In December 2016, Houghton student Justin Bullard ‘16 will graduate with a major in Inclusive Adolescence Education (IADE), the first and only Houghton student thus far to do so. The IADE major, which exists alongside the Adolescence Education major, was added in 2014. Associate Dean of Education, Cathy Freytag, said in a Houghton press release, “By intentionally infusing purposeful inclusive/special education content into our existing Adolescence Education Program and incorporating two courses that are already taken by teacher education students in the Inclusive Childhood major, we are able to offer a robust program at the adolescence level that will prepare middle and high school teachers to address the unique needs of the diverse learners that they will encounter in any classroom.”
Like the Adolescence Education major, IADE majors may choose a second content major. For example, a student who desires to teach math in a classroom inclusive of differently-abled students would major in IADE with a math concentration. Bullard’s major will be accompanied with a generalist concentration, enabling him to teach a broad range of subjects. Bullard said his wide range of studies gives him the tools to “help my students in all subjects.” He continued, “I can bridge gaps between subjects that a conventional single subject classroom educator may not be there to see how techniques in other classes could benefit a particular student in another setting.”
Education Department Chair, Sunshine Sullivan said, “If someone wants to teach, they need to be prepared to teach in an inclusive setting.” To clarify the term ‘inclusive,” she added, “Today’s classrooms PK- college are full of diverse learners with incredibly powerful learning differences. These learning differences have always been present in our classrooms, but they’ve often been marginalized and labeled as ‘special,’ ‘slow,’ ‘hyper’, ‘challenged’, ‘challenging,’ and the list goes on.” Sullivan also said, unfortunately, “There is a growing shortage of teachers being qualified to teach in an inclusive setting as special education teachers at the adolescence level.”
Bullard, who “can’t remember” a time he did not want to educate young people, quickly took advantage of the IADE major after it became available. “I was conflicted when I came to Houghton,” he said. “I wanted to be a special needs educator, but I also greatly preferred teaching high school students. When I started at Houghton I was an Adolescent Education and Biology double major, but I felt the lack of contact time with special needs students was not something I was just going to get over.”
Bullard’s “prayers were answered” in his sophomore year (2014), when Professor Sullivan informed him of the new IADE major. He said, “Upon hearing her describe the major I immediately said ‘yes.’ I was so excited when they added the major. It is perfect for me and sets me up for exactly what I want to do in my career as a future educator. With my degree I can run a resource room and help a great number of students by providing them with increased individualized attention. I can also participate in a ‘push-in style’ classroom, which is where I enter a mainstream classroom to aid a student with special needs.”
Education professor, Martin Coates, said that while the number of students declaring the IADE major is currently low, “We expect them to grow and we plan to continue offering this major for the foreseeable future. It has a minimal impact on faculty load as the bulk of the major consists of existing courses, so we do not anticipate problems staffing it.” He added that while Bullard is the only student of his year to graduate with the major, there are several students in the department who are at this time considering declaring the major.
Soon to be Houghton graduate Thomas Eckert, a physics major, will enter a Ph.D. program in nuclear physics at the University of Rochester. He will be doing his work at the Laboratory of Laser Energetics. His research at the lab will begin one week after graduation. “I plan on going into experimental nuclear physics, as opposed to a theoretical branch of physics. I went into college planning on getting a degree in industrial design – which is the design of products like iPhones.” According to Eckert, it was his studies in the science honors program that showed him his love of nuclear physics. “Something in my head clicks with nuclear physics. [It] is elegant, there’s an element of unpredictability.”
Mullen noted Connell’s broad range of skills which, in the changing educational landscape of the twenty-first century, gives him “the ability to link academic programs strategically to admissions.” Connell’s vitae is illustrative of his broad and extensive skills and experience in various fields. According to his resumé, he graduated from Houghton College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, with minors in Bible and Philosophy. He then went on to Asbury Theological Seminary in Kentucky, earning a Master of Divinity, and then later a Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Leadership and Biblical Preaching in 1997. Recently he completed a doctoral program at the University of Rochester and became a Doctor of Education in Higher Education Leadership.
The annual events that take place during Take Back the Night are student organized, with faculty and staff cooperation. One of the events include a viewing of the film “Flirting With Danger” followed by a discussion. The discussion will be led by Marc Smithers,Assistant Dean of Residence Life and Programming, and theology professor Dr. Kristina LaCelle Peterson. The film and discussion will take place on Tuesday, March 12 from 7-9 p.m. in the Chamberlain Center, room 123.
The women’s team competed in the distance medley relay (Rebekah White ‘18, Kate Taggart ‘18, Nikki Garns ‘18, and Joanna Friesen ‘17), the pole vault (Fiona Daloia ’17), the 60 meter hurdles (Fink), the high jump (Fink), the 4×800 meter run (White, Taggart, Garns, and Friesen), and the 4×200 meter run (White, Garns, Daloia, and Kasey Cannister ’17).
In 2013, Cronin transferred to Houghton College. She joined the basketball team and remained healthy during the regular season. Unfortunately, Cronin’s luck ran out during a summer league basketball game, she felt a pop in the arch of her foot. The seemingly harmless pop turned out to be a rare injury; Cronin had torn her plantar fascia tendon lengthwise. After recovering, she proceeded to re-tear the tendon two more times, the final tear occurring last spring during a routine base-sliding drill on the softball diamond. She was then barred from athletics by her podiatrist. “There was definitely a period of mourning after that”, she said. 
In the wake of their losses, Button and Cronin found solace in assisting their respective head coaches: Alicia Mucher of women’s basketball and Brianna Allen of softball. “Nothing is the same as playing, but it enables me to stay close to the game”, Cronin said. “It’s a different style of leadership [than playing], and it’s a different way of thinking and strategizing about the game.” 
The trailer of the award-winning documentary states, “Of all developed nations, the U.S. has the most unequal distribution of income, and we’re surging toward even greater inequality.” Activist Robert Reich, former United States Secretary of Labor is featured, promoting a left-leaning solution to income inequality in the United States and possible solutions toward greater equity.