Author: Houghton STAR

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

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Campus News

Houghton Chamber Choir

Chamber Choir Spring 2023 - Courtesy of Dr. Sharon Johnson
By Josey Ikker ('24)

On Friday Feb. 9, the Houghton Chamber Choir will present their concert titled “Christ With Me” at 6:30 p.m. for Greatbatch School of Music’s upcoming Preview Day. 

Every semester, Houghton hosts a School of Music Preview Day for prospective students who are looking to either major, minor or have a concentration in music. This preview day consists of a tour around the Center for the Arts, sitting in on a classroom setting, such as Music Theory, observations of Houghton Choir, interacting with current students and faculty, a student recital and a featured ensemble performance.

The Chamber Choir is a fourteen-member select ensemble. In order to audition, students must be at least a sophomore who is also in the Houghton Choir. 

The Chamber Choir was started in Dec. 2022 by Dr. Kevin Dibble, conductor of the Chamber Choir, Men’s Choir and Women’s Choir, and the Associate Director of Choral Activities. 

The Chamber Choir as Dr. Dibble described, “is a unique organization. It’s small, it can fit in different spaces. It can take advantage of different things.”

Recently, the ensemble participated in a Choir retreat before the first day of classes in which they learned a list of repertoire in less than a week and had the opportunity to perform for a Senior’s Luncheon at Family Life Ministries on Jan. 11.  

The ensemble’s repertoire consists of Renaissance music and traditional hymns, and the works featured for the upcoming Preview Day performance are by composers such as Gjelio, Flummerfelt, Paulus, Fleming and Stroope. 

Dr. Dibble explained the theme of the concert as “a representation of different stages in life in which these songs are used to inspire and remind us that Christ is with us.” 

One of Dr. Dibble’s favorite pieces in the concert is “The Deer’s Cry” by Arvo Pärt because, “that’s where the title of the concert [Christ with Me] comes from. Musically, seems to not do a lot but textually is very powerful.” He also shared that, “the simplicity of the music drives the listener and the singer to the significance of the text.”

Another factor for this concert is the location which will not be in the Recital Hall but in the atrium. 

“Visually the atrium presents a different aesthetic than a typical concert hall,” Dr. Dibble stated, “and this is the Chamber Choir’s first stand-alone concert…let’s do a little something out of the ordinary.” 

Dr. Dibble has expressed his enjoyment of working with the Chamber Choir, because they are a group of high-level, talented singers who “move quickly and make really great music.” 

Rachael McVeigh (‘23), a first-year graduate student, will be featured as another conductor for the concert. She will be conducting “O Radiant Dawn” by James MacMillan and “Estoy Les Digo” by Kinley Lange. 

“I like doing these two pieces together because they’re so different that I can work on two different skillsets,” McVeigh explained. “Estoy les Digo has a lot of slow and legato versus O Radiant Dawn which has a lot of sharp dynamic contrasts with similar interesting chord progressions.”

McVeigh has been singing with many of the Chamber Choir members for the past four years.

“It’s fun to get to conduct with my friends,” McVeigh said, “and have that support as I step into this new role.” 

All are welcome to attend and listen to the Chamber Choir in “Christ With Me” in the Center for the Arts Atrium. ★

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Campus News

Voice Recitals

Evelyn Simanowski (Courtesy of Hannah Sturdivant) and Sophia Pantea Posters
By Juliana Schmidt ('25)

On Monday Feb. 12 in the Center for the Arts Recital Hall, Sophia Pantea (‘24) will perform her Senior Recital at 6:30 p.m. and Evelyn Simanowski’s (‘25) Junior Recital will begin at 8 p.m., respectively. 

Professor Kimberly Prins Moeller, the Associate Professor of Voice, disclosed that Pantea’s recital will be full of beautiful and romantic music. It will involve a lot of “soaring melodies” and “heartfelt moments.” 

The title Pantea chose for her recital is “Fill My Heart.” She chose this partly because it is from her favorite musical “The Sound of Music”, but also because of the people at Houghton who have inspired her. 

“I am so blessed to be at Houghton and I have grown so much thanks to my loving teachers,” Pantea said. “This recital is a thank you to my friends and professors for helping me through [these] past few years.” 

As this is Pantea’s senior year at Houghton, she has worked very hard to get to this particular recital. While she is nervous, Pantea expressed that she is also super excited. 

Simanowski chose a French title for her recital called, “Scenes de Nuit” (translated as “Night Scenes”). She shared that the overall feelings for her recital are ones of excitement. 

Professor Prins Moeller revealed that there will be some unexpected twists and a few laughs to look forward to in Simanowski’s recital. 

“I’ve been present for many of her countless hours she’s put into practicing her French and it’s been quite a journey to get here,” Hannah Sturdivant (‘25) commented. “Getting to see her vision come to life in her recital hearing, photos, and poster has been uplifting to experience.” 

Simanowski confessed that it was very personal picking her own program, rehearsing and then presenting. She shared that her recital is her “passion project” and that sharing it with an audience will give her a feeling of satisfaction. 

“I’m expecting it to be a pretty vulnerable experience,” Simanowski admitted, “but I’m hoping in that vulnerability I can share the joy and meaning I found and this music with whoever comes.”

Professor Prins Moeller said that recitals are her favorite part of being an applied voice instructor. 

“I get to know these wonderful singers over several years of working together, then walk with them through the recital preparation process and witness their determination and growth, and finally get to see them bring all of the elements together into a cohesive evening that celebrates their talent, skill, and artistry,” Professor Prins Moeller commented. “It’s incredible!”

With both Pantea and Simanowski performing on the same night, it will prove to be an evening full of ups and downs, heartfelt lyrics and perhaps a few laughs. Overall, not a recital to be missed! ★

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Stories In Focus

Feature: Mercy Seat and Koinonia

By Rebecca Dailey ('25)

Both Mercy Seat and Koinonia (Koin) are just two of several ways students can participate in worship on Houghton University’s campus, with each bringing its own unique forms of fellowship. Mercy Seat first began in 2001 and Koin was originally called Celebration in 1978, until it was renamed Koinonia in September of 1999. 

Mercy Seat is flexible but is held on Mondays through Thursdays at 8 p.m. and on Fridays at 7 p.m. in the Wesley Chapel basement. Different teams form the Mercy Seat gatherings, with some participating in worship music and others using the time for silence and prayer.   

Susannah Denham (‘26), who is on the Mercy Seat Cabinet states, “It’s really a great chance to worship and pray with friends or with people that you don’t know too.”

Mercy Seat worship is open to all students who wish to take part. Teams are also always looking to fill open spots.

“Mercy Seat,” Isabella Matton (‘24), the Mercy Seat president, says, “is a club for students to lead their own worship to serve fellow students. It’s leadership based and gives the opportunity for students to serve Houghton and build character.”

Mercy Seat holds many events throughout the semester, such as caroling in the local area during Christmas, hymnal night and The Cry during finals. 

Matton also explains, “We are working on an event with International student Alliance (ISA) as a multicultural night with songs from different cultures.” 

Koinonia is Greek for fellowship among believers, and occurs on Sundays at 7 p.m. as a worship concert including both music and prayer. Four teams rotate throughout the semester and often partner with the Houghton Wesleyan Church for events such as Sunday services. 

Kayleigh Verspoor (‘24), one of the student directors of Koin and a music leader for her team, explains, “Some sit, some dance, some sing but they all come seeking the same thing, the atmosphere of worship.” 

Each week of Koin has a theme for music and the devotion, which are rehearsed throughout the week.

A music team leader, Matthew Arndt (‘25) says, “We try to create an atmosphere of worship, share our musical abilities and bring people closer to God. We do the best we can to serve students through fellowship and reaching out with prayer baskets and prayer leaders.” 

Dr. Sharon Johnson has been the faculty advisor for Koin since the Spring of 2021. She is uniquely positioned as both a member of the Houghton Wesleyan Church and a faculty member at Houghton.

“I’m there as a resource and encouragement for them,” Dr. Johnson explains. “I might give them ideas about music but, they really rehearse on their own and choose the passage of scripture and devotions. Part of supervising is letting them make their own decisions.”

In the spring, Dr. Johnson sits in on interviews for the team leaders, co-directors and the band interviews and auditions. She meets with the Koin members  before the service to talk about their weeks with the music team for that night and the sound team and prays with them.

“I see it as worshiping God,” Jackson Collins (‘27), a band member of a team states, “I don’t see it as a performance but a way of worshiping with the audience and exalting God. Worship starts early in the day and goes on throughout the week as we receive the spirit and go out serving God.” ★

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Columns

Southern Tier Symphony

Written By: Grace Vuolo (’24)

Saturday night, the Southern Tier Symphony performed at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts at St. Bonaventure University, continuing their twenty-first season, “Journey On!,” with its second series, “Adventure.” The symphony features Houghton’s own Dr. David Clem on viola, Daniel Zambrano on cello, Dianna Clem on piccolo, and graduate Jack Smith on trumpet. The music director and conductor, Benjamin Grow, opened the concert by conducting the ensemble and audience in The Star-Spangled Banner before smoothly transitioning to John Philip Sousa’s The Star and Stripes Forever. Grow’s conducting was lively and displayed precision that would set the tone for his conducting throughout the rest of the concert. This Sousa composition featured portions that highlighted Dianna Clem’s proficient piccolo playing as well as Jack Smith’s strong trumpet and a well-synchronized string section. The next piece played was Giacomo Rossini’s Overture to The Barber of Seville. Grow conducted the dynamic changes with clarity that encouraged accurate playing for the ensemble. The softer sections stood out as the strings and winds maintained an impressive quality of sound through soft dynamic levels. The violins remained well in sync throughout the piece, following the concertmaster, James Ieda, who led with serenity and prestige. The Waltz from Sleeping Beauty by the illustrious Piotr Illych Tchaikovsky stole the show from the moment it began. Commonly associated with the classic Disney film, this Tchaikovsky piece bore much nostalgia that was phenomenally brought to life through the sweet strings, rhythmic winds, and soaring brass. Grow’s conducting perfectly communicated the style of the song and gave clear cutoffs for a synchronized orchestra. The next piece, Hungarian March, was composed by Hector Berlioz. The strings sounded loud and full as the other sections played in good harmony with one another. The brass section entered strong upon the conductor’s cue yielding an even fuller sound. The fast-paced sections within the piece also were played with precision and distinguished talent. Roses of the South by Johann Strauss followed, bearing the same excellence in dynamic and stylistic transitions accomplished by the ensemble and conductor as the previous songs. This piece was succeeded by another one of the best performances of the night, another Tchaikovsky composition, Act 1, No. 2 from Swan Lake. I was excited to see this in the program and surprised when the conductor had a lapse of memory and nearly skipped over it. Fortunately, members of the ensemble reminded him, and the nostalgic, powerful sweetness of the piece enveloped the audience. The brass and percussion played in perfect synchronization, and the featured oboist played out the melody beautifully, making this a highlight of the concert. Leroy Anderson’s Bugler’s Holiday featured Jack Smith along with the other trumpeter who were both surprisingly joined by Grow also on trumpet. A brief intermission followed this piece. During intermission, there was an undeniable anticipation building. If the first half was so incredible, what did the second half have in store?Apparently, not much. The second half opened with the Poet and the Peasant Overture by Franz von Suppé which was a rather generic composition compared to the other songs that had been played. The percussion was overpowering, particularly at the end, and the piece overall brought down the level of anticipation for the rest of the performance. The following well-known piece, The Blue Danube by Johann Strauss II, although played well stylistically, featured tired strings and poorly-timed percussion that contrasted the lively conducting and strong brass section. Next was Radetzsky March, written by Johann Strauss I, wherein Grow encouraged audience involvement by clapping to the beat during the main musical motif. The audience kept the beat well, but the strings majorly messed up rhythmically and harmonically, possibly thrown off by the external involvement. At this point, with such a blatant mistake, I had lost hope in the rest of the performance. Fortunately, the show was pulled together beautifully for the Waltz of the Flowers from The Nutcracker, another piece by Piotr Illych Tchaikovsky. Perhaps this reviewer is just partial to Tchaikovsky, but this was the third highlight of the entire performance. Cristin Kalinowski opened with a harp solo free from the conductor. This lilted throughout the room, encouraging dynamically balanced winds and unified strings that followed Grow’s masterful guidance. Finally, the symphony closed out the performance just as it was opened, with a piece by John Philip Sousa, The Washington Post, which was an upbeat, precise, and successful end to the concert.Overall, despite the mistakes, watching the Southern Tier Symphony was a beautiful and inspiring experience for this young musician and reviewer. Given the opportunity, I would certainly encourage going to see them perform, as I would hope to as well at the next chance, which will be again at St. Bonaventure University on May 4th. ★

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Opinions

Volleyball: The Sport For Life

Lindsay Seddon

I remember my first day of modified volleyball practice when I was in 7th grade. My mom, who played volleyball in high school and here at Houghton, encouraged me to give it a try. I remember the majority of my friends heading to the soccer field while I headed to the outdoor makeshift volleyball court since the girl’s varsity team had priority for gym time. I remember in those first few days of practice finding the sport really hard, but I wanted to keep trying since it captured my interest. I couldn’t get my serve over the net, passing and setting to target was nonexistent, and a “kill” wasn’t even in my vocabulary at that point. However, volleyball was different from other sports I played throughout my life, and it was the beginning of what became (and still is) a huge part of who I am. 

You see, volleyball is so positionally technical, yet each member of the team has a very important role in the sequence of the game. You can’t get a swing without a set, and you can’t get a set without a pass. Everyone needs to work together to make an organized play happen. Culturally, it’s always been a very polite sport since it’s non-contact, yet the power and aggressiveness especially when going up for a swing or serve can be brutal. When you break it down, volleyball is all about being organized as a team, dominating your position, and keeping the ball in play on your side at all times. I love that. 

They say volleyball is a lifetime sport, and I agree. For example, our assistant coach for the HUMVB team, David Bourne, plays for a 55’s and over team who qualified for nationals this past fall. The game changes as you get older, but that doesn’t mean you can’t play. Often you see older teams beat younger teams because their game IQ is so high from playing for so many years. They know how to change up the pace and read the opposing offense which keeps them one step ahead, positioning exactly where they need to be on the court at all times. Another example is our very own Men’s Volleyball team. We have a range of experience levels as a beginner program. However, when they brought home their first win in program history this past weekend, it proved you can pick up the sport and succeed when you train hard and work together as one unit. 

Someone once said that watching our high school varsity volleyball team play looked like a ballet. Not because of its delicate nature, but how we flowed and synced as a team on the court. That’s how organized we were as six individuals behind a 7’4” net working close together in a 30x30ft perimeter court. We knew each other’s tendencies and thought processes. Our setter tailored sets perfectly to each hitter for a flawless swing resulting in a kill. We knew when we were going flat how to reset and pick one another up; finishing what we started together. If we were out of system on the court, we knew as a team we had each other’s backs to better the ball for the next person to keep it in play. I had full faith in our defense because I knew they would never let a ball touch the floor. As a team we weren’t perfect, and we had our losses, but we built trust and respect for one another through it all, and that took us to heights we never imagined. I can see why this person thought it looked like a dance, because we knew how to work together.

After modified volleyball, I began the pursuit of earning an athletic scholarship when making the varsity team my freshman year. During those four years we won sectionals, regionals, and went to states. I played club volleyball all year round where we participated in tournaments across the country, and a dream was fulfilled when I received an athletic scholarship to play for the women’s volleyball team here at Houghton (this is when we were NAIA). To say I loved every minute of it all would be a lie, but how do you learn to work with others and grow in character when you aren’t challenged or go through setbacks? Sports in general are a great teacher of that. However, there is something about volleyball that is so unique. 

Volleyball is a game that takes you on emotional and mental highs and lows. In soccer or basketball a mistake can be quickly erased by stealing the ball back, etc., since the game is in constant motion. If you shank a serve in volleyball, that’s it. The point is gone forever and given to the other team. Between every point in the game of volleyball is the opportunity to mentally train yourself to keep moving forward or dwell on mistakes that can bring a whole team down. Momentum, communication, anticipation, and organization are key, and if you lose it, a team needs to work fiercely to get it back.

Seeing the sport grow over the last decade is proof that it’s rapidly capturing the interest of generations to come. 2023 saw the highest number of men’s volleyball programs added in the NCAA (including Houghton!). In August, a Nebraska Women’s Volleyball match broke the world record for the largest crowd ever in a women’s sporting event, beating the Women’s Soccer World Cup final crowd record just a few months earlier. And last week was the launch of the Pro Volleyball Federation, a professional league for women’s volleyball here in the USA. I love sports, but I love volleyball the most. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think volleyball is the sport for life, and I’m so thankful to know it. ★

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Campus News

Houghton’s New Men’s Volleyball Team

Houghton's men's volleyball team practicing - Courtesy of Svannah Stitt
By Abigail Bates ('26)

Houghton’s new men’s volleyball program began playing in 2023-2024, under its Head Coach Lindsay Seddon and Assistant Coach Dave Bourne.

“When I decided to attend Houghton,” Elijah Sproull (‘26), a setter and rightside hitter, commented,  “I had accepted that I was leaving Volleyball behind, it was hard but I felt that this was where the Lord wanted me to be. I know now he has many reasons for having me here and being a part of this team is one of those.”

Lindsay Seddon, a volleyball alumna of Houghton University, returned in May of 2023 to serve as the program’s first Head Coach, with Coach Bourne later joining her in August. While women’s volleyball has strong roots at Houghton, men’s volleyball was only an active club sport during the 1990s and early 2000s. The current team consists of 14 players—Jerry Buno, Devin Burns, Luke George, Caleb Holscher, Gabriel Lucena, Thomas McGlynn, Anthony Panboon, Jonah Sissel, Elijah Sproull, Jase Stone, Elijah Studt, Devin Tullar, Jared Wright and Luke Yelle—who all entered the program with different levels of experience.

“Coach [Lindsay],” outside hitter Caleb Holscher (‘26) stated, “has done an incredible job of getting our program off the ground. She was tasked with taking a team of competitive volleyball players, athletes who had only played pick-up and Athletes who had never played the game and she made a team out of us.”

Due to the program being new, the coaches have been developing its foundations during the current season.

“Our focus this season is to cultivate who Houghton Men’s Volleyball is: and that’s representing Jesus by doing good work in all that we do, together,” Coach Seddon emphasized. 

Holscher put it as a motto of “More of Him,” which he explained as focusing on more of Jesus and less of themselves. He has expressed pride in how his teammates have embodied this attitude through honoring Christ first, building one another up, working hard to improve, preparing the program for future athletes and their brotherhood that encourages one another to be better men of God.

“The team has been amazing,” Sproull declared, “it has been awesome to see the exponential improvement from every player. We are the fastest improving team and that is so cool to be a part of.”

The team’s daily practices begin by warming up and stretching, and then they do partner control drills that focus on refining technique. Coach Seddon explained that when she and Coach Bourne spot weak points during their review of matches from the day prior, they will implement drills during practice to help the team perform better in those areas.

“Our guys are the best!” Coach Bourne expressed. “There is a great deal of cohesiveness and respect amongst all players. They value their relationship with God first and foremost. They work very hard and we can also share some laughs and lighter moments, too. We have many first time volleyball players that have taken learning the game very seriously. This is evidenced by the amazing improvement we have seen by all. All this has been nourished by Lindsay’s coaching and leadership.”

Holscher and Sproull both commented on how amazing their coaches have been this season, with Coach Seddon starting the program and Coach Bourne bringing his vast knowledge and experience to the team. Holscher added that a quote of Coach Bourne’s is “the ball doesn’t hit the floor without a body hitting the floor with it,” exemplifying how Coach Bourne keeps the atmosphere of the team light, while never being afraid to push Holscher and his teammates to give their best, no matter the circumstances.

“When the team [is] dialled in and focused, they are a force to be reckoned with and can keep up with teams who are more established,” Coach Seddon remarked.

The men’s volleyball team had their first match win against Maranatha Baptist this last Saturday Jan. 27 and will be up against Roberts Wesleyan on Saturday Feb. 3. While the team has played Roberts Wesleyan twice without winning yet, Holscher explained that they are excited to get “another shot at it” this weekend.

“So be at Nielsen at 2:00 this Saturday,” Holscher stated, “cause if we beat Roberts you’re gonna wish you had been in the building.” ★

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Campus News

Gillette Hosts Disney Channel Throwbacks

Disney Channel Throwback poster - Courtesy of Emily Fausnaught
By Anna Catherman ('24)

If you walk through Gillette Hall on a Monday night, you’re more than likely to hear laughs on at least one floor. Second New is no exception. Laughter and eyerolls both abound on Mondays starting at 9:30 p.m., when the floor has its weekly event: Disney Channel Throwbacks.

Every floor in Gillette has its own events, tailored by each foor’s Resident Assistant (RA) to the residents. When Emily Fausnaught (‘24) became the RA of Second New, she turned to a bulletin board in one of Gillette’s corners for inspiration. A musical themed board featuring Troy Bolton stirred up her nostalgia for Disney Channel originals. 

“There’s something a little cringey…and also wonderful about them,” Fausnaught said. “I wanted to share that with everyone else.” 

The first week of the movie nights began with the classic Disney Original, “High School Musical.” A few dedicated watchers joined Fausnaught in the floor’s lounge. Week two featured the “Princess Protection Program.” It was met by an even larger crowd, with couches and floor space filled. Attendees munched on popcorn and pretzels. 

One of the enthusiastic attendees was Gabby Wiltse (‘27). She scoured the internet for lists of Disney Channel originals, so she could suggest what the floor should watch next. 

“I kind of love Second New,” Wiltse said.

Others were less thrilled, but still supportive. Adelaide Sullivan (‘24) noted that she is an avid anime watcher. Watching Japanese-style animation, such as Demon Slayer, One Piece and My Hero Academia, taught her to analyze things closely. She finds the drama in the Disney Channel Original Movies to be a little over-the-top. 

“It’s hard not to overanalyze High School Musical,” Sullivan said. “It was not a terrible movie, but I think it could have been a more complex [storyline] instead of having drama just for drama . . . it was easy to tell what the bullies were going to do because their actions were predictable, as were the actions of others.”

Disney Channel Throwbacks will continue every Monday throughout the rest of the semester, with selections announced weekly prior to the event. The next gathering is on Feb. 5. ★

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Columns

The Creator (2023) Review

Written By: Joseph Schmidt (’24)

Set in 2070, 15 years after a nuclear detonation in Los Angeles that started a war against AI, Sergeant Joshua Taylor, played by John David Washington, an ex-special forces agent, is recruited to hunt down a mysterious terrorist going by the name Nirmata, or “Creator”. The United States military has gained valuable information that Nirmata has created a super weapon which could cause the US to lose the war against the AI threat. But when Joshua discovers the super weapon is a robotic child, he finds himself at a loss of what to do.

“The Creator” honestly surprised me as a movie. When I first saw the trailers for the movie, it looked like it was nothing more than a Star Wars rip off, which I suppose is what happens when you get the fantastic Gareth Edwards, the same director who created “Rogue One”. But when I first watched the movie, I was pretty interested in all the concepts of robots, humans and AI all interacting together in a shared universe, only to have AI become the main threat. However, “The Creator” shows an interesting perspective from both sides of this war against the AI. It shows the fear and anger of the US and the US military, who have vigilantly fought against robots, simulants and AI in order to make sure there is no more threat of nuclear extinction, but it also shows the perspective of New Asia, the country harboring and supporting the robots, simulants and AI because they believe that these beings are as real as humans are.Yet, the story never shifts away from Joshua and the super weapon child known as Alphie, played by Madeleine Yuna Voyles.

Joshua’s reason for going after this super weapon is because he’s trying to find his wife, who is in New Asia and supposedly helping the New Asian forces create Alphie. Joshua’s mission was to collect the super weapon or destroy it in order to find his wife and return home with her. However, after the mission goes wrong, Joshua and Alphie must find their way across New Asia and avoid the New Asian forces looking for them both. As Joshua understands what’s at stake, why begin to see and understand more of the perspective of New Asians and how that convinces Joshua to switch sides over the course of the movie. This was something I appreciated, that Joshua didn’t have a quick moment where he changed sides in the middle of a battle, but instead slowly began to understand why Alphie was created as a defense for the New Asians, not an offense.

Overall, “The Creator” is definitely one of my new favorite movies. A compelling story, a new approach of conflict and love and trying to understand that just because something isn’t alive doesn’t mean it’s not real. We watch Joshua struggle as a soldier taking care of Alphie as she learns the world, trying to avoid threats while guarding what he had considered a threat. We watch Alphie gain more understanding of her enhanced abilities and how they impact the people of New Asia in many different ways. We watch the brutality of war, the tactics used in the midst of fear, and the sacrifices and losses that come as a result. No one in this movie is safe. It made the movie seem so real despite being set in 2070.

However, some things were predictable in the movie. While deaths are inevitable and some are definitely shocking and surprising, some events are incredibly predictable. In fact, some are pretty stupidly coincidental as well. And while these coincidences and predictable events aren’t relied upon for the story to continue, it did make me a tiny bit disappointed by such cliche scenes.

In conclusion, I did enjoy the movie. I loved this movie. It surprised me, made me emotional on my first watch through in a few parts, and played into tension beautifully. Not to mention that the cinematography was impressive. It’s definitely worth the watch if you’re a Sci-Fi fan, and it keeps you engaged from start to finish. Seriously, watch it for yourselves!

Final Grade: 8.7/10 ★

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Opinions

The Language of Music

By Katrina Kaufman

“Where words fail, music speaks.” This was the Hans Christian Anderson quote on my piano teacher’s wall before coming to Houghton. This is a quote that many musicians likely have come across, and while it may be overdone, it is not incorrect. Music contains power. Music can both heighten and express emotion. According to a neuroscientist, music has the power to rewire your brain chemistry. In my own life, music has helped me to process emotions as well as process hard truths in life. Music is soothing as well. We see this in the Bible when David soothes Saul’s inner demons. I recently learned that musicians are hired to choose/compose the best music in advertising to make sure that even the music helps convey the exact message that the advertising company is trying to convey to their audience.

Music also has the power to connect people. When a musician is able to be vulnerable and share themselves with their audience, the audience is able to connect both with the music and the musician. The joy of performing with other musicians on stage and getting to create music together rather than alone is a fulfilling experience that is unforgettable. 

I recently had the opportunity to participate in a class discussion where we dug deeper into questioning music. Something we discussed is the idea that music is not truly essential when it comes to survival. Back in the ancient days, cavemen were struggling to survive. They were fighting to live, and yet they still made rough instruments for themselves. While music was not essential to them the way food, water, and shelter was, music still filled a less tangible need they had. Our ancestors must have felt the need to have music as a vehicle to feel connected and a sense of community, as well as the use for spiritual purposes and not just social. Keith Richard said “Music is a language that doesn’t speak in particular words. It speaks in emotions, and if it’s in the bones, it’s in the bones.” 

I believe we as humans make music because God put music inside of us. I believe I experience a little of God’s glory and awe when I am filled with awe soaking up all the beautiful music at a symphony. I also feel a sense of beauty and awe in my soul when I am listening to a beautiful soft rock song and feel a progression and cadence happening in the music. 

Another aspect of music that I love is its healing properties. Music helps people in their suffering. Music helps people to feel and process their emotions. Music also helps people to feel understood and validated in their suffering, therefore making them feel less alone and more seen and validated. One of the wonderful things about music is its ability to meet a person where they are at. A song that expresses the emotion or idea that a person is experiencing can help that person find more meaning in their suffering and give them courage to keep moving forward.

Most importantly, music can connect us to God through the act of Worshiping. Koin is an excellent way at Houghton to experience connecting to God through Worship music. As a Performance major, I have been exploring what it means to worship God through the act of pursuing excellence in music as an act of worship and devotion. I really appreciate the atmosphere at the Greatbatch School of Music and how the music professors live out what it means to be a Christian musician who is making music for God’s glory rather than a secular music school that provides an environment where self-glorification is easy to pursue, or where music is worshiped rather than God. I value GSOM’s commitment to putting Christ first and creating a healthy environment to grow aspiring musicians. ★

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Columns

2023: A Beautiful Culmination of Cinema

Written by: Caleb Tiedemann (’25)

With Oscar nominations released and the award ceremony around the corner, it is time for another yearly review of the ups and downs of the entertainment industry that is known as Hollywood. 2023 was both a very serious and silly year for film. With films like Cocaine Bear and Five Nights at Freddy’s being released the B-movie representation was present. Marvel released two critically panned and theatrically bombing films in the form of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania and The Marvels. Their third, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, managed to defy expectations but mostly due to the quality of the Guardians movies. James Gunn, as usual, pours heart, soul, and humor into his films and Vol. 3 was no different. With these critical flops appearing almost back-to-back and continuing off of the superhero flops from 2022, Marvel is slowly treading water but losing energy. DC seems to be in a very similar boat with 2023 being the final nail in the coffin for the DCEU before James Gunn does a creative overhaul. A sequel to Shazam! came out and though I found some personal enjoyment in the movie, many other fans did not, resulting in a flop for DC. The Flash was also released and was mostly disliked for its convoluted storyline and ugly visuals (both of which I can confirm to be true). The final flatulent note of the DCEU came in the form of Aquaman: The Lost Kingdom, a film of muddled messages and ideas, inconsistent humor, generic storytelling, and the almost universally disliked Amber Heard. But it was not just the superhero franchises that suffered, there were many sendoffs to beloved franchises aside from the previously mentioned ones. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny was met with very mixed reviews among fans and critics and it provided me with one of the most disappointing, dumbest, plot-hole-ridden, and truly revolting portrayals of modern storytelling that disguised itself as an Indiana Jones film. Poor 80-year-old Harrison Ford is dragged through a terribly written movie that has none of the adventure, character, and heart that the originals contain. Apparently, my feelings were similar to those of others as it drastically underperformed. In other news the pen-ultimate two-parter of the Mission: Impossible franchise came out to fans such as myself who have been watching Tom Cruise do insanely crazy stunts for the past decade. Another send-off came in the form of John Wick: Chapter 4, the well-deserved and intense action film to put the beloved franchise to rest. One of the biggest upsides of this year came from the release of films helmed by popular and beloved directors. M. Night Shyamalan, the beloved horror/thriller director, released Knock at the Cabin, a tense and wonderfully acted film that dealt with familial love and sacrifice in an unconventional and heart-wrenching way. David Fincher released his assassin-led drama The Killer which explored more of the downtime between each job and was received with mixed reactions. Famed director Martin Scorsese released The Killers of the Flower Moon, a brilliant period piece about the horrors the Osage Native-American nation experienced at the hands of greedy and evil white colonizers. The biggest and best releases came around the middle of the year starting with Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. Across the Spider-Verse was a beautiful, emotional, and well-done film that touches upon a lot of heavier issues than expected and draws so much heart from its main ensemble. But, the undoubted magnum opus from this year is “Barbenheimer.” These two movies that managed to shake the entire internet up by the vast differences of their subject matter. Christopher Nolan’s epic boasts a talented cast of characters, rushing to create the first atomic bomb. As they get closer and closer to succeeding the weight of what they are doing sets in and the aftereffects shock the entire world. With one of the best endings, stellar pacing, and an around amazing cast, Oppenheimer was a true treat and is definitely worth the awards it is receiving. Barbie, on the other hand, did not meet my expectations in the same way. It was still a very fun movie and I am very aware that I am not considered the target audience. The movie boasts a colorful ensemble of characters and heart and seeks to define questions surrounding womanhood and femininity. Though I do think the morals are a bit clunky, and the writers bit off more than they could chew in terms of the message they sought to convey, I would be foolish to deny Barbie’s cultural impact. This year was another great one for movies as we got a wide variety from all across the film-making spectrum. The summer blockbuster season has never been more ominous and exciting and with independent and unique films coming into the limelight, it seems that Marvel and DC are being pushed back to the shadows. Alas, who knows what the future holds? One thing I can say is that 2024 already has a good roster of films to look forward to! ★