton will start to look more like it did pre-pandemic. ★

Categories
Columns

Night at the Movies

by Rachel Huchthausen

Dr. Sharon Johnson, Prof. Roy Smith, and Mrs. Julie Smith shared a magnificent program of film music arranged for flute, trumpet, and piano last Tuesday (January 18), featuring the music of John Williams (Star Wars, Catch Me if You Can, Far and Away, and Harry Potter), Thomas Newman (Little Women, 1994), and Michael Giacchino (Ratatouille and Up!).  The making of these particular arrangements were yet another creative outlet during the last year of the Pandemic.  Noting the lack of duets for flute and trumpet, the Smiths found themselves given enough time to finally amend this lack through the quarantine period of this past year.  

Arranging for these two instruments is particularly challenging because of the imbalance of sound between the Smith’s respective instruments—it is easy for the trumpet to overpower the flute.  However, the Smith’s arrangements of these scores were up to the challenge.  

The concert last Tuesday featured many virtuosic passages for flute and the warm iconic sound of the trumpet so essential for scores such as Ratatouille, Catch Me if You Can, and “Married Life” from Up!. Particularly notable were the balance and tight collaboration especially in “Joy Ride” from John Williams’ Escapades Suite, the haunting Irish melodies and accompaniment from Far and Away, and the moment at the end of “Married Life” when both flautist and trumpeter lowered their instruments to watch Dr. Johnson call from the keys the final heartbreaking statement of the theme.  

Their recital left the audience members wanting to hear more live performances of film music, flautists, trumpeters, and pianists hoping to try their hands at collaboration together, and musicians with the euphoric feeling of having listened to great music.  Thank you, Dr. Johnson, Prof., and Mrs. Smith, for a marvelous Night at the Movies.★  

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Letter to the Editor Opinions

More Than Cauliflower

By Cody Johnson

“Cauliflower is nothing but cabbage with a college education,” wrote Mark Twain. By being here, reading this, you are, at the very least, cauliflower.

But I have news for you: you can be much more than just cauliflower.

Whether you are more than cauliflower depends on your answer to a fundamental question: what is college?

If college is a place to attend classes and earn a degree, congratulations! You’re cauliflower. If college is a place to have fun and release all your worries before the daunting thing called adulthood, great! You’re purple cauliflower. However, if college is a place for you to discover and pursue new interests, dive deep into your faith, and engage in intentional community, then you have finally become more than cauliflower.

At an alarming rate, Houghton students are forfeiting the very things that help us go deeper. Apathy is endemic. We have disengaged from the opportunities that still exist two years after the pandemic started, and our campus community has suffered for it. You can hear it in the silence of the Campus Engagement Office; you can see it on the dusty Bibles in the prayer chapel. We can only become more than cauliflower and remedy the problem of apathy by engaging in the opportunities we have at Houghton.

First, clubs. And I don’t mean the kind that Houghton students are forbidden from visiting. I mean the kind that brings together diverse groups of people around a common interest. You’ve heard of the Ski Club and Mercy Seat, but have you heard of the Artist’s Guild, the Gadfly Society, Global Christian Fellowship (GCF), the Gospel Choir, Houghton Ballroom and Swing, Journey’s End Tutoring (JET), Paddle Sports, or the Psychology Club? All of these were active before the pandemic. Many stopped meeting during the pandemic with no attempt to revive them. Even those that survived—Ski Club, Mercy Seat, GCF, and JET—are grasping for members. Each of these clubs is an opportunity to learn a new skill and cultivate a community. It might only take an hour out of your week, but the return on investment through relationships and personal growth is immeasurable.

Second, spiritual life. Above any other collective identity, we are a Christian college, yet we seem to have lost sight of the Christian aspect. Faith, especially in a community, is not passive: it requires engaging in worship, prayer, and reflection with other believers. You can scan into chapel legalistically, or you can commit yourself to hearing something that God has prepared for you. I often need to redirect my attention to the service when I am distracted by a text notification or homework that’s due in my next class. Going through the actions is easy, but it only benefits yourself and our community when you do so wholeheartedly. There are other meaningful ways to engage spiritually: Bible studies with your floor or your team, Bible and theology classes, and morning and afternoon prayer. Most mornings, I trudge up Roth hill at 7:20 to attend morning prayer with no more than four other students. Afternoon prayer rarely has any more. Will you be there?

Finally, learning. Students burnt out during the pandemic, and we are still recovering and rediscovering a passion for learning. This begins with professors: students need freedom to explore and relate their own interests. Perhaps the topic of an essay can be flexible, or perhaps students can lead a discussion. Dr. Christian Esh proved the effectiveness of this kind of independence in his Historical and Political Research class last semester. I became a more engaged student because I could research the Germany military while another student researched Native American lore, and our class uniquely came together to support each other and grow as researchers. Our classrooms must return to the model of teaching students how to learn and value learning. Independence, flexibility, and grace–mental health days are always welcome–will cultivate more engaged learners.

It is also our responsibility as students to learn independently. Stop by a professor’s office hour, attend the Faculty Lecture Series, or browse the library’s shelves. It can be hard to find the energy to spend more time thinking, but if you find a topic you love, it can be invigorating. In the long run, you will become more hireable, develop closer relationships with professors, and contribute your unique interests and thoughts to our learning community. 

You chose to come to Houghton for a reason. That reason might not have been the student organizations, the spiritual life, or the academics. But while you are here in this community, you have an opportunity—perhaps even a responsibility—to engage in those things. You owe it to yourself and to us to engage wholeheartedly. When you do, our community will be better for it. We will finally be more than cauliflower. 

You chose to come to Houghton for a reason. That reason might not have been the student organizations, the spiritual life, or the academics. But while you are here in this community, you have an opportunity—perhaps even a responsibility—to engage in those things. You owe it to yourself and to us to engage wholeheartedly. When you do, our community will be better for it. We will finally be more than cauliflower. ★

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News

Winter Sports At Houghton

By Isaac Little

The Houghton Highlanders approached the winter season with great anticipation and promise. Having a young roster across the board meant that this would be a developing year for many players and would cause the veterans of each team to be placed in an important role. Although one could argue that the Highlanders are in a tough position entering their seasons given the inexperience they may have at the college level, each team is eager to accept the challenge faced in front of them, and they look to improve each day. 

The Houghton Track and Field team has been diligently preparing for their main season in the spring by competing in a wide range of indoor track events. The Men’s and Women’s teams have proved a high level of competitiveness with their competition and look to make a push in the conference tournament this spring under the leadership of Seth Greene (‘23), Dillon Bell (‘21), and Amanda Burrichter (‘22), who have all solidified themselves as some of the top runners in the conference and look to use their experience to help their teams thrive. Standouts from the women’s side include Amerrah Horne-Vaden (‘25), Alexandria Wisniewski (‘23), Mary Shaker (‘23), Haley DeJager (‘22), and Amanda Burrichter (‘23), while Seth Greene (‘23), Malcom Smith (‘25), Dillon Bell (‘21), and Brennan Lewandowski (‘23) also show much promise for the season ahead on the men’s side.

The Houghton Women’s Basketball team holds a record of 7-11 (1-8 in Conference). After starting the season off on a high note, the Highlanders look to make a push back into the conference seedings. Their roster consists of 6 freshmen, 2 sophomores, and 2 juniors, showing their potential as they continue to develop and establish their identity. This is noted by freshman Abby Guiher (‘25), who says, “This season has had its tough moments, but I wouldn’t want it with any other team. We have seven girls most likely for the rest of the season, but I know if we put our all on the floor every single day, we could do big things in the future.”

The Houghton Men’s Basketball team holds a record of 1-16 (1-7 in conference). Although one could become discouraged with this result, the men have competed neck-in-neck with practically every opponent in which they have played, only losing by narrow margins. Considering that 14 of their 19 players fall within the freshman to sophomore range only proves the potential that this Houghton squad has under the direction of Coach Lance Westberg. Junior Reece Gustafson (‘23) believes, “This team has been through a lot of ups and downs, but there is no doubt in my mind that this is the closest team that I have been a part of.” When speaking further about the season, Gustafson states, “We might not be seeing the success we want right now, but I know we are building relationships with each other that go beyond basketball. These guys are my family, and I am excited to see how we finish out the season.”

The Highlanders may not have had the results that they had hoped for, but there is no doubt that these teams have tremendous potential. With a strong coaching staff, along with a year of development at the collegiate level, the Highlanders will no doubt have success in the future. As the Houghton Basketball teams approach the off-season, they look to continue to increase their skill and knowledge of the game, which will prove to be beneficial in the following years. Although the Houghton Track and Field team may be closing out their winter season, they look forward to their spring season in which they look to make a push for the Empire 8 Championship title. ★

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News

Shenovations: Updates and Repairs to Shenawana Hall

By Colin Campbell

On January 24, Marc Smithers, Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students, announced that Shenawana (Shen) Hall will be closed for the 2022-2023 academic year to undergo renovations. Established in 1960, Shen has housed “Shenmen” for 62 years. More than just a building, the residence hall has developed a strong culture throughout its history. The news that Shen is going to close in order for the college to make repairs and updates to the building comes with a mix of emotions but mainly excitement, as the thought of living in a restored Shen brings joy to many people. However, hearing that a building, which holds so many memories, will go through a change like this also brings about a feeling of panic. 

What will the Shenmen do for a whole year in Lambein Hall? Are they still going to be considered Shen residents? When Shen is reopened, will the culture of the past fade away? One of the freshmen Shen residents, Ben Davidson (‘25), after spending most of his first year in Shen, calls it home. He, along with many other residents, feel that it is due time for Shen to be renovated. Davidson plans to stay a Shen resident for his duration at Houghton and feels that life in Lambein will be different from Shen. He says, “We are deeply rooted here,” and the thought of the culture changing is scary. This feeling is supported by Dillon Bell (‘22), who is in his fifth year of living in Shen. He says, “Shen is the dorm that never sleeps.” He has enjoyed his time in Shen and would describe the residents as rowdy but intentional. While he cannot wait to see the renovations of Shen, he hopes that the culture can carry the same energy that it currently holds into the updated building. A concern of his is that COVID-19 may prevent the culture from flourishing back into what it once was.

Shen’s culture took a hit from COVID-19, which could be difficult to revive. The renovations being made to Shen will not only affect the culture of Shen but will also impact the culture of women residents on campus. Since Lambein will be used as a male resident hall, most of the women on campus will be living in Gillette Hall. This means there will be a significant increase of residents in Gillette, which will provide its own challenges. While this change may provide a unique experience for campus life in this next academic year, it may be the start of a beneficial shift in structure.

With bright hope for the future, the men’s resident director of both Shen and Rothenbuhler (Roth) Hall Shua Wilmot believes that while the culture may shift, the fundamental characters of the buildings will not be lost but further embraced. Wilmot quotes, “In their transition to Lambein (and to Roth and elsewhere), it is my hope that the students coming from Shen will continue striving to exemplify Shenawana’s values of Strength, Honor, and Brotherhood in their healthiest, most Christ-like forms. I hope to cultivate an environment in Lambein in which incoming and returning students alike will enjoy a balance of exciting, new experiences with the rich tradition of brotherhood that this year’s Shen Men will bring with them.” Good things are coming for Houghton College and for the future of Shenawana Hall. Pray that the current and future men of this resident hall will be blessed with strength, honor, and brotherhood.★

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News

Houghton Announces Spring 2022 Commencement Speaker

By Bryce Preston

On Friday, February 4, 2022, President Lewis announced in an email to the Houghton community that a speaker has been chosen for this year’s commencement ceremony. Rev. Gabriel Salguero will address the graduates at Houghton’s 135th commencement ceremony, which is set to be held in Wesley Chapel this May.

Salguero serves as a pastor at The Gathering Place, a large multi-ethnic church in Orlando, Florida. He is also the founder and the president of the National Latino Evangelical Coalition. Salguero’s work has been featured on the Discovery Channel and the Oprah Winfrey Network, and he has been named one of America’s most prominent Latino evangelical leaders by numerous publications including The New York Times and Huffington Post.

President Lewis explained that the process of selecting a commencement speaker involved thought and prayer. “More than anything I wanted to invite someone grounded in our Christian faith, to inspire, encourage, and challenge the class of 2022 and the Houghton College community. Rev. Dr. Salguero will certainly do all of those for us. His ministry and his message challenges the church to courageously live out our faith.”

Excitement about the announcement has also been expressed by members of the Class of 2022. Logan Callen (‘22) explained, “Being a theology major who is looking at this kind of work for my future, I couldn’t be happier with the announcement that Dr. Gabriel Salguero would be our commencement speaker! All of his amazing work in the world is truly inspiring and a model for the kind of path that I want to take.”

Faculty members have also expressed their enthusiasm over the commencement speaker selection. Dr. Änna Pettway has incorporated Salguero’s work into her curriculum for Psychology of Race and Racism for several years. She commented,

“I was so thrilled to hear that our commencement speaker this year will be someone who has challenged me and so many of my students to think about activism as an extension of their faith.” Pettway continued “Rev. Salguero introduced me to the God of Hagar – a God of proximity and solidarity, who hears us and sees us and meets us right in the middle of our suffering, and encouraged me to be a person of proximity and solidarity, who hears others and meets others right in the middle of their suffering.”

Along with the email announcement about the speaker came an update on the college’s plans for this year’s graduation weekend festivities. At this time, the college plans to offer an in-person celebration of the Class of 2022, including a Baccalaureate Service on Friday, May 13 and the Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 14, both of which will be held in Wesley Chapel. 

Hannah Heinl (‘22), the Class of 2022 Representative on Student Council, said, “I am excited for graduation and all that is being planned or in the process of being planned. I know that everyone involved in the planning process is also excited and hopeful that this year, graduation will look a little more normal than it has for the past few years.”

This spring will also mark President Lewis’ first commencement at Houghton. When asked about this new experience, Lewis said, “The first day of classes and commencement, as the bookends of the academic year, have always been my favorites. I am proud of all the Houghton class of 2022 has accomplished in face of unprecedented circumstances and challenges, and I am excited about how God is going to use them to change the world.” Commencement is a time of celebration of both the graduating Class of 2022 and of President Lewis’ first year at Houghton. The people of Houghton are thrilled to include Rev. Dr. Salguero as part of this ceremony.★

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Campus News

Sophomore Leadership Conference Returns

By Elise Koelbl

It was gone but not forgotten. After a year of strict COVID-19 guidelines forcing its absence, February 4 marks the return of the Sophomore Leadership Conference, just in time for it’s 5th year. The Sophomore Leadership Conference is an event for sophomore students to further understand their strengths and show them their abilities as a leader. This year’s theme is titled “Activate: Leadership, Gifts, and the Kingdom of God,” which is notably different than in past years where the theme was “Oh The Places You’ll Go.” This continues to be a program designed to promote leadership in young students.

The person in charge of organizing the event is Rachel Wright. When asked about the decision to direct this event towards sophomores, she stated, “This event has focused on the Sophomore year as students near the time to officially declare their major and there were already existing opportunities like Transitions, Senior Seminar courses, etc. for students during other years. Because of the pandemic, the event was canceled in 2021, so we are opening this year up to those who would have been Sophomores last year.” The event itself goes from the evening of Friday, February 4 to all day Saturday, February 5. There will also be an exclusive dinner with Kindschi Faith and Justice Symposium guest Rev. Dr. Soong-Chan Rah on Monday, February 7 for all of the conference attendees.

Adelaine Morgiewicz (‘24), who is currently a sophomore, plans to attend the event. Like many sophomores, she received an email from Houghton’s Office of Vocation and Calling informing her of this event. As someone who is still undecided in her major, she is excited to attend to gain a better understanding of herself as a leader. 

Highlights of what is included at the conference with the $20 registration fee include: participants completing the Clifton Strengths Finder Assessment; students completing a Positive Change Project during the event, which can feasibly be enacted during their time as students; as well as Conference swag; and Saturday meals. 

Guests this year include Dr. Greg Bish, the Keynote speaker, who is also the Chief of Staff at Houghton College; Dr. JL Miller, the Associate Dean of the Chapel at Houghton College; and the Strengths Coach, Dr. Ellen Marmon, a Professor of Christian Discipleship and the Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program and Asbury Theological Seminary, who will be Zooming in to the Conference; Sharon Mulligan, the Director of Academic Support and Accessibility Services at Houghton College, who will be leading an Ideation Session; and Rev. Dr. Soong-Chan Rah, a Robert Boyd Munger Professor of Evangelism at Fuller Theological Seminary, who will be having dinner with Conference participants on Monday.

The administration is excited the Sophomore Leadership Conference was able to return after its absence last year. With a variety of guest speakers, attendees will experience a helpful and informational event. ★

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Stories In Focus

FEATURE: The Writing Center

By Jacqueline Johnson

One of Houghton’s wonderful academic resources is the Writing Center. Located in the Center for Student Success in the Chamberlain Center, the Writing Center assists students on any writing assignment or paper. They are open from 3:30 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. on Mondays and Thursdays, and 3:30 P.M. to 7:30 P.M. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. During these times, Students can book slots with their choice of four wonderful student consultants: Megan Brown (‘23), Rachel Huchthausen (‘23), Jacob Lajza (‘23), and Elaine Starling Leeli (‘22). 

The Writing Center is designed to assist students at any point in the writing process from the planning stage to finishing refinements. Whether it be gathering ideas and organizing thoughts or reviewing any stage of draft, the Writing Center consultants are there to help with many different types of assignments, from formal research papers, to personal essays, to lab reports. In addition to a variety of assignments, the Writing Center is also well-versed in a number of styles including MLA, APA, and Chicago. 

The Writing Center is advised by Professor Laurie Dashnau, who is also one of the writing professors here at the college. Professor Dashnau expresses her joy of the Writing Center, along with high praises of the consultants on both their writing skills and their encouraging nature. 

Jacob Lazja (‘23), one of the Writing Center consultants, talks about some of the benefits that he has seen through working in the Writing Center. “Consulting allows me to collaborate with my peers, not only to produce an A+ paper but to produce lifelong writing skills.” He continues by saying, “Our goal at the Writing Center is not to proofread, edit, and send you away. Instead, it is to guide you through strategies and improvements that will, hopefully, be helpful throughout your college career and beyond.” 

The Writing Center has recently welcomed Rachel Huchthausen (‘23) as its newest addition to the consultant team. She is eager to begin helping people hone their writing skills. “I am looking forward to discovering the writing processes of the individuals who come to Houghton’s Writing Center and learning how to tailor each session to each person’s own areas of strength and areas of growth.” Huchthausen has also expressed how her experience with the Writing Center so far has expanded her insight on the writing process and everything that goes into making the Writing Center what it is. 

The Writing Center is truly something that can help any student improve and hone their writing craft. From advanced writers to those who are just starting to develop their voice, any student who walks into the Writing Center will be met with kind and encouraging student consultants who are there to help you along the way to reaching your writing goals. ★