Category: Stories In Focus

Walking on good intentions is like walking on clouds: it sounds beautiful in theory, but lacks enough substance to support true progress. Good intentions lack the practicality that encourages individuals to seek tangible opportunities for change. This type of change starts from the roots and slowly climbs towards the surface. As a globally engaged campus, social justice issues are at the forefront of Houghton students’ minds. As college students, are there practical ways for action to transcend mere intention? Chris Way, class of 2012 offers an application for this query. The application is enhanced by an abstract cognitive exercise in human relationship that aids in the physical incarnation of development strategies. Way and Princess Nabintu Kabaya began a collaborative work called The Atinga Project. Way works with a team of artisans who create sandals made from repurposed tires. The simple, durable design is not only a resilient shoe, but also a powerful metaphor for Christ-centered relationships. The three core values of the Atinga project: dignity, honor, and humility give diverse meaning to this metaphor.

This three-dimensional value statement applies to many forms. For example, the dignity of artisans is protected when a fair wage is received for the product. Junior International development major, Emily Barry, interned with the Atinga project this past summer as a communications and social media representative. In her work, she conducted research on the average Rwandan salary as published by the World Bank compared to an artisan employed in fair wage artisanship. She found that fair trade artisans make more per year than the average Rwandan. This is one way of directly restoring economic dignity. For this reason, buying fair trade is crucial for restoring dignity to the individual artist and to the art form. According to Barry, fair trade is saying, “I’m doing something, I’m doing it responsibly, and we’re doing it together.” Supply and demand then becomes a collaborative effort of human relationship on an international scale.

Furthermore, artisans honor and protect the environment by recycling a product that might otherwise prove harmful for the atmosphere. Tire waste emits toxins and attracts unwanted pests. As the international demand for Atinga sandals increases, potentially harmful waste has a reliable means of re-entry into a productive market.  

Contributors to the global market engage in a mutual learning relationship because of this exchange of goods and ideas. But sometimes “mutual empowerment” and “mutual learning” according to Barry, are romanticized on a global scale. However, These are more challenging ideas when applied to individual relationships. To embrace the Atinga Project slogan, “Walk a Mile in Their Shoes” is to walk in close connection with the people we encounter everyday. With this slogan, Way encourages Houghton students to “listen with love” as everyday opportunities to learn and grow with fellow classmates present themselves. To listen with love is a response to the Biblical mandate of Proverbs 12:15 to “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” Consumerism can no longer be about an economic transaction.

Part of the Atinga mission is to walk alongside someone with a humble attitude in order to listen to the needs of another person. The mission is to acknowledge that behind every headline there are individual stories. With global and local interactions, relating to others in a dignifying, honoring, and humbling way gives motion back to the wheel in its reconstructed state.

If you are interested in learning more about the Atinga Project, please visit atingaproject.com or check out their display in the campus store.

“My typical day thus far has been anything but typical,” said Amanda Irwin, member of the Class of 2015. After graduating last spring, Amanda moved to Buffalo to work with the Wesley Service Corps.

“Moving to Buffalo has bombarded me with diversity, my race, and understanding a new concept of community,” Irwin wrote in a recent e-mail interview. “The support of fellow Houghton students in the area has been great and extremely helpful – I don’t know that I could have done this program without that.”

Stephanie Smith, Director of Wesley Service Corps (WSC) and Houghton alumna from the Class of 2007, noted that sixteen Houghton graduates are currently engaged with the program, which was established in 2010. She said that it grew from the many connections Houghton students were building in Buffalo as student teachers, summer AmeriCorps project participants, and full-time AmeriCorps workers. WSC also built upon the work of former Houghton professor Dr. Chuck Massey and the relationships which he had developed in the city. According to Smith, Wesley Service Corps now encompasses year-long opportunities for recent Houghton grads through AmeriCorps as well as Buffalo Urban Mission Partnership (BUMP). The latter, as stated on their website, is a “collaboration of churches and ministries in Buffalo for the purpose of equipping and training women and men for Kingdom work in the City.” This equipping and training, the webpage says, is done through living and worshipping together in fellowship, studying urban missions,  and serving others through non-profit organizations and local churches.

Since beginning the WSC program, Irwin has been grant-writing, working with her hands to assemble things like a candy machine, and compiling a newsletter for senior citizens in the area where she lives. “I go to work every day trying to anticipate the solutions to problems I may be faced with and never really knowing what might arise,” Irwin commented. She lives only two and a half blocks from her office, with two fellow Houghton graduates who are also participating in AmeriCorps programs.

As an AmeriCorps VISTA, Irwin serves a nonprofit agency known as Concerned Ecumenical Ministry, on the west side of Buffalo. According to her description, this organization runs facilities housing youth directors, support centers for Congolese and Burmese communities, a church known as the Dream Center, case managers for service to senior citizens, and a ceramics collective. Assisting with administrative work for the organization, Irwin is in charge of managing room rentals and communicating building maintenance issues to a board of directors.  “I had to learn quickly, be unafraid to ask questions, and be confident enough in myself to make decisions,” she said.

Smith also pointed out that the Wesley Service Corps is not only for alumni. Summer programs through AmeriCorps are available for current students, as well. These include urban agricultural youth development programs and ESL programs for refugee students. There are approximately twelve to fourteen slots in these programs each year.

“Wesley Service Corps members get to engage in a highly formative service experience that is well beyond a typical entry level job,” commented Smith.  “While there are inherent challenges, such as navigating cultural barriers, living at poverty level, and finding work/life balance when surrounded with so much need, these are part of what make WSC opportunities so deeply formative and meaningful.” These sentiments are shared by Irwin, who writes, “This is definitely not for everyone.  But if you have a ready heart and an open mind than it is possible to experience some really amazing things.”

According to Smith, “These WSC members are infusing life, energy, and passion into the communities they serve, reaching beyond themselves and entering into the story of thousands of Buffalonians.”

Houghton Student Enterprises (HSE) is a student-led organization that prepares students with real-life experience through their interactions and work with businesses on campus and in the community. It primarily focuses on building business experience for students in a higher level collegiate environment where students are able to learn valuable communication, teamwork, and leadership skills.  

Under President Joseph Gilligan ‘17 there are vice presidents in each department: Finance, Graphic Design, Marketing, New Ventures, Houghton Events Group, Highlander Concessions, and Consulting Group. VP of Marketing Anna Coryell ‘18 said, “I keep all of the social media platforms up to date including HSE’s and Highlander Concessions’ Facebook page, Instagram page, and Twitter, make flyers and other media related documents for events, do market research on students to get a feel on how they can do their job better, and [we] run marketing campaigns to get ourselves out there so people know about us more.” Coryell is also lead on the Hilton Head Economic Impact Analysis Consulting Group which is working with the Golfweek Amateur Golf Tour in Hilton Head, South Carolina to give them analysis on their economic impact in that area. “Under Tim Leathersich (VP of Consulting Group) which provide consulting pro bono work for local businesses along with national golf tournaments and the Daytona 500,” said Gilligan.

New Ventures is a group that allows students to gain hands-on experience in starting up a new business.  “Under Bjorn Webb (VP of Events Group), we continue to run tournaments with intramurals, but we are now exploring doing other events such as a League of Legends tournament, possibly Battle of the Bands, or a Trivia Night,” said Gilligan. There is a three on three basketball tournament happening this Saturday night that will be donating money to breast cancer awareness.

Highlander Concessions used to be 5Bites, which was ran exclusively by Sodexo in the dorms and at sporting events. But, Sodexo had a big overhead cost because they are a corporation, took huge losses on concessions, and lost their employees because they are no longer any proctors in the dorms. VP of Highlander Concessions Paul Chapman ‘17 said, “I like the fact that we are the student body representing at the athletic events” and that they are having more success because “Students are going to spend money to help other students than help Sodexo.”

“We found an opportunity to partner up with Sodexo to sell at sporting events because of how low our operational expenses would be compared to them, and forged a venture that has been beneficial to both groups,” said Gilligan. Highlander Concessions tries to open up at any athletic event on campus whether it is takes place on Burke Field or at the Nielsen Center. They also work with the Houghton community and sold products at the Fall Festival, which took place on Route 19 last weekend. In addition they are partnering with the Tournament Group to sell concessions at their tournaments and with the Campus Store to sell athletic apparel such as blankets and t-shirts as well as other merchandise like foam fingers at events.

HSE is specific to business majors and minors, but any major can be apply to be a part of the organization. Coryell said, “[It’s] such a great opportunity to build on weaknesses that you may have and make them strengths and build on strengths [to]  make them something that are just so fundamental to who you are as a business person.”

Today in the Recital Hall, award-winning novelist and Buffalo-native, Joyce Carol Oates, will be hosting a question and answer forum at 2 p.m. The well-known, seventy-seven year old novelist has published over 100 books in just about every genre including novels, memoirs, plays, poetry, and short stories and in styles such as horror, gothic, mystery, and family saga. Dean Linda Mills Woolsey said, “Her work is vast and various.”

The event was made possible by a partnership with the David A. Library of Wellsville. Houghton alumni, Nic Gunning, currently works at the library. He reached out to Oates, explaining that someone of her stature coming in and talking to the library’s patrons and community would be a rare and warmly welcomed experience. When Oates’ lecture in Wellsville was confirmed (which commences tonight at 7 p.m.) Gunning approached Mills Woolsey about the possibility of having Oates speak at Houghton as well, resulting in today’s forum.

Mills Woolsey, a longtime reader and lover of Oates’ work, hopes students will catch a glimpse of Oates’ passion for the craft of writing and come to understand her work in ways that enables them to be good readers of contemporary writers. She went on, saying, “I also hope this will deepen students’ appreciation for creative work that takes on challenging subjects.”

It is one of the aims of the Houghton English and Writing programs to balance the refining of the craft with opportunities to interact with those currently succeeding in the field. For many years the English and Writing department has invited writers to come to the college for students to learn from and speak with.

Senior English major, Hope McKeever, feels the department is excelling in this objective. In the past year especially, she and many others in the program have been inspired and encouraged by the guidance and readings of visiting authors.

Speaking to an artist about their work offers students a fullness of experience that one does not encounter through a work alone.  The authors typically studied by students often tend be deceased, it all feels rather secondhand. Professor of English, Stephen Woolsey compares it to the difference of being told about music and actually hearing a musician play. Luckily, there are still many great writers who are alive and willing to come visit Houghton.

McKeever notes out of all the short stories she read in high school the one that sticks out the most is “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by Oates, a retelling of the pied piper which examines ideals of beauty and innocence. “She can draw you into a story unlike anyone I’ve ever read,” said Mckeever, “That is something I would love to emulate in my own work.”

Along with excellence, Oates exemplifies hard work and determination. The sheer volume of Oates’ literary contributions is overwhelming. She has published two or three books every year for the past forty years. She was once seen in an airport sitting on top of a bag-stacked luggage cart writing as her husband pushed the cart along. Her tenacity and productivity is an inspiration to Houghton students.

Mills Woolsey, who finds Oates’ novels disturbing and deeply moving, spoke to the unifying factor of her body of work., “The thread that runs through…is a willingness to look at dark, violent and painful experience with an honest eye, while at the same time often managing to convey a sort of tough-minded hope through the strength of her characters.”
Oates’ stories are cerebral and copious. Her characters, honest and compelling. Her work, captivating, creepy, charming, and hauntingly beautiful all at the same time.

On September 20, head coach of men’s soccer, Matthew Webb, reached a milestone of 100 wins in the victory against the Nazareth College Golden Flyers. Since the win, Webb said, “It’s been fun to reminisce and think about some of the guys who have come through the program all of these years.” Athletic Director Skip Lord said, “Anytime you have the milestone wins, in part it says something about longevity…but it’s longevity with excellence, longevity with success.”

Webb has been coaching for twenty-two years. He started his career at Houghton working in the Student Life Office in Student Programs and served as an assistant coach for women’s soccer for four years alongside current head coach, David Lewis. Then, under Coach Hornibrook, he was an assistant coach for the men’s soccer team for seven years. Now, he is in his eleventh season as the head coach of men’s soccer who are currently 4-3-2 overall and 1-0-1 in the Empire 8 conference. In addition to coaching, Webb is the Associate Athletic Director for the college and the men’s soccer chair for the NCCAA division. Over the years, Webb has provided leadership for the intramural sports program, served as a former Empire 8 conference chair, taught classes at Houghton, taught as an adjunct at other institutions such as Global Leadership for St. Bonaventure’s master’s program, and has been a member of board of elders at the Houghton Wesleyan Church.

Webb always sets high goals and standards for his team every season. Specifically, they want to win the Empire 8 conference, qualify for and win the NCCAA national tournament, and have a team GPA of over 3.2 with no individual GPAs below a 3.0. “I think if goals are not set at a high enough standard, they aren’t worth striving towards but they need to be attainable…something [we] can build towards,” said Webb. Additionally, as a team they want to support other sports teams on campus by attending at least one of their games. Webb thinks it’s important for his team to be disciplined academically, athletically, and spiritually. Because he desires to see spiritual development among his players, the team has mandatory devotions early on Friday mornings

With regards to coaching, Webb said, “The most rewarding thing is building those relationships with the players, seeing guys graduate from our program. Becoming husbands, becoming dads.” The success Webb has had is largely a result of the time he takes to relate to his players. Senior Matt Munkittrick said, “[He] makes a good effort outside of the soccer field to get to know the players and that helps in practice and in the games as well.” During preseason, the entire men’s soccer team is invited over to the Webb’s house for a picnic which lets his players know they are always welcome at his home because they are his “extended family.” Webb is often described as a “player’s coach” because he cares about the kind of men his players become and stays in contact with them after they graduate to see how they’re doing. Lord said, “One of the ways you can tell the impact of a coach has on their student athletes is how many weddings they’re invited to.” Usually, his summers are booked with plenty of former players’ weddings for his family to attend, so it’s safe to say Webb has made a large impact on many of the players he’s coached throughout the years.

During the school year, senior Jens Omdal is a political science major. During the summer, however, he is a professional circus performer working for the Aerial Trapeze Academy. Based in South Florida and Palm Beach, the Aerial Trapeze Academy are experts in the performing arts, presenting circus shows as well as teaching workshops in trapeze to the public. Omdal works as an aerialist and a juggler, specializing in tricks on the flying trapeze and fire juggling. “It’s something I enjoy,” says Omdal. “It’s definitely a challenge but it’s rewarding.”

Omdal began his training in the art of circus performance when he was 11 years old, when lessons were offered at a kid’s camp he attended. As he became more skilled, Omdal went on to work professionally with the circus as his summer job. When asked what initially attracted him to the trapeze, he responded, “I think it’s that I was scared of heights. It was a way of overcoming an obstacle.”

Omdal’s typical workday begins at eight in the morning, teaching students the mechanics of flying trapeze.  Some days are devoted to these classes, with each lesson lasting about an hour. If it’s a performance day, the afternoon is spent setting up for their evening show. Omdal remarks that the Academy’s schedule fluctuates fairly often. “Show times vary; in the summer there’s a lot of carnivals and festivals that want us to perform, so it’s possible we would perform every night for a week. Other times you go three weeks without a show. It depends on where the attractions are.”

When asked specifically about his job description, Omdal described himself not only as a performer, but also as a staff member. “The circus term for it is a Roustabout-someone who sets up the show. Everyone begins as a Roustabout; so you know how to set up the rig, change sets. If you can’t do that, then you’re not helpful to the show, and if you’re not helpful to the show then you are destructive. If all you are capable of is your own particular act, then you’re only good for five minutes.” As well as contributing to set up, Omdal performs a juggling act, starting with a few balls and then slowly increasing the difficulty level up to juggling fire. He also does an Adagio act, meaning an act showcasing an acrobatic partnership typically with a man as a stabilizing base while a woman performs flips and twists. Finally Omdal performs tricks with four other artists on the flying trapeze. These tricks include layouts, or forward moving backflips, and a plounge, which involves placing the trapeze bar behind your hamstrings and arching your body upside down. Acts on the flying trapeze require careful precision and planning. Omdal commented, “We have our tricks planned beforehand because we want our tricks to work together aesthetically as well as sequentially.”

Omdal could feasibly make his living working professionally as a performer and aerialist. When asked why he attends Houghton, he replied, “I desire an education, and Houghton is my outlet for that. A lot of people who perform in the circus make it their career and livelihood. But it’s a short-lived career because of the toll it takes on your body, after 15 or 20 years in the industry your body is well advanced.” Despite the risks involved, Omdal remains passionate about his role as performer, as well as its impact on his life. “Circus is a way of making art with our bodies.  We are creative in our own right. One thing the circus had taught me is that you have to commit. If you’re performing a trick on the trapeze and you don’t commit, you’re going to fall.”