Author: Jonan Pilet

Categories
Stories In Focus

2017 Commencement Speaker Announced

This year college president, Shirley Mullen, selected John Inazu to speak at Commencement. When choosing a speaker, Mullen values those who have something important to offer the graduates. She looks for someone with an ability to speak eloquently, as well as someone who can extend Houghton’s connections in one way or another, either in connection with the church, the region, or the larger academic world.

Inazu is the Sally D. Danforth Distinguished Professor of Law and Religion and Professor of Political Science at Washington University in St. Louis where he teaches criminal law, law and religion, and various First Amendment seminars.

In his Washington University biography, Inazu explained his area of study, “My scholarship focuses on the First Amendment freedoms of speech,  assembly, and religion, and related issues of political and legal theory.”

Inazu has written several books on the topic including, Liberty’s Refuge: The Forgotten Freedom of Assembly, published by Yale University Press in 2012, and Confident Pluralism: Surviving and Thriving Through Deep Difference, published by the University of Chicago Press in 2016.

Mullen values that Dr. Inazu is “a deeply committed Christian [who has] worked with Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship.” She values that he is concerned with how to create a society where people with strongly held differences can live together peaceably without compromising their personal beliefs. “Given today’s increasingly divided political and theological world, this is a high priority.”

Inazu comes from a prestigious academic background, including being named Washington University’s 2014 David M. Becker Professor of the Year, a visiting assistant professor at Duke University School of Law, a Royster Fellow at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. As well as distinguished legal experience, he clerked for Judge Roger L. Wollman of the U.S Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. According to Houghton’s press release, he also served for four years as an associate general counsel with the Department of the Air Force at the Pentagon.

Mullen sees Inazu as an ideal person, with his extensive legal and religious experience, to speak to graduates on how to navigate today’s divided political and theological world.

“I believe that graduates of Christian colleges like Houghton are ideal agents or catalysts for creating this kind of peaceable society that is also rich in ideas and reflection—as opposed to a society where everyone must think the same thing in order to be able to live together in peace—or live in fear of ideas that are different from one’s own,” said Mullen. “I believe this is the work of being “salt” and “light” as followers of Jesus Christ in our time.” She continued, “In creating this hospitable space for complicated and difficult conversations, we are also creating space for the Holy Spirit to work in the lives of both believers and unbelievers to bring us deeper into the Truth.”

While Mullen recognizes the most important thing about Commencement is the awarding of diplomas and the celebration with families, she added, “We want to offer on that day something of potential value as our graduates think about their future.”

Categories
Campus Stories In Focus

Student Led Fun Run Benefits Charity

Houghton College’s recreation department program planning class is hosting a 5K Fun Run on April 2. The race starts at 3 pm and the Field of Dreams. Sign in begins at 1:45 pm the day of the event. There is a suggested donation of $10 with the cash or check collected at the time of the event. All proceeds from this event are being donated to Allegany County Cancer Services (ACCS).

Events created through the program planning class start as assignments from assistant professor in the department of sport recreation and wellness Laura Alexeichik. She encourages them to be creative and to think about events that will appeal to what those in the Houghton community want or need. “Through this class my students are learning the details of creation, design, and the employment of events. It’s difficult to plan successful events,” Alexeichik said.

Bridget Dowling ‘17, a recreation equestrian performance major involved in the planning of this event, said, “The event planning process started with a group of students [in the program planning class] getting together and wanting to make a difference in Houghton’s local community.” When asked how the group came up with the charitable aspect of the event, fellow program planning classmate, Rebecca Rex ‘18, a recreation equine management major with minors in business, psychology and equine therapies, explained that they wanted to make the event more immediate to their participants. “The majority of our program planning class has had at least one family member, or close friend, battle cancer,” said Rex. “After looking at the charities in and around Allegany County we decided that ACCS would be best because it has established an intimate impact on the community.” Dowling agreed, adding that, “ACCS was the perfect charity to donate to because they are Allegany County based.”

Rex also sees this event as a way to cultivate her event planning skills. “This is for a great cause as well as allowing us to further our education,” she said. “The skills we have gained and sharpened through this course will allow us to be better professionals in our work fields.”

Other students in the program planning class have events coming up as well. These events include a Magic: The Gathering card tournament in Wellsville on April 1, a scavenger hunt called the “Highlander Hunt” on April 23 from 2-4 pm, and Boces Sports Spectacular on Friday, April 21. Boces Sports Spectacular has been an annual event where Houghton’s program planning class works with boce schools from all over Allegany County to engage kids from this area. There will be pony rides, canoeing, rock climbing, human bowling, and much more.

Alexeichik see this as a valuable experience for the students in her class. “I love seeing students grab ahold of these opportunities, taking what they learn in class and getting excited about planning events. Impacting the community.”

Rex and Dowling both hope for a good turnout on April 2. Dowling said, “It is open to everyone! You can walk, run, hop, skip or jump your way to the finish line!”

For more information and to register online go to www.houghton.edu/5k/.

 

Categories
Opinions

Ignorance and Santa Claus

When I was eight I got into a heated discussion with some friends about the existence of Santa. I was thoroughly convinced. I cited evidence.

“My parents say he’s real. Last year, I found muddy footprints on the kitchen floor.”

“I bet they were your dad’s shoes. Did you check if they matched your dad’s boots?”

“There were half eaten carrots on the roof.”

“Did you ask if your parents threw them up there?”

“The milk we set out was half drunk.”

“Maybe your dad drank-”

“Ha! He hates milk.”

Despite my friends best efforts, I went on believing in Santa.

When I was asked to write an opinions piece this week, I struggled. When controversial issues arise I often find myself listening and rarely acting. The idea of taking a stance, especially a strong stance scares me. Frankly, I’m ignorant. I don’t know enough to speak with authority on issues of race or immigration, or any hot topic issue. And even when I’ve done the research and learned about the issue, I find myself reluctant to speak, thinking others know more.

My strongest and most divisive opinions involve comma and semicolon usage.

How can ignorance breed such strong opinions? And how can I have an opinion if I am ignorant?

Often I am lazy and rely on other people to sway my opinions on issues. I look to parents or friends, and knowing what kind of people they are, I trust that they’re opinions are right without bothering to learn the issues myself. This means choosing a side not based on knowledge but on friend groups, convenience, or how cool a movement’s t-shirt is (I owned an Invisible Children t-shirt for years thinking it was a band).

My challenge for myself and others is threefold. First, be wary of speaking authoritatively on matters that you don’t have the knowledge. Second, if something matters to you, pursue knowledge of it relentlessly. Learn all that there is to learn. Don’t be content with vague ideas and slogans, but educate yourself of the issues you’re passionate about. Third, do not consider neutrality a weak stance. It takes great humility and strength to say, “I don’t know.” Listen and learn, and a time will come when you’ll be able to speak.

Years later (far later than I want to admit) I stopped believing Santa was real. I felt childish and foolish that it took me so long to realize, not because I believed in flying reindeer, but because I believed something without examinations. I never pursued the truth for myself. Don’t be eight-year-old Jonan. Check to see if your dad’s boots match Santa’s footprints.

Categories
Stories In Focus

Going Global: Club Invites Students to Learn About Global Missions

Every Wednesday at 8 p.m. in the Dining Hall, a group of students join together for a time of worship and to learn from someone from their campus community or the wider Christian community. Global Christian Fellowship (GCF) is a club on campus dedicated to facilitating knowledge and passion for missions around the world. According to GCF Treasurer, Natalia Sytch ’18, “People share the lessons they have learned through their experiences. It’s a source of wisdom and insight into life and living as a Christian. So even if you’re not interested in international things, I think it’s still a valuable place to learn.”

In a meeting two weeks ago, Houghton community members Cindy and Kevin Austin spoke about returning to the Czech Republic to work with Global Partners in a young church. Their focus is development and discipleship. It is common to have missionaries speak and tell stories of what God is doing in their lives. GCF often hosts missionaries from One Mission Society (OMS), an evangelical mission group based in Greenwood, Indiana.

Sergio Mata ’19 serves as a representative for One Mission Society on campus. A highlight of GCF for Mata is the annual OMS weekend retreat. Every year, Houghton students are hosted by OMS for three days. This year’s conference will take place March 3 through 5. At the retreat, students will have the opportunity to learn from different departments at OMS. They will also learn discipleship and leadership skills.

Students who have gone to an OMS retreat say that they experienced real change. Mata said, “I’ve just seen that when people come back from the weekend and share with GCF how God answers a lot of the questions they’ve been wrestling with about missions or what their call is. And when they take that opportunity, to go to the retreat, and spend some time with the Lord, you can see how they’re transformed.”

Another exciting GCF event includes an upcoming Faculty and Staff talent show at 7 p.m. on March 11 hosted by professor of intercultural studies, biology, and Earth science, Eli Knapp. All proceeds from the tickets and bake sale will go toward mission trip scholarships, which will be awarded to various applicants within the student body. GCF President, Cayleigh Pracht ’17, said, “In the past, we have had Dr. Pearse telling stories, [as well as performances by] John Wise and Steve Dunmire.”

The GCF- led chapel is another event the club is looking forward to hosting. Pracht explained, “At the end of the year we have a commissioning ceremony for all of the students who received scholarships or are going out in Christian service. So, people who are going out to work in Buffalo over the summer with refugees or something like that.”

“Essentially, GCF is for those who are interested in missions, other cultures, and service,” Sytch said. She and other GCF members invite the Houghton student body to attend Wednesday meetings and events to find out for themselves what Global Christian Fellowship is all about.

Categories
Opinions

Recognizing When Art Lacks Craft

On Sunday October 18th, the film  Mom’s Night Out was presented with a Christian entertainment Dove Award for most inspirational film. But this same film has earned a disappointing 18% on the professional film review website, Rotten Tomatoes.  This negative response was echoed by Steve Davis, a movie critic for the Austin Chronicle, who commented, Mom’s Night Out is a movie only a mother could love.’” A Dove award for being the most inspirational? And a movie only a mother could love? Something does not add up.

Jonan RGBAs a movie lover and writer, I groan when I watch an ill-timed fade or cliché – a deathbed conversion, an against-all-odds football triumph, or an unlikely marriage restoration. For the most part, movies like this do not succeed without being peddled to the Christian community. They end up in the deep recesses of Netflix, only to be viewed on nights when procrastination is at its peak.

Christian films often receive widespread promotion (and promotional praise) despite their lack of technical proficiency. And this occurs in the context of other artistic disciplines as well. Christian artists often get away with shoddy craftsmanship. And why? Because they claim the overriding superiority and importance of their message. This, they posit, compensates for their inadequate methodology.

In C. S. Lewis’ book Mere Christianity, he wrote this about the church, “I disliked very much their hymns, which I considered to be fifth-rate poems set to sixth-rate music.” I assume Lewis is not the only one who has sat in a church and wondered if a song could be any less musical. Lewis’s point here is that the craft is well below the world’s standard of excellence.

jordanI suggest that Christians should seek to meet the world’s standard of excellence and advance beyond it. Martin Luther backs this point when he was presumed to have said this about vocation. Though it may not be from him, the sentiment holds true – “The maid who sweeps her kitchen is doing the will of God just as much as the monk who prays—not because she may sing a Christian hymn as she sweeps but because God loves clean floors. The Christian shoemaker does his Christian duty not by putting little crosses on the shoes, but by making good shoes, because God is interested in good craftsmanship.”

No one would buy a terrible shoe with a cross on it, so why do we buy terrible art with Christian messages? There is a solution. First, we need to start recognizing when art lacks craft. We must not be biased in our evaluation of art simply because it is ‘Christian.’ Even if the goal is spreading a Christian message, people outside the Christian realm will not understand bad craft. We need to meet people where they are and show them art they understand and can appreciate. That means that the Christian artist must be well educated and invested in his or her craft. Finally, we must be critical of the art, and never give it a pass. We should call bad craft for what it is, subpar and lazy.