Category: Stories In Focus

While the new trilogy certainly offers much of the humor and charming cheesiness of the original Star Wars movies, it is clear that the new writers are doing what they can to add a few more “deep questions” to our little space epic.  For the most part, it seems safe to welcome them as fresh material to what could otherwise be an old story.  Concerns arise, however, when they try to squeeze in a few too many.

The Force Awakens called viewers to root for the little guys, to believe in a few scrappy youngsters defying the Empire and even the rules of the Rebellion and the Jedi. A lot of the plot seemed to encourage the more individualistic “go with your gut” sort of approach to adventuring. Finn (John Boyega) is the lone stormtrooper to escape his ranks, Poe (Oscar Isaac) attempts risky and unorthodox military maneuvers to win important battles, and Rey (Daisy Ridley) manages to successfully wield the Force simply by giving it a go.

The Last Jedi, however, seems to pull back from that mindset. Finn now needs to stick with the Rebels, even if it means giving up his personal priorities of protecting Rey. His unapproved mission with new character Rose (Kelly Marie Tran) goes horribly sideways. Poe is scolded like a misbehaving school boy for not having more faith in the leadership hierarchy.  Rey learns that to effectively use the Force, she first must understand its overall structure.  Even Luke (Mark Hamill), who takes on the GandoWhile the new trilogy certainly offers much of the humor and charming cheesiness of the original Star Wars movies, it is clear that the new writers are doing what they can to add a few more “deep questions” to our little space epic. For the most part, it seems safe to welcome them as fresh material to what could otherwise be an old story.  Concerns arise, however, when they try to squeeze in a few too many.

The Force Awakens called viewers to root for the little guys, to believe in a few scrappy youngsters defying the Empire and even the rules of the Rebellion and the Jedi. A lot of the plot seemed to encourage the more individualistic “go with your gut” approach to adventuring. Finn (John Boyega) is the lone stormtrooper to escape his ranks, Poe (Oscar Isaac) attempts risky and unorthodox military maneuvers to win important battles, and Rey (Daisy Ridley) manages to successfully wield the Force simply by giving it a go.

The Last Jedi, however, seems to pull back from that mindset. Finn now needs to stick with the Rebels, even if it means giving up his personal priorities of protecting Rey. His unapproved mission with new character Rose (Kelly Marie Tran) goes horribly sideways. Poe is scolded like a misbehaving schoolboy for not having more faith in the leadership hierarchy.  Rey learns that to effectively use the Force, she first must understand its overall structure.  Even Luke (Mark Hamill), who takes on the Gandolf type role of aged advisor, must return to the Jedi fold if he is to correct his mistakes.

For much of it, the two schools of thought operated in balance.  Indeed, it was refreshing to have a film that didn’t just encourage rugged individualism as the solution for all problems.  There were points, however, when their attempts to surprise the viewer made for a poor argument.  For instance, we were apparently supposed to agree with Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) in the end that Poe was foolish for distrusting the plans of Vice Admiral Holdo (Laura Dern).  As we watched, however, viewers joined Poe in asking “What plan?”  With the lives of the entire Rebellion at stake, it is difficult to blame him for putting his confidence elsewhere.  His plan fails and Holdo’s succeeds, but in a different Star Wars movie it could have easily been the reverse.  

A bit later, Finn seems to have developed a plan that would marry independent thinking and concern for the group: sacrificing himself to destroy a deadly cannon. Instead of the heartbreaking loss of a charming character, however, we get Rose Tico’s moralizing about what they should and shouldn’t be fighting for. Thanks, Rose, but now the cannon’s going to kill all twelve of you instead of just Finn. It might have been a touching moment if it weren’t so tactically stupid and if viewers had actually had the chance to grow fond of Rose. Instead, it felt like the beginning of a forced romance that would clear Finn out of the suspected Kylo-Rey-Finn love triangle. Apparently the maneuver was necessary, because otherwise viewers would have to accept that a single, male character could maintain a strong, platonic relationship with a female character without resentment or jealousy towards her romantic entanglements. (There is also something uncomfortable in putting two strong representatives of racial minorities together so the two white leads can be together unhindered, if that is what they have planned).

Aside from its flaws in reasoning, the film brought several wonderful moments. Luke’s last scene was a stunning parallel to when we first saw his silhouette step up against the twin suns of Tatooine, with John William’s brilliant theme sweeping us into the story. Yoda’s opinions on passing along mistakes as well as successes was interesting, especially given previous movies’ obsession with refining and cleansing the use of the Force.  The temporary alliance between Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) and Rey inspires all sorts of theories about what it really means to have balance in the Force.  

Overall, it was a building movie. It is the middle film in a new trilogy and the writers needed to sneak in all the questions they hope to answer in the finale. So far as the plot goes, it was almost entirely set up for the next movie, but it was worth the watch to see the characters back again. The 2 hours, 32 minutes essentially provided a new playground for the new fan favorites to develop and complicate in preparation for their coming return. lf type role of aged advisor, must return to the Jedi fold if he is to correct his mistakes.

For much of it, the two schools of thought operated in balance.  Indeed, it was refreshing to have a film that didn’t just encourage rugged individualism as the solution for all problems.  There were points, however, when their attempts to surprise the viewer made for a poor argument.  For instance, we were apparently supposed to agree with Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) in the end that Poe was foolish for distrusting the plans of Vice Admiral Holdo (Laura Dern).  As we watched, however, viewers joined Poe in asking “What plan?”  With the lives of the entire Rebellion at stake, it is difficult to blame him for putting his confidence elsewhere.  His plan fails and Holdo’s succeeds, but in a different Star Wars movie it could have easily been the reverse.  

A bit later and Finn seems to have developed a plan that would marry independent thinking and concern for the group: sacrificing himself to destroy a deadly cannon. Instead of the heartbreaking loss of a charming character, however, we get Rose Tico’s moralizing about what they should and shouldn’t be fighting for. Thanks, Rose, but now the cannon’s going to kill all twelve of you instead of just Finn. It might have been a touching moment if it weren’t so tactically stupid and if viewers had actually had the chance to grow fond of Rose. Instead, it felt like the beginning of a forced romance that would clear Finn out of the suspected Kylo-Rey-Finn love triangle. Apparently the maneuver was necessary, because otherwise viewers would have to accept that a single, male character could maintain a strong, platonic relationship with a female character without resentment or jealousy towards her romantic entanglements. (There is also something uncomfortable in putting two strong representatives of racial minorities together so the two white leads can be together unhindered, if that is what they have planned)

Aside from its flaws in reasoning, the film brought several wonderful moments. Luke’s last scene was a stunning parallel to when we first saw his silhouette step up against the twin suns of Tatooine, with John William’s brilliant theme sweeping us into the story. Yoda’s opinions on passing along mistakes as well as successes was interesting, especially given previous movies’ obsession with refining and cleansing the use of the Force.  The temporary alliance between Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) and Rey inspires all sorts of theories about what it really means to have balance in the Force.  

Overall, it was a building movie. It is the middle film in a new trilogy and the writers needed to sneak in all the questions they hope to answer in the finale. So far as the plot goes, it was almost entirely set up for the next movie, but it was worth the watch to see the characters back again. The 2 hours, 32 minutes essentially provided a new playground for the new fan favorites to develop and complicate in preparation for their coming return.

Dr. Warren Woolsey, professor emeritus of the Department of Religion and Philosophy at Houghton College, passed away on Christmas Eve last year. He was 95 years old.

Dr. Woolsey’s life and legacy ranged across continents. He was born in Marion, Indiana on April 2, 1922, the son of Pierce and Mildred Woolsey. “He was raised in a very straight-laced Christian home, rejected it, and later came back to faith,” his son, Dr. Stephen Woolsey, remembered.

Pulled away from his studies at Houghton by active service training as an Air Cadet, he graduated in absentia in the year 1942. His squadron conducted 30 missions throughout southern Germany, occupied Austria, and Italy’s Po River Valley.

Later in life, this period of military service became a touchpoint of emotion. According to Woolsey, his father was “basically, increasingly, a pacifist. He knew that innocent and guilty people alike had died. He never talked about it…I know it was disturbing to him.” Regardless, a conviction that his role in the war had been necessary, given the cruelty of the Nazi regime, remained with him for the rest of his life.

After the war ended, Dr. Woolsey briefly attended Columbia University. Scholasticism later gave way to missions, as he and his wife moved from the halls of the seminary to the Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky. By 1950, they were living in Sierra Leone and wholeheartedly dedicating themselves to evangelism and education.  After moving to Freetown, Sierra Leone, Dr. Woolsey took up a position as the first president of the institution now named as the Evangelical College of Theology. After returning to the United States in 1966, Dr. Woolsey joined the Houghton College Religion and Philosophy Department to teach classes in New Testament Theology, Christology, and missiology.

The well-known Bible scholar was intensely private man, who not only maintained a steady devotion to personal virtue and cared deeply for his students, but also grew to reject some traditional conventions. “He was such a true introvert,” Woolsey shared, “but he gave everything he had to give. Since he died, so many people have sent cards saying ‘Your father helped me through such a dark time.’ He had a kind of availability to his students.” On Facebook, former students described the elder Dr. Woolsey as a “sweet, godly gentleman” who changed lives through his “incredibly kind and generous” scholasticism.

That integrity also manifested itself in a rare sense of administrative dignity. “In faculty meetings where feelings were flying,” Woolsey said, “he would quietly stand up and make a pronouncement that clarified things and allowed faculty to reach a conclusion they could all live with.”

“Another thing is, he was pretty traditional when it came to gender roles,” Woolsey said. “For most of his life, probably, he was ambivalent about women in ministry and in positions of leadership. But when my sister came along, and was exploring her own vocation in ministry and graduate education, he started giving her books that we would now view as very positive studies of Christian feminism. By the end of his life, he was not just accepting of, but a huge advocate for, women in all kinds of leadership, whether scholarly, ministerial, or political.”  Woolsey also remembered a time when Dr. Woolsey agreed to serve as faculty advisor to a controversial theatrical performance, which pointed out hypocrisies in the church and had drawn the ire of some administrative staff.

“He had this deep integrity,” said Woolsey, who remembered his grandmother’s daily admonition: “The honor of the family is at stake.”

“A while ago, for some reason, I was assigned to an Honors interview in the seminar room where his painting was hanging,” Woolsey said. “I was doing this interviews with Dad literally looking over my shoulder, it was sort of an extension of that mentality. Remember…the honor of the family is at stake.”

Emilia Gildemeister ’18 has been trekking through her past four years at Houghton with a spirit of constant curiosity, ambition and adventure. As a biology major with an environmental emphasis and a chemistry minor, Gildemeister is an avid explorer of the passions she thrives under. She has taken advantage of the opportunities Houghton has given her in pursuing what she deems as important and vital for the fullest life.

“I have been very involved in research here at Houghton,” Gildemeister began. “I did Science Honors here my freshman year, and then over the past three summers, I’ve done research with one of my professors through the summer research institute. That was super cool.”

In the summer after her sophomore year, Gildemeister and her small team experimented with salamanders, examining predator-prey interactions in northern California and Oregon. This past summer, they hiked through the Mojave Desert and the Sierra Nevada. Both summers were part of a biodiversity study.

“Because I had worked with salamanders in the past, for my seniors honors project I wanted to design an experiment to test associative learning in salamanders, which kind of relates to climate change,” Gildemeister stated. “I’m super interested in how we are impacting the world, our responsibility to take care of it, and how complex God’s creation is in its ability to adapt to all these changes.”

When asked more about her experience hiking in California, Gildemeister explained the thrill of having a job where she explored the west coast. “We’d be on the trail for a week at a time, and we would just wake up every morning as soon as the sun came up. My job was to do vegetation assessments and also every time we spotted a reptile or an amphibian we would stop and do a vegetation assessment in that place.”

While hiking through the Mojave Desert, Gildemeister and her team had to carry approximately seven liters of water at a time. During the later part of their adventures, Gildemeister came down with altitude sickness. “It was pretty insane,” she said. “We were in the middle of the wilderness so the two options were to get helicoptered out or hike out. I couldn’t really breathe and it was like that for like four days. Every time I walked, I would start coughing and it felt like I was either gonna pass out or throw up and I couldn’t sleep for three nights straight.” Eventually, Gildemeister was medically evacuated from the wilderness and to the hospital. “Once I was off at a lower elevation, I did a lot better. It took me a few weeks to feel back to normal.”

In addition to her fearful experience, Gildemeister shared how dynamic these trips have been in her life. “I think it was really eye-opening in some ways. I was living in a backpack for two months and I had like three T-shirts, and when you’re on the trail, you’re starving, but you can only carry so much food. It was hard coming back here to a closet full of clothes that I never wear. I learned what’s important in life because your priorities are really different.”

Gildemeister is “still trying to figure out” how to marry these two radically different lifestyles because “I don’t want to live my life feeling so safe. I like that feeling and that reliance I had that God’s gonna look out for me and protect me.”

As she looks forward to pursuing a career that gives her the freedom to explore the world, nurture curiosity, and ask important questions, Gildemeister ended with some advice for Houghton students. “I think that I was really scared my freshman year. I think if you are bold and you reach out, you’re going to have opportunities like this. I would recommend being bold and further yourself as much as possible. When people know you’re curious, or interested in things, professors are going to do all they can to help you.”

Located on the idyllic Main Street of Wellsville, the Wellsville Community Arts Center is a fun little stop for anyone interested in local artisans, coffee, and free Wi-Fi over lunch. The center boasts an art gallery, a pottery studio, The Little Gem (a store selling products from local artisans), along with a full out café that serves a variety of lunch items from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

I happened to stumble upon it by accident while perusing Wellsville with a group of friends. My experience was fantastic, as I am a sucker for public funding of the arts and coffee. We walked into the Little Gem and browsed kinds of things artists from all over Allegany County were producing and selling.

As we stepped into the connecting doorway we became excited as we realized we were in a café. We ordered coffee before perusing the pottery for sale on the cabinet in the main dining area. The barista was incredibly friendly, and told us to check the downstairs. We all clambered down to find that there was a large pottery studio with moody, stone walls and at least a dozen wheels. We found out that lessons are available so community members could be exposed to the arts.

We went back upstairs to get a table and were told that, if we wanted, we could play the piano in the corner. I decided to poke around the spacious dining room and see everything there. There was a corner with old school chairs and a bookshelf with a collection of books and magazines to borrow while sipping on some coffee. As well, there were a variety of board games for anyone interested in hanging out for a little while at the center. I also found posters for events hosted at the center, including open mic nights, trivia, and karaoke, along with the occasional live music.

My friends and I sat down and realized that there was a full lunch menu as well, which included everything from breakfast burritos and salad, to sandwiches and quesadillas. We each ordered a meal, and were delighted to find that it even accommodated for a friend of ours who was gluten intolerant.

The atmosphere was great, the service was fantastic and the décor was a perfect showcase of local artwork. All of us were stunned we hadn’t heard about this place in all of our four years of college, and definitely wanted to come again after such a great experience.

The Center is open Mondays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hours change based on special events or when certain art classes are in session.

Every Wednesday night the Center hosts an Open Mic Night from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Check their website or Facebook page for any upcoming events or times for classes held at the center.

“If I were to ask myself four years ago today: do you think you will ever be in chapel talking about the innermost parts of your life? I probably would’ve had an anxiety attack,” Joe Miner ’18 laughed as he reflected on his journey the past four years. On January 12th, Miner continued to fortify his natural role as a student-leader in sharing his faith journey in Wesley Chapel. Miner gracefully and courageously shared his journey thus far as a celibate gay Christian.

As he recalled his freshman and sophomore years at Houghton, Miner explained that he struggled to find helpful resources as he was “coming to terms with my sexuality and how that would play a role in my faith.” He decided he would share his experience in the hopes that other people would find it helpful, too. “I figured there was probably a lot of people who were in my shoes, so even though I didn’t have most of the answers, I was just going to say what I was thinking and hope that would open up more conversation,” Miner said.

Adding to a conversation rather than creating one is both what Miner prefers, and also what he has found. “Now that I know I’m just adding to a conversation rather than creating one, it takes so much pressure off my shoulders,” he said. “It gives me more confidence to just speak out and be willing to write and share my experience.”

When Miner stepped into an RA position his junior year, he met more and more people who were wrestling with their sexuality and their faith. “I feel like I’ve heard so many stories of people who have expressed to me that they’re gay, but they don’t want to tell their parents because that would ruin their relationship, and other students who don’t want to go home on breaks, and others who just wouldn’t feel safe if they were to tell people across campus,” Miner shared. “That breaks my heart.”

Miner’s motivation for speaking up and out about hard issues is to “try and provide a voice for those people who can’t talk to anyone or are afraid to go home. There are a lot of people who don’t feel loved or accepted. I want to be able to speak — maybe not exactly for them, but be there as someone to say, ‘Hey, you’re not alone. God does love you and I am so sorry that you’ve been burned by the church in this way.’”

Miner is passionate about growing in the habit of embracing everyone, “even if we have disagreements.” His desire is to open up the conversation, challenge hearts, “and encourage people to ask each other: “Are you being loved? Do you have people in your life showing you the love of Christ? Because if you don’t, that needs to change.”

Miner adds his experience, wisdom, and insight to more conversations than just one. In addition to his active involvement in seeking to help the church reconcile with the LGBT community and also enlighten the understanding that “there are overlaps in the two, meaning, it’s not just the LGBT community and the church, it’s the LGBT community within the church plus the LGBT community outside it,” Miner is also an advocate for racial reconciliation on this campus, and beyond it.

On MLK Day, Miner led a discussion entitled, “Speak Up, Listen Hard: Becoming An Advocate for Racial Equality.” With the eloquent use of current events, Scripture passages, statistical data, and personal experience, Miner stated early in his discussion, “I believe there is still work to do today.”

The major focus of the session was learning how to live out the lessons of Dr. King in our daily lives. “I love the idea of celebration for Dr. King and I think it is something that should be had, but I also think that if we don’t take practical lessons from him and apply what he preached so many times to our daily lives, then what is the point of celebrating him in the first place?” Miner asked. In the hour session he posed a variety of practical ways we can advocate for justice in our everyday lives. “So much of the work is done through community. Sometimes that’s on a one-on-one level and sometimes it’s through small group, and if we are serious about racial reconciliation in the church, I think we need to be serious about speaking up, even in the little moments when it doesn’t seem to matter.”

Miner will no doubt continue to serve as an active and powerful voice in the Houghton community and beyond it. To all those who have the opportunity to hear his heart displayed, he challenges us, saying, “Justice cannot be taken down by ignoring it.”

Last spring, a nursing position opened at the Houghton Student Health Center. That position has been fulfilled this semester by Heidi Huizenga. As a registered nurse for at least 20 years, Huizenga continues to share her diverse professional experience and enthusiasm for patients with the Houghton community.

“It is a great privilege to be part of this community! I hope to be a good listener and to share God’s grace and love as I interact with students and coworkers. I am particularly interested in helping students develop good, lifelong health habits” Huizenga said.

Dr. David Brubaker, Huizenga’s colleague and Director at Houghton Student Health Center, expressed his gratitude for having Huizenga as part of the staff. “Heidi has been a great addition to our staff. She has a friendly personality, and I think people find her easily approachable,” he said. “As a colleague, I’ve appreciated her willingness to freely ask questions and offer suggestions, which she always does with humility. She has been an active and encouraging participant in staff discussions from her first days on the job.”

Even when she is not at the Health Center, Huizenga displays her genuine care to those needing medical attention. “Not long ago, at one of the local high school soccer games that Heidi and I were both watching, one of the players was injured, and at the time it seemed like it could be something pretty serious,” Dr. Brubaker explained. “We both responded to the field to see if we could help. That evening I was grateful for a calm, competent, compassionate and reassuring colleague. As I’ve worked with her on campus, it has become clear that those words describe her interactions at the health center as well. We’re very grateful to have her as part of our team.”

In addition to her nursing, Huizenga enjoys spending time outdoors, running, hiking, reading, birding, and writing to friends around the world. Her family is also a part of the Houghton community as her husband, David, teaches Bible at Houghton Academy, her son Luke Huizenga ‘21, attends Houghton College and her other two kids, Gabe (11th grade) and Anna (8th grade) attend Houghton Academy.

Before her family moved to Houghton, Huizenga worked as a cardiac nurse with elderly patients in the Philadelphia area, followed by working in an outpatient clinic for missionaries in Yaounde, Cameroon during the past 3 years. The transition to Houghton has presented its challenges, yet Huizenga has had a positive outlook through the learning process.

“Working with a young, generally healthy population here is very different from most of my past experience. I worked a lot with older people, many of whom had multiple chronic illnesses,” Huizenga said. “Most of my experience was in cardiac care, so I’m learning to examine ears and throats and wrap sprained ankles! I am enjoying learning new skills; my co-workers have been wonderful teachers.”

Students that have seen Heidi as a patient can attest to the care they have received from her. Ella Malone ’21 shared about her interactions with Heidi at the Student Health Center this semester. “Heidi shows genuine concern for your health and well-being,” she said. “Throughout the week I have received emails from her asking about my well-being which is comforting as it shows she cares. In addition, she always offers words of encouragement.”

Malone continued to express her appreciation for Huizenga by referring her service to other students: “I would definitely recommend others to see Heidi. She is extremely friendly and helpful and she will make your day a little brighter!”

The Health Center is open from 8:30am-5:00pm, Monday-Friday, and is located in the basement of Gillette. More information about the Health Center mission is located on the Student Health Center website.

“Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.”   3 John 1:2

As the fall semester comes to a close, one of the more bittersweet events is arriving. December graduation is upon us, and this year Houghton College has a sizeable group graduating at this time. According to the Registrar’s office, forty-two students will be ending their Houghton career this December. Coming from a variety of disciplines, with the biggest being in the math and science field with ten graduates. This is followed by education and business/management who have seven graduates apiece, and over half of the students graduating are receiving a Bachelor’s of Science. December graduates will meet in the home of President Shirley Mullen on December 9th to celebrate their accomplishment and to have a small ceremony to commemorate the occasion.

There are a variety of reasons that December graduation makes sense for a number of students. For graduating communications and political science major Megan Fisher, she saw no reason not to graduate in December with requirements complete and the option to save thousands of dollars in funds. When looking back at her time at Houghton, Fisher said that “Houghton prepared me and any feeling of unpreparedness has to do with my own self-preparedness.” She also reflected on the genuine relationships she made here and that she felt a sense of satisfaction in living by the higher moral standard in living here. Fisher is excited to embark on her next journey after leaving Houghton, obtaining a job and living life even more independently. She will be back to walk in May.

However, some stories are more complex for December grads. Biochemistry major Mikey Hardy started in Houghton fall semester of 2011. He loved his first year at Houghton but had to leave due to financial difficulties. Hardy came back in Spring 2015 to accomplish his goal of finishing college, especially at the one he fell in love with three and a half years prior. He fell right back into life here at Houghton, and actually was remembered by his advisor, Dr. Torracca, who had taught him General Chemistry his first year at Houghton. Hardy, like Fisher, highlighted the great people and great faculty at Houghton, especially the one-on-one time he got here. Part of the reason Hardy was able to finish, despite his financial difficulties, was by becoming a resident assistant at Rothenbuhler Hall for two years, a huge blessing and great opportunity for him, and another highlight of his time here. He also, incredibly enough, was able to finish his degree in eight semesters, just like the traditional student. There is one thing that Hardy would like to mention about the life of a December graduate and it’s this: “December grads have to make an awkward choice to either get the ceremony done and come back to college or start life and come back to graduation.”

While these are only two of the many stories that December graduates have of their time here at Houghton, they exemplify the different paths students take and how each path ends accomplishing the same goal. Of the December graduates, many are united in expressing their gratitude in the exemplary faculty and staff here at Houghton and the lasting friendships they made. It’s a bittersweet time for those moving on and for those staying back, and it’s exciting to see what these new graduates will do moving forward.