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STARchive: College Charters and Centennials

By Christian Welker

Did you know the Houghton STAR is one hundred and fourteen years old? To put that in perspective, The STAR reported through the Great Depression, World Wars, the Cold War, and nineteen U.S. presidencies. As the Resident Expert in STAR Lore™, it is my self-imposed job to study the STAR’s Archives and find exciting and funny moments from throughout the history of Houghton University and the STAR itself.

Time for another fun fact (and one that has more to do with the article). Do you know how long Houghton University was Houghton College? Ninety-nine years!

Isn’t that annoying?

In 1923, Houghton Seminary received its charter from the Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges (MSASC. Rolls right off the tongue).

The cool part is that it has been a hundred years since Houghton became a college.

The less cool part was we were impatient and jumped the gun on the whole “University” thing (How epic would it have been to be like “After 100 years of being a college, it’s time for the next chapter”? Missed opportunity, President Lewis).

Anyway, rants aside, in the April edition of the 1923 Houghton STAR (yeah, they were only a monthly publication back then, wild, right?), an article was published titled “Final Victory Won! Houghton now a Chartered College” declaring the good news to the Houghton body, and today, 100 years later, an article titled “From the STARchive: College Charters and Centennials” is doing it again. ★

Final Victory Won!

Houghton Now a Chartered College

Again, through the mercy of God, we have gained another rung in the ladder of achievement which has been elevating us to that plane on which stands the chartered college of this state

Following the action of the Board of Trustees, authorizing this Seminary to apply for a charter, the next step was to make the formal application to the Board of Regents of the State of New York. This was done a few weeks ago, President Luckey going to Albany and presenting with the application a catalog of general information regard[ing] the school, setting [forth] the plan [proposed] if the charter be granted.

April 7, was the date set for the meeting of the Board of Regents, and at that meeting the application from this Seminary was to be considered. President Luckey again journeyed to Albany on that date and was present at the meeting of the Board, answering one or two questions which arose. 

As requested by President Luckey, his home-coming on Monday evening, April 9, was not the hilarious demon- stration which accompanied his return from the meeting of the Church Board. The occasion at this time was of too solemn nature to allow any such program as was followed before. Instead, the students gathered at the church and a committee was delegated to meet the President and escort him to the church where a service of praise and thanksgiving was held, Prof. Whitaker taking charge.

A telegram which was received here Saturday evening, stated that a provisional charter had been granted [to] Houghton Seminary. That word “provisional” puzzled us a little at first but the enigma was solved in a short talk by President Luckey at the service Monday evening. “Provisional” only means that for five years we are on probation. During that time we must prove to the State Board of Regents that we are worthy of onr charter by keeping up the prescribed income and fulfilling the scholastic standards.

The President further stated that the honor and glory at this time of victory, all belongs to God, not to man. It was the hand of God which gave the vision at the beginning and that has led all through the long and laborious campaign, and which is still leading. He also emphasized that with added opportunity comes greater responsibility. 

After several prayers filled with true thanksgiving to God for his great goodness and wise leadership, a hymn was sung and the meeting dismissed.

From the church the students went to the college campus where a large bonfire was burning. Gathering around this an hour was spent in singing school songs and giving yells. As the fire burned low the crowd made their way homeward, their hearts being filled with praise to God for the wonders he has wrought through his servants who have kept close to Him and done His bidding.

—J. Harold Douglas

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Review: 2022, A Wonderful Year for Movies

By Caleb Tiedemann

With the Oscars right around the corner, I am scrambling to try and watch each nominated movie to see if they are truly worthy of the categories they were nominated for. This year was terrific for movies that were not big-budget IP films. In this brief essay, I will discuss the various films I watched throughout the year, ones that were amazing and ones that flopped.

Firstly, Marvel and DC finally got knocked down a couple of steps from their pedestal as they released quite a few stinkers. The year started very strongly, with Marvel’s darker-themed thriller in “Moon Knight,” which truly showed the amazing acting range of Oscar Isaac and Ethan Hawke, as well as DC’s Matt Reeves’, directed, very darkly lit, almost horror-esque thriller; “The Batman.” “The Batman” was a wonderful return to the form of a dark detective adventure, showcasing Wayne’s early years as he brutally navigates an evil Gotham. “The Batman” emerges from 2022 as the best superhero movie. 

Unfortunately, as the year progressed, the superhero genre released quite a few stinkers. “Morbius,” though entertained as a hilarious internet meme for a while, was quite pathetic in terms of usage for a Marvel hero. “Doctor Strange” managed to be a fun movie but was brought down by studio interference pushing away Sam Raimi’s directorial style and replacing it with uneven pacing and a shortened runtime. This was followed up by the disaster that was “Thor: Love and Thunder,” which was a cheesy, disappointing, almost completely green-screened (and horribly) flop that disappointed nearly everyone that I have conversed with regarding the movie. I will not even mention “She-Hulk” as almost anyone who watched it would rather not ever discuss it again. It was then followed by DC’s “Black Adam,” which is essentially a “Shazam” ripoff with very few redeeming qualities. Our final movie from Marvel was “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” and though it was not anywhere as bad as the previously mentioned movies, it felt very bloated and long, with a plot that lacked substance. Still, it managed to be exciting and an honorable tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman. So maybe, there’s hope for Marvel in 2023?

Aside from superhero movies, we also got another big production in “Jurassic World: Dominion” which flopped horrendously, being a poorly written and directed film that neither honors the source material nor gives anyone anything meaningful in terms of character development or plot devices. We also got the release of “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald,” which I enjoyed quite a bit, but no one seems all that interested in since Johnny Depp was fired from his role, which, honestly, is completely understandable. 

But all these flops from big-budget  IPs gave time to the others to shine, and shine they did! I started off the year quite nicely with a hilarious Cage and Pascal-led comedy, “The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent,” a funny, self-aware film that pokes fun at its own substance and character, as well as provides good laughs and a surprisingly interesting plot. It was then followed by the AMAZING A24 film, “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” a supreme multiverse comedy/adventure that blows “Doctor Strange”’s multiverse concept completely out of the water. It tells the story of a divided family struggling to tolerate each other brought together by an evil threat from within. It’s a completely insane idea and ride that has brought me to tears in every viewing, with all the heart put in by the production teams. Ke Huy Quan gives an all-star performance, boosted by the rest of the movie’s stellar cast, and is the only answer to the winner of Best Supporting Actor! Jordan Peele also gave a very nice horror film in his unsettling, unique, alien film: “Nope,” a unique concept with a couple of scenes that genuinely terrified me in theaters. The final summer blockbuster that I thoroughly enjoyed was “Bullet Train.” The Brad Pitt-led action, the turn-your-brain-off film was a fun ride to just sit and enjoy and put me in the perfect place to begin my 2022 fall semester.

2022 managed to end off with quite a few triumphs. A24’s second movie, “The Whale,” brings the wonderful actor Brendan Fraser back to the screen after a long departure, and he gives a wonderful performance as the 600 lb recluse, who, when told will be dead within a week, attempts to reconnect with his estranged, rebellious teenage daughter. Fraser gives a painfully honest and heartfelt betrayal as his character goes through the motions of accepting his upcoming death and the mistakes he has made throughout his life. Fraser himself has been nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role and truly outperformed everyone else. Damien Chazelle also gave a completely crazy movie with “Babylon,” a movie about the turning point from silent films to talkies and the effect it had on actors and Hollywood itself. It boasts a talented cast and composer who is up for the Best Original Score award; one that I am hoping he wins. 

The final gem of 2022 has to be James Cameron’s long-awaited “Avatar: The Way of the Water.” Cameron truly delivered another unique and fun 200-minute spectacle that manages to fully encapsulate the attention of audiences by providing great action and a whole lot of fun. His dive back into the Avatar world should award him the Best Special Effects award at the Oscars, as the CG is flawless and the motion capture is on point. There are very few movies that can be completely CG and still be absolutely stunning. Avatar is one of them. The final gen of this year and my personal favorite is “Top Gun: Maverick,” a sequel that outshines the original in all the ways that count. It provided me with one of the most utterly mesmerizing theater experiences that hit every note in honoring the characters and “Top Gun” legacy. The use of practical effects and special tech to achieve an enthralling film experience was worth it and completely blew me out of the water when I saw it. It is up for Best Picture though I doubt it will win with the titans it has been pitted against it. My belief is that Best Picture will either go to “Avatar” or “Everything Everywhere.” 

In the end, I am so glad to be alive for an age of gorgeous movies and was very impressed with some of the original ideas that were put to screen this year. Of course, all of these opinions offered are my own, and if you agree; wonderful! If you don’t, even better! I am sure there are many controversial opinions offered and welcome any new ones. Overall, 2022 was a successful year dethroning the usual titans and allowing others to perform on their own. I look forward to the upcoming Oscars and films that will be released this year, too. ★

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Review: Lviv National Philharmonic Orchestra

By Grace Vuolo

Last week, on February 1, Houghton University had the privilege of hosting the Lviv National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine in our very own Wesley Chapel, conducted by our very own conductor, Theodore Kuchar. President Lewis opened the concert, praying that it would be a blessing to all performers and visitors. His prayer was most assuredly answered. This concert was a surreal experience both for musicians and nonmusicians alike. While this writer reviews from a musical background and technical perspective, regardless of the knowledge of the listeners, the effects of the musical magic enveloped the entire room. The unmatched rush of watching professional musicians tune as the lights dimmed was enough to encompass and enhance the already heightened anticipation.

The first piece performed by the orchestra was a chamber symphony for strings and a solo flutist by Yevhen Stankovych. The coordination between the soloist and the full-string ensemble was absolutely incredible. The flutist played rapid scales and arpeggios with precision and accuracy while the strings played with animation and an array of various techniques providing different sounds. The string’s layered harmonies and flutes uplifting levels of emotion conversed to express a lively story filled with intensity and intention. Kuchar conducted with clear direction and enthusiastic involvement in each and every sequence.

The second piece played was a Brahms violin concerto. The violinists’ bows moved in perfect unison on each note. Kuchar’s conducting led to clear-cut dynamic changes in every instrument, from the soothing relaxation of soft strings to the intense acceleration of bursting brass. The communication between brass and strings during the call-and-response sections sent a vapor of perfectly synced music swirling about the entire chapel. While the orchestra worked beautifully together, the true star of the Brahms concerto was the lovely and extraordinarily talented Vladyslava Luchenko. Luchenko believes that she sees “the musician’s true purpose in being a guide to a person’s most sacred, hidden unconscious…a profound healing tool, a bridge to the higher dimensions.” The skill level that she displayed was on a level that I cannot imagine many musicians reaching in their lifetime–yet, her performance was nothing less than inspiring. Her movements were swift and precise and led the orchestra beautifully. The percussionist used the timpani to drive the beat perfectly into Luchenko’s gorgeous notes and patterns. There must also be a special shout-out to Houghton’s own graduate student Melissa Kleinberger who had the amazing opportunity to perform with the orchestra and played her cello magnificently. Congratulations, Melissa!

The third piece was Dvořák’s ninth symphony in E minor which followed Kuchar expressing Ukraine’s thanks to the U.S. for the intellectual and financial help it has sent, making it possible for the Ukrainian government to function and the orchestra to come perform at Houghton. The piece was played with such passion and emotion that the gratefulness of each and every player could be felt.

To top off the performance, the orchestra played a piece of entirely Ukrainian origin, showcasing the musical roots of the orchestra. As the piece came to a conclusive end, members of the orchestra held up a Ukrainian/United States flag. The entire performance was so filled with emotion and heart. Kuchar’s pride and love for the Lviv National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine was clear and passed through to the audience.

Thank you, Professor Kuchar, for sharing with us the gift of hearing your orchestra perform, and for treating us with the same love that you showed the musicians last Wednesday night. ★

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Book Review: Nothing More to Tell by Karen M. McManus

By Julia Collins

Karen M. McManus has written some incredible books, and Nothing More to Tell (2022) has a mystery, family drama, romance, and of course, a dead teacher. 

English teacher William Larkin was murdered when Brynn and Tripp were in eighth grade. Brynn’s family moved away until her senior year, when Brynn came back to the town of Sturgis to solve the mystery of her teacher’s death. She works as an intern for the true crime show Motive while she attends school at St. Ambrose; the K-12 private school where Mr. Larkin was killed. As the anniversary of Mr. Larkin’s death is approaching, the school plans to design a memorial garden, and during their time picking out flowers, Brynn is partnered with Tripp. 

Tripp was one of the three students who found William Larkin’s body. He remembers the interviews with the police where he tried to protect one of the other witnesses, Shane, because Shane had touched the murder weapon (a rock). Now in senior year, Tripp and Shane are good friends. Tripp’s boss tells him that he should help with setting up Mr. Larkin’s memorial garden so he can recover from the trauma of being at the crime scene, which he does reluctantly. 

As the story goes on, Brynn and Tripp visit a gardener, Mr. Solomon, who gives them advice on how to set up the memorial. When they find him dead, they realize that there’s something bigger going on. 

Murder investigations are tough. After being ostracized, assaulted, and held at gunpoint, Brynn is desperate to find out who killed Mr. Larkin. And with Tripp’s help, she does. After calling Mr. Larkin’s old boss, they discover that he was not on good terms with his family. Brynn finds his father, Dexter, who was unaware of his son’s death. Furious, he comes to find Brynn and Tripp at a school dance, where they finally figure out who the killer is, and it’s not who you would expect. This book was complex and intriguing. I would rate it an 8/10, as some parts were predictable, like the plot of Brynn and Tripp developing a romantic relationship. But other parts, such as discovering the identity of the killer, were outstanding. Nothing More to Tell is a great book that I know Houghton readers would enjoy. ★

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Book Review: Lock the Doors by Vincent Ralph

By Julia Collins

Lock The Doors (2021) is a mystery YA novel recommended for ages 14-18 (though even if you don’t fit the age group, you will still likely enjoy the book and relate to the characters). This is author Vincent Ralph’s second book. Ralph lives in the UK and has a wife and two sons. 

16-year-old Tom Cavanaugh and his family have just moved into a new house. Tom does not like this as he struggles with OCD and anxiety due to seeing his mother abused by her ex-boyfriends. Even though she is happily married to Jay now, Tom is still skeptical about how safe they are. He sees holes on the outside of his bedroom door and thinks that the previous occupant must have been locked in. Then he finds the words “HELP ME” written on the wall. It doesn’t take long for Tom to become scared of the house as something was definitely wrong.

At school, Tom meets Amy, whose family had previously lived in his new home. During their first meeting, Amy’s mother was present, which made her uncomfortable. However, the next time Tom and Amy see each other, she is warm and friendly. Amy and Tom quickly become friends, and they begin to feel very comfortable around each other. Tom learns that Amy used to sleep in the bedroom that is now his own and later, at a party, they dance and kiss. Soon after, Tom walks Amy home and meets her parents. Although she denies it, he can tell that something is off about them. Her mother, Jane, is suspicious and cunning, and her father, Chris, is indifferent to his family. Tom does not trust them and concludes that they used to lock Amy in her room. When Tom has dinner with her family for the first time, he discovers that her younger brother, Will, is an artist. Tom recognizes Will’s handwriting to be the same as the “HELP ME” on his wall. Horrified, Tom begins to spy on Amy’s family to figure out what happened to Will and Amy in their old house. What he finds is devastating. The reader has to read it for themselves to get the full effect, as it is a very intriguing read! 

I would rate this book a 9/10. It was hard to get into, as there is less action, but the climax is stunning. Tom is an interesting character to read about, while Amy is more mysterious, and my perception of her shifted several times. Overall, this is a good book that I enjoyed reading. I am looking forward to more thrillers from Vincent Ralph.★

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A-Compelling Club

By Caleb Tiedemann

It is not uncommon knowledge that Houghton is almost literally located in the middle of nowhere. Due to this common problem which can leave many students bored and with no way to destress, the college is very accommodating when it comes to extracurricular activities. Normally one may spend all their time drinking Java’s near-unlimited caffeine-laced products or spending countless hours on their Organic Chemistry homework. Therefore, it is important to find something calming that still stimulates our young minds. 

Luckily, Houghton has various different clubs for whatever may pique your interest. One of the many clubs that has come to my attention and become quite active is Houghton Heartsong; an Acapella Club. Seeing as how Houghton has an entire building dedicated to the study, creation, and production of music, it seems fitting for there to be multiple clubs dedicated to students who love the musical arts. 

Houghton Heartsong was created by juniors Grace Vuolo, who majors in music industry and minors in vocal performance; and Jon Hutmire, who majors in music industry and minors in business administration. The two act as leaders of the club with Vuolo acting as president and Hutmire as vice president. The mission of Heartsong is, as stated by Vuolo: “A club where people who like to sing of any musical background can come and have fun making music with our voices.” Some students may have already witnessed Heartsong’s musical ability at the Tree Lighting Ceremony prior to Christmas break.

When asked why she wanted to start Heartsong, Vuolo shared her inspiration as the 2012 film: “Pitch Perfect”. During her high school years, She fell in love with the movie and felt inspired by what they did with acapella. At that moment, she vowed that she would not attend a college without an acapella club. Prior to her attending Houghton University, there was no acapella club, so she started one herself, creating Heartsong in her freshman year. She wanted to make a club for everyone on the vocal music spectrum, from lower skill and familiarity to higher. Heartsong is a club for students to learn and grow, developing their vocal skills together. Due to the wide range of abilities, everyone’s skill set, or lack thereof, can be utilized. 

At the moment, Heartsong consists of ten members, and students not already involved are more than welcome to attend. I have attended various musical productions put on by the Greatbatch School of Music, and know that there are a lot more than ten people who have been gifted vocally. Large school productions can be very stressful, but Heartsong is a place for students who just want to have fun and relax. You can find Heartsong meeting in room 145 of the Center for the Arts from 6:30-7:30 p.m. on Fridays, or you can email either Vuolo or Hutmire with any questions about the club. ★

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Coffee Review

By Victoria Hock

Nestled in Cuba, a town almost 30 minutes from Houghton, is the Perfect Blend, a small coffee shop that features a breakfast and lunch menu as well. On a beautiful fall day, I ventured there with a family member who was in town.

When you walk in, you are immediately greeted by quaint decor. Though there isn’t a lot of seating inside, there was still ample seating outside, giving people the opportunity to enjoy views of Cuba as they enjoy their coffee. The Perfect Blend immediately struck me as a place that would be perfect whether you’re visiting with family or friends or looking for a spot to get some work done.

The ordering process was simple. We walked in, and immediately walked up to a counter to place our orders with the friendly, helpful staff. The menu was written behind us on a chalkboard, and there were a lot of options, without being overwhelming. After we placed our orders, my family member’s drink (I went for a simple bottled iced tea) was placed on the side counter while our food was brought to us.

As I said, I went for a simple bottled iced tea as my drink — there was nothing particularly unique about it. However, the family member I was with selected a raspberry latte. I hadn’t seen a raspberry latte in many coffee shops previously, and with how good she said it was, I was tempted to order one myself.

The Perfect Blend offered a variety of foods, including things like bagels and breakfast sandwiches for breakfast and paninis and bowls for lunch. My family member’s and my eventual food selections were very different from each other, with my family member going for a breakfast item with a simple bagel and cream cheese, and with me selecting more of a lunch item with the garlic fest bowl. Both selections were very good.

Overall, we enjoyed our visit to the Perfect Blend. We look forward to returning in the future. Whether you’re looking to just grab a coffee with someone or as fuel while you get some homework done, or breakfast or lunch, the Perfect Blend is the perfect spot. ★

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Club Highlight: Sigma Zeta Honor Society

By Josh Carpenter

For the fall 2022 semester at Houghton University, the Sigma Zeta National Honor Society is reaching out to diverse audiences as it turns the page to its new Beta Nu chapter. 

According to Sigma Zeta’s official website, “Sigma Zeta welcomes the formation of new campus chapters interested in furthering the purpose of the society as stated in the mission statement: a national undergraduate honor society to encourage and foster scholarly activity and recognize academic scholarship in the natural and computer sciences and mathematics.” 

         Senior Skye Chaapel, who is President of Sigma Zeta’s Beta Nu chapter, explains,“Beta Nu just indicates that this is the specific chapter of the national honor society, Sigma Zeta, here at Houghton University. It doesn’t have any other meaning outside of that.” 

This current chapter of Sigma Zeta adheres to the theme, “To make science more accessible for diverse audiences of all ages,” shares Chaapel.

To accomplish this, Skye hopes that Sigma Zeta members will share their love and appreciation for the math and science fields with others through celebrating days like Pi Day and Mole Day, also by putting on Lab Saturdays once a semester for high school students. 

Karen Torraca, Professor of Chemistry at Houghton University and Sigma Zeta’s faculty advisor, is encouraging the club this semester to participate in community outreach.  

Torraca writes, “I work with local Christian schools, homeschool groups and public high schools to invite high school students to come to campus for a Saturday afternoon of labs in chemistry, biology, and physics.” 

 Leading these labs are members of Sigma Zeta, who come to campus from 1 p.m.-4 p.m. on Saturdays. In her observation of them, Torraca writes, “[It’s] fun to watch the Sigma Zeta students interact with the high school students and vice versa. It’s a win-win for everyone.” 

To be eligible for Sigma Zeta, students must be a declared STEM major with a GPA of 3.0 or higher collectively in STEM classes and a 3.0 GPA or higher overall. Students are additionally required to have completed at least 25 credit hours, including 15 hours in the natural sciences or mathematics. If students meet these requirements, they will be selected based on all classes taken through the fall semester, then be invited to join Sigma Zeta during the spring semester after they pay a national membership fee of $35. 

Students who think they meet the requirements but were not contacted about joining the club should contact Dr. Karen Torraca, the chapter advisor. ★

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Alien (1979): A Horror Classic

By Caleb Tiedemann

“I admire its purity.” – Science Officer Ash

Alien is just that. Purity. Through and through, it is perfect. At this time in film history, space was a relatively unexplored concept. Stanley Kubrick’s film 2001: A Space Odyssey and George Lucas’s Star Wars were the only predecessors in the space genre. Horror in space had not been done. However, in 1979 Ridley Scott delivered Alien.

Alien is a horror classic that follows the crew of the Nostromo when they intercept a distress signal from a planet of unknown origin. Ordered by their superiors, the crew lands and begins to explore. When one of the crew is attacked by an unknown creature, he is quickly rushed back to the ship, unaware of the impregnation of a parasite that will explode from his body and terrorize the rest of the crew. 

The plot follows the typical “last survivor” trope. To be fair, this is a trope of the 2000s and not really of the 70s, which leads me to wonder if Alien had a hand in kickstarting that. One of the complaints I’ve heard before is that the movie is slow, and I completely agree. But that’s where some of the mastery comes into play. The calm before the storm, so to speak, lets each character be established so you can gather their general personality. That being said, all of these actors are wonderfully handpicked, and each manages to bring personality and genuine humanity to their characters, no matter how long or short they are on screen. Each character is wonderfully alive, until they aren’t, of course, but their journey of survival is one that you latch onto with the hope that your favorite will come out on top. 

Another beautiful aspect is the costume for the alien known as the Xenomorph. A hulking black skeletal creature that skulks around silently, blending into the darkness before lunging out to kill you with its dangerous appendages. The cinematic aspects are enormous. The sets and scenery are absolutely perfect. A dark and cluttered ship offers the perfect environment for anything to hide. The clutter adds a paranoid claustrophobic element, as there is truly no escape from the horror. The use of lighting in this movie is amazing. Darkness completely covers the sets which work another fear in the movie, a silent terror in the darkness. 

The lack of computer-generated imagery (CGI) is also something to be praised. In a world where a movie without CGI is unthinkable, it is always refreshing to view classics and learn how filmmakers used special effects to achieve their desires. The alien costume is horrifying and looks far superior in live action, whereas the later alien movies used CGI for the Xenomorphs and therefore lost some of its distinctiveness. The space scenes use models just as George Lucas did for early Star Wars and honestly, in its own special way, it stands far superior to many movies that do not. The combination of these elements works tremendously well for the movie. 

The final aspect that sets the movie aside is the sound design. Combined with the factors above, the sounds of the ship are a whole new addition. All of your senses are preoccupied with sounds, sights, or lack thereof. The score is a horrifyingly eerie one that builds up tension. Sometimes it’s all for nothing, other times it doesn’t build up well enough until you see the Xenomorph take another victim. The movie does a great job of keeping you guessing whether or not you’re genuinely in for a scare. 

Overall, Alien is a classic horror movie that is essential for any horror lover. A 1979 classic that embodies all the essential emotions and fears of a horror movie, sucking you into this nightmare with the crew of the Nostromo. I truly believe this movie is “pure” in all the right ways and offers an experience that few movies can. 

Final Grade: 10/10 (A+) ★

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Creative and Comfortable: Deitrick’s Approach to Fashion

By Megan Brown

While the first day of a new school year may mark a time for new classes and new friends, for senior theology and communications major Grace Deitrick, it marks a chance to express her truest self through her first-day-of-school outfit.

“Even from preschool,” she said. “I loved picking out my first-day-of-school outfit.”

As with many kids, Deitrick’s mom chose and purchased most of her clothes, and as she grew up, Deitrick began to discover what her own style was. At the end of high school, she found what went on to make the biggest impact on what she wears today: a local vintage store.

“I started shopping there more regularly,” she said. “And I was like, wow, look at how creative these [pieces] are. There’s so much history in each piece of clothing. And that really inspired me to develop my style more in college.”

While Deitrick spoke, she wore a creamy short sleeve button-down with a muted floral pattern, jeans, and black slip-on shoes. These types of clothes are representative of what she currently loves to wear, a style which she describes as “grandma living on the French Riviera.”

But what makes Deitrick’s choices unique is how she mixes the posh clothing choices of an older woman with a college-aged woman’s practicality. This grandma hasn’t only lived on the iconic Mediterranean coastline.

“But also she lived on a farm before she moved to the French Riviera,” Deitrick said, continuing her analogy. “So she’s got a little bit of that salt-of-the earth in her.”

This parallels Deitrick’s own life as she grew up in rural eastern Pennsylvania but traveled to London her freshman year for Houghton University’s London Honors program.

“Living in London for a little while almost gave me permission to branch out because I saw the full extent of the creativity,” she said. “Since I’ve been in college, I’ve spent more time in different cities. And I always get really excited to go to a city because I can wear whatever I want, and it won’t be the weirdest thing there.”

Deitrick prioritizes unique pieces that stand out, but she also prioritizes comfort. This has been an essential aspect of her clothing choices since she was young because she has always been an active person.

“I’ve always been just throwing myself wholeheartedly into what I do,” she said. “And so that usually results in some kind of stain or rip.”

However, for women, fashion has not always been about practicality. In a recent book study, Deitrick explained how a section discussed how women’s clothing has historically been decorative whereas men’s was functional. She noticed this subconsciously, but facing it plainly written in a book put words to cues she didn’t know she had been observing.

“I don’t think how you do fashion is limited by your gender,” she said. “It shouldn’t be weird for a guy to wear a bracelet or a necklace, and it shouldn’t be weird for a girl to wear what makes her comfortable.”

The clothing that makes Deitrick comfortable is “ratty old button-downs,” blazers, dresses, and statement earrings. While some of these might seem in contrast with one another on paper, it all makes sense to Deitrick and helps her express what is to her the ultimate aspect of fashion: creativity.

“It’s really exciting to have an area of my life that I can just release all the creative energy that I want to, and it doesn’t take that much time out of my day,” she said.

College mars our schedules with homework, extracurriculars, and social events, and makes it difficult to find areas of pure joy. That’s why, for Deitrick, the task of getting dressed in the morning feels so special.

“This is the theology major in me coming out, I think it’s really cool that God puts these little glimpses of beauty that we can find every single day,” she said. “And we can just find joy in the way that something looks.” ★