Author: Victoria Hock

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14th Annual Film Fest on April 16th

On Friday, April 16th, the Houghton College Campus Activities Board will be hosting the 14th annual Film Festival. Guidelines for the festival state that this is “an evening” to “highlight and celebrate the best of student-made films” as well as for students to “show your hard work and to share your talent with your peers”. There are also several different categories that students can submit films to.

Sarah Phillips (’22), this year’s coordinator for the Film Festival, said that her first time attending a Film Festival was “a great experience”, also discussing that some of the elements that were involved in the festival included “a red carpet and a backdrop to take fun pictures with, and music playing in the background.” Phillips also added that “It was amazing seeing all of the creative videos that people sent in.” For the Film Festival this year, Phillips wants to “bring back some of that feeling”, while still keeping the event COVID-safe. 

Makena James (‘22), who is learning remotely this semester, is one of the entrants in this year’s Film Festival. She submitted “about three films.” Two of them were about Corg, her family’s Corgi, while the third one was “a compilation of photos set to organ music” that she “played and recorded.” 

James chose to submit a film about her family’s Corgi because “it has been a blast” to spend “a lot of time” with Corg, also adding that “everyone just seems to fall in love with her, and I really wanted to show love to my Houghton community by sharing and extending my experiences with Corg to them too.” In discussing her choice to submit the third film, James said “I love snow and the organ. Back in 2017, it snowed a ton down here in Western NC, and I took a lot of pictures. I found them again last Christmas and decided to put them to organ music.” 

Overall, while the festival may not be as “big” as previous years, Phillips is “looking forward to seeing people’s creativity and for there to be a time for others to come together and listen to music, take pictures, and have fun.” ★

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News

Sharpe Announced as Faculty Model Reader

2021 Faculty Model Reader poster, featuring professor Jesse Sharpe. COURTESY OF WILLARD J. HOUGHTON LIBRARY

Houghton College has once again held a Faculty Model Reader contest, voted on by the Houghton students. This was the third year for the contest. This year, Professor of English Jesse Sharpe has been selected as the winner, and The STAR recently sat down with him for an interview: 

Hock: What have been some of the highlights of your Houghton experience thus far?

Sharpe: The in-class conversations. I’ve had some situations at other schools where it was like pulling teeth to get students to have a conversation, but here the conversations have been a lot of fun, with good insights.

Hock: What is your favorite thing about teaching?

Sharpe: Learning, which is why I love the conversations so much.

Hock: Why did you choose the English field?

Sharpe: I love stories, storytelling and language, and this has both, so it’s where I’m happiest.

Hock: What would you say to someone who is thinking about pursuing a degree in English?

Sharpe: Do it! You won’t regret it. There’s not a job out there that doesn’t need you to read well, understand well, and write well.

Hock: What is your favorite book genre (or genres)?

Sharpe: I don’t actually have one. There’s not one I’ve come across that I didn’t like. I really enjoy reading and I really enjoy book recommendations.

Hock: Who are some of your favorite authors?

Sharpe: Christopher Morley, Dashiell Hammet, John Donne, George Herbert, Aemelia Lanter, Mat Johnson, Douglas Dunn, and Kate Atkinson.

Hock: What are some of your all-time favorite books?

Sharpe: The Man Who Made Friend With Himself by Christopher Morley, Red Harvest by Dashiell Hammet, The Temple by George Herbert, Life After Life by Kate Atkinson, Ballad of Peckham Rye by Muriel Spark, Go Tell It On The Mountain by James Baldwin, Pym by Mat Johnson, and Affections by Rodrigo Hasbun.

Hock: Are you currently reading any books?

Sharpe: There is a book that I am saving for when summer begins: Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart.

Hock: What would you say is the best thing about books?

Sharpe: I only do physical books, and it’s because I love every single part of them-front cover to back, every part of the inside, as a story and as an object.

Hock: What would you say is the best thing about the library?

Sharpe: I used to be a librarian, so I have a very strong love of libraries. I think it’s that you can have the world’s ideas sit peacefully side by side and you can just go and read and see whatever you want. No violence, no judgement, everything is right there. And I never get tired of it, I love it. I don’t think there’s such a thing as a bad library (at least I’ve never found one yet). ★

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News

Houghton Holds Mental Health Awareness Weeks

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, approximately 4 in 10 adults have reported having anxiety and depressive disorder symptoms during the COVID-19 Pandemic. This is more than the 1 in 10 adults who reported these symptoms from the months of January to June in 2019. Adults have also reported having difficulties sleeping or eating, as well as an increase in the use of alcohol or other substances, due to the pandemic. 

Nuk Kongkaw, the director of the Mosaic Center, values mental health and sees how it “simultaneously impacts individuals and the relationships around us.” She also feels that “mental health is something people are realizing they can’t ignore as we’ve spent months in isolation or limited contact with others.” The Mosaic Center, along with Residence Life, Chapel and the Center for Student Success thus held Mental Health Awareness Weeks at Houghton College from March 15th to 25th.

Several different events were  held, including a talk-back on BIPOC mental health with Nuk Kongkaw, Nerissa Jones and Pierre Durant, a discussion with the Center for Student Success on how to support friends who are in crisis, a chapel talk with Dr. Mike Lastoria entitled “Leaving Home: Right of Passage in a Virtual World,” and an introduction to the Enneagram and some other tools to help grow your self-awareness and spiritual disciplines. 

Earlier in this event, a stand-up for your brother and sister event was held, along with a roundtable discussion with Rebecca Rowley, Ann Vazquez and JL Miller entitled “Am I a Bad Christian if I Struggle with Mental Health?,” a chapel talk with Pierre Durant entitled “And He Will be Called Wonderful Counselor: A Conversation on Faith, and Race” and a “Be Kind to Your Mind” workshop. 

There were also a number of opportunities to win prizes throughout the event. Several students have won a free yearlong subscription to the meditation app Headspace, and a weighted blanket has also been given away. There is also a grand prize to be won later in the event of a mental health basket. 

One of the hopes Kongkaw mentions she has for this event is that “in helping others care for themselves well, they would then be able to look around them, connect with others, and engage with caring for others”, further adding that “People are best equipped to help others when they have grown in their own self-awareness, know their triggers, and are willing to see their own areas of growth.” ★

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Houghton Professor Performs in “Zoomsical”

Houghton College Professor and director of the Lyric Theatre Amanda Cox has been cast in USUCC: An Original Zoomsical. This show chronicles the story of Hannah the Hound, an adjunct professor of Character Arts at The University School of Unified Character Craft, whose students decide to stage a mutiny after they are unhappy that the school moved online due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Professor Cox portrays the role of Hannah the Hound.

Director Brian Ryu discussed that he and director Julia Krom got the idea for making this Zoomsical “to bring people together and be creative.” Krom also added that the idea to focus on a relevant issue, particularly for those who are attending school in this new environment, was “exciting,” and she also mentioned that working from home “can be tedious,” so “having a project like this as a creative outlet was so fulfilling for us both.” Ryu also brought up that through this musical, they’re showing the schools that did not put the interests of students above their own.

Because this show was filmed remotely, Krom explained that they were able to “secure such prodigious talent, not only because of more available time during the pandemic, but also because we weren’t limited by geography. Cast and crew from Hawaii, LA, Indiana, New York and New Jersey all simultaneously contributed to this beautiful project.”

Both Ryu and Krom were in agreement that casting Professor Cox was an obvious choice. Ryu explained that although they had hundreds of people apply around the world, they did not audition anyone. He also stated that “We loved that Amanda was a professor and had this first-hand experience and interest in helping and educating students. We could tell from the get-go that she believed in the character’s mission and we loved how she brought her own spin to it.” In addition, Krom added that Professor Cox “brings such an effervescent energy to the screen and her background as a professor brought a unique authenticity to the role.” 

Furthermore, Krom says they hope this musical “questions the role of educators for their students during this pandemic.” She also brought up that “Amanda led this discussion with her superb acting and singing, but more so with her advice on the story and project. She was a great mentor for us — both cast and crew — and we hope that whoever watches it comes out sharing her spirit.”

Professor Cox explained that she was cast in this show after submitting to a casting call on Backstage.com. She says she realized quickly that she was in for a “wild and hilarious ride!” as she began to work with the cast and crew. Professor Cox also added that she “really enjoyed filming,” and “learned so much.” She mentioned that in a show like this, the cast not only acts and sings, but they are “also responsible [for] our own lighting, sound, recording our vocals, filming B-roll, etc. We were able to learn so much more about different aspects of TV and film than we would have in a normal production.” Overall, she said that “It has been an incredibly rewarding experience with really wonderful people!”

USUCC: An Original Zoomsical will be available for viewing on the HOCACA TV YouTube Channel, at this link: https://youtube.com/channel/UCH3YOFnkadZXyr39iZ9BECA starting Friday, February 12th.

What are your thoughts and feelings on producing and “performing” a musical like this? Will you wacth? If you do, let the Star know your thoughts! Comment below or get in touch with us via Instagram, Twitter, or email (star@houghton.edu)!

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Stories In Focus

How Teaching Remotely Complicates the Teaching Process

Article by Victoria Hock (’23)

As we all know, many changes have been brought to Houghton’s campus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, not only are some students learning remotely, but some professors are teaching remotely. 

Professor of Religion Kristina LaCelle Peterson discussed that she misses “being in a room with actual human beings,” and she also added that she’s “grateful for technology that allows us some amount of interaction, but obviously it’s not the same.” As for how she’s changed up her classes to an online format, she mentioned that she has structured her courses with “weekly independent learning opportunities,” which means that “each course is a blend of synchronous and asynchronous learning.” She noted that this “puts some of the responsibility for learning back into the hands of students.  This also gives her the chance to “hear a little of what’s going on in each student’s thinking,” which she added is “particularly helpful in big classes.”

Professors Heidi and John Giannini expressed similar sentiments. Professor of Philosophy Heidi Giannini brought up some of the positives to teaching remotely. “In some ways, I think working remotely has made my job easier than many of my colleagues’: I don’t have to worry about delivering the same course in as many formats at once, I don’t lose class time to sanitization procedures, and I can more readily have my students engage in small group work because I don’t have to worry about maintaining social distance.” 

However, she also added that there are a few “significant drawbacks” to being completely online too. Some of the drawbacks that she mentioned include having “less of a personal connection with my students. I worry that when I return to campus, I won’t recognize many of the students I’ve taught this semester because they appear only in little boxes on my screen, a few at a time, and many of them masked.” She also added that the “online dynamic is different from what you have in person,” specifically discussing that it is much easier to start a conversation during in-person classes than online. Professor Giannini also added that students can sometimes be “more frequently distracted” when they are participating in a Zoom class session, and that they can also “seem more hesitant to reach out and ask for help” when a professor is only accessible online. 

Professor of Philosophy John Giannini discussed that there are both well-known and less common differences between teaching online and in-person. “Some of the differences in online teaching are pretty obvious,” he mentioned, bringing up differences such as not being able to give quizzes on paper, that everyone is on computers for the whole class, and that technical issues can sometimes hinder communication. As for some of the more subtle differences, he explained they were things he wasn’t able to foresee. For example, he mentioned that a lot of communication goes on surrounding class time between him and his students, explaining that he chats with students, people ask him “questions that wouldn’t fit in class,” and he compliments people on their work. He then added that “while teaching online a lot of that communication just doesn’t happen.” Professor Giannini has also found “many other subtle ways in which being in a room is different from communicating via an online lobby,” mentioning things like “decreased ability to read body language, or much less fluidity in conversational back-and-forth.” He then added that “Even if you can technically do a lot of the same things online as in person they do not feel the same–and that matters.” 

Overall, much like online learning, online teaching appears to have benefits, such as not losing class time to sanitization procedures and more readily being able to have students engage in small group activities, and drawbacks, such as a higher likelihood of distraction and technical issues sometimes coming up. Online professors have been working their hardest to innovate and create an engaging, beneficial class. Given the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, online teaching may continue, so professors may need to continue innovating, creating an online learning environment that students can benefit and learn from. 

Do you have any professors teaching remotely? How have they handled it? Well? Comment below or get in touch with us via Instagram, Twitter, or email (star@houghton.edu)!

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News

Remote Learning: Hindrance or Help?

By Vicotria Hock (’23)

The COVID-19 Pandemic has resulted in a unique semester for students at Houghton. Some students are learning on campus, with various protocols in place such as the Big Three (masking, hand washing and social distancing) while some are learning from home, entirely online. Others are on campus, but have a mixture of online and in-person classes.

Riley Gastin (’20) is in her final semester at Houghton. She says that “being online for my last semester is bittersweet. Although I am saving a lot of money and I am able to spend time with my family and local friends, I definitely miss being on campus with my friends and professors. Houghton is such a special place which makes it extra hard to be remote. Everyone has been great though, professors and classmates are so helpful and are making this much easier than it could have been.”

Both Cory Messerschmidt (’21) and Isabela Godoy (’23) have acknowledged there are some challenges that have arisen with regards to remote learning. Messerschmidt mentioned that some professors have had difficulty with things such as “sharing their screen” and “making the microphone pick up sound,” though he did mention that he’s “thankful that they’re giving us the option this semester.”

Godoy discussed that for her, the switch to online has been pretty tough. She also stated that there have been some technical difficulties from both her and Houghton, and she added that staying motivated in front of a computer can sometimes be difficult. Having said that, she also feels Houghton has “converted their online teaching decently, but it is still very confusing when you have to check 15 different websites to see what your next homework assignment is.”

Seth Greene (’22) is enjoying the opportunity to spend time at home. He says that the extra time he’s had at home with his friends and family has been “a blessing,” and he also added that he’s  “found professors to be very understanding and accommodating in making sure that remote learners are able to fully participate despite the challenges of virtual schooling.”

Although Ryan Ozzello (’21) is on campus, the majority of his classes are online. He explained, “because it’s virtual, I’m able to create my own learning environment for class and spend more time quiet and focused, the way I learn best.” Outside of class, he’s “able to meet in person with classmates to study and be actively involved in many in-person organizations and clubs.” He ended with some compliments about the experience as a whole so far, saying “Houghton has successfully met me where I am during this less-than-ideal time to ensure that I am learning, growing, and engaging with the full college experience.”

Students have had a variety of different experiences so far this semester. Although there have been a few challenges with online learning, professors have been helpful in ensuring that those students who are online are still able to learn with the rest of the class.

Are you studying remotely this semester? How’s your experience? Comment below or get in touch with us via Instagram, Twitter, or email (editor@houghtonstar.com)!

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News

Houghton Celebrates 3rd Annual MLK Day

This article was also contributed to by Riley Gastin

Houghton College celebrated their 3rd annual Martin Luther King Day on Monday, January 20th. This event was a day filled with guest speakers, a chapel service featuring the Houghton College gospel choir, breakout sessions highlighting Dr. King’s life and movement, a dinner catered by LaVerdad Cafe in Buffalo, and an evening of jazz provided by the Sonder Jazz Trio. Monday was a day to learn and celebrate the life of Dr. King. In the words of President Mullen, it is a way to “honor Martin Luther King Jr. and his role in our country’s history.”

Dean of the Chapel, Michael Jordan, revealed that it was once thought that an event like this would not be feasible. He stated that, “Initially, it was just like any other day. However, we knew we wanted to do something to celebrate, but we did not think we could due to requirements about how many days students were expected to attend classes.”

President Mullen was able to shed more light on why it was originally difficult to celebrate MLK Day. “We have not typically taken the day as a holiday—just as we don’t take Labor Day as a holiday in September. This is not because we don’t think these days are important in what they seek to honor, but because they typically come just as the semester is beginning…In the end, we thought it would be more appropriate to make the day a special day of programming on campus about the history and context of Martin Luther King’s legacy.”

One of the events was a performance from the Gospel Choir. This year, the choir is headed by Jordan Simmons (‘22). Simmons expressed enthusiasm about the event as a whole, stating that he liked how “different cultures are represented.” He then went on to express excitement regarding the Gospel Choir performance. He explained that when it came to song choice, they had a group of songs they could choose from, but “If there’s something the group wants to do, then we will try and do it.”

Johanna Florez (‘21), a member of the choir, explains that “The chosen songs reflect different angles of Christian and African-American experience. The spiritual ‘I’ve Been ‘Buked’ is about suffering as a Christian, and presumably as a slave, and also about maintaining faith through that. On the other end of the spectrum, ‘Hosanna’ is about praising God for how he’s blessed us. So our song choices reflect multiple aspects of having faith in difficult situations.”

Overall, the event was a success, and enjoyed by many. Plenty of unique learning sessions were found throughout campus, and in addition to learning, Martin Luther King Jr. Day was also a time for celebration, as Dean Jordan stated: “This isn’t just a day about learning, but a day about celebrating.”