Category: Campus

Members of Houghton College’s track and field team put forward impressive performances over February break at the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) championship. The meet was held at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Indiana. While many of the competing schools dwarfed Houghton in size, the Highlander men managed to finish in nineteenth place, while the women finished twelfth, according to a Houghton Highlanders press release. Nicole Fink ’17 said of the caliber of competition, “It’s tough to walk onto a track as one of the smallest schools of the meet from a place in New York that nobody has ever heard of. Houghton was quite the underdog but we all arrived focused and ready to do all that we could to represent our school.”

The women’s team competed in the distance medley relay (Rebekah White ‘18, Kate Taggart ‘18, Nikki Garns ‘18, and Joanna Friesen ‘17), the pole vault (Fiona Daloia ’17), the 60 meter hurdles (Fink), the high jump (Fink), the 4×800 meter run (White, Taggart, Garns, and Friesen), and the 4×200 meter run (White, Garns, Daloia, and Kasey Cannister ’17).

In each event on the women’s side, the Highlanders placed sixteenth or higher, with the distance medley relay (DMR) barely missing All American status, finishing fourth with a time of 12:29.01, less than a second short of the six-year-old school record of 12:28.60. Also noteworthy was the 4x800m relay performance, in which the DMR foursome of White, Taggart, Garns, and Friesen came together again to, not only set a new school record, but also finish second with a time of 9:27.85 to gain All-American honors.

Of the record-smashing performance, Taggart said, “I have never run that fast in my life.” She recognized her teammates, and added, “Being able to receive an All American title is very special and exciting, but running with three other girls who are incredible teammates and friends is priceless.”

On the men’s side, the Highlanders put forth solid performances with eleventh place in the 4×200 meter relay (Cory McCarty ‘17, John Zamites ‘19, Chris Roe ‘19, and Austin Andryshak ’19), eighth place in the 800 meter run (McCarty), and tenth place in the triple jump (Malik Bullock ’19). McCarty ran a season best in the 800 meter run, with a time of 1:58.53. “Everything went as planned,” McCarty said of his solo performance, “I mentally trusted Coach Hager’s plan, I mentally and physically trusted my legs, and in the end I popped out a 1:58 which was a season best, and one of my fastest college indoor times. Hopefully as [the outdoor track and field season] comes along I’ll be able to get [my 800 meter run time] down to 1:54.”

Head track and field coach Patrick Hager expressed his pride in a Highlanders press release, and said, “[McCarty] ran with a higher sense of purpose, and it paid off.”

Hager also observed that the men’s 4×200 meter relay recorded the fastest time the Highlanders have seen in the last three years. First year student athlete Austin Andryshak ‘19 said, “I think it was obvious how prepared we were. Any meet where you are able to record your best time shows how much preparation you put in during practice….[Hopefully] by senior year we aren’t just there, but we are in the mix [to win].”  

The trend of confidence among the men’s first year athletes also extended to Bullock, the lone triple jumper that represented Houghton at the meet. Bullock noted how much he enjoyed experiencing the NCCAA championship as a freshman, as well as befriending his fellow competitors. Shifting his focus to the upcoming outdoor season, he said, “The elements outside won’t be enough to stop me from reaching for the stars.”

While both the men’s and women’s national teams brought home a determined focus on the spring track and field season, the memories made at the NCCAA track and field championship will last a lifetime, according to Taggart. “It was an overall amazing team effort we put forth,” she said. “This will be something I remember forever.”

Over February break, a group of Houghton students traveled to Camden, New Jersey with the Salvation Army Student Fellowship (SASF) on a mission to serve God and the community.

The SASF, according to vice president Marcella Wheeler ‘16, is comprised of students who either attended the Salvation Army church before coming to Houghton or found the Salvation Army through the SASF while attending Houghton. Members of the SASF, according to Wheeler, “attend The Salvation Army in Wellsville participating in all that goes on there: kids activities, women’s programs, Sunday School, and Worship are a huge part of what keeps it going.”

The Salvation Army, whose slogan is “Doing the Most Good,” is known for their dedication to helping people in need of emotional, physical, and spiritual assistance. Wheeler said, “With the SASF being a group so closely connected with The Salvation Army, we’re going to Camden because it is a high poverty, high crime, and highly homeless population in which The Salvation Army is known as ones who provide food, health assistance, and a place of warmth, love, support.”

According to CNN Money, based on FBI statistics in 2012 Camden had the single highest crime rate in America, reporting 67 homicides over the course of the year. In addition to a high crime rate, the town is also plagued by a drug epidemic, homelessness, and poverty. Wheeler said the SASF’s mission was to do their part in “making a difference in people’s lives who have almost nothing.” Jimmy Hughes ‘16, president of SASF, described Camden as “a city that needs love.”

Justin Bullard ‘16, one of the students who went on the trip, said the city’s crime rate never really bothered him, “I wasn’t worried about the safety of the location, I was just excited about being able to do missions in our own country instead of going out of the country.” Bullard said, for him, the area was one of the largest reasons he went. He said, “I know it’s an area that probably doesn’t get as much attention.”

While the SASF goes on a mission trip each year during February break, Hughes said this trip was different in that it was much more people-centered “We are striving to make meaningful connections in a city that needs people’s love,” he said. Students had many opportunities to interact with members of the community through meals, service projects, and community clean up.

A large part of the group’s time was spent at the Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center (the Kroc Center). The Kroc Center, which opened in October 2014, and serves people based on the Salvation Army mission which states, “[The Salvation Army’s] mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.” The Kroc Center offers many programs community members can participate in, and the SASF had a chance to help with. Some of those programs include an after-school program called Kroc Kids, a daily morning prayer, a weekly youth group, Bible studies, and Sunday worship.

In addition to helping at the Kroc Center, SASF members went to the Transportation Center in Camden, which Wheeler describes as a “tram station.” Members of the homeless community often reside near or around the Transportation Center, and students had the opportunity “to give out hot drinks, food, gloves, hats, scarves and to talk with the people around the area to be of spiritual support through listening to and pray with them,” said Wheeler. Students also had the opportunity to assist in helping members of the homeless community by volunteering at a soup kitchen called Cathedral’s Kitchen, where they serve hot meals to 200-300 people a day.
Wheeler had high hopes for the group’s takeaway from the trip. She said,  “I want us to leave with a greater awareness, concern, and love for those who we become oblivious to in our blessed lives and with hearts overflowing with desire to do something more each day.” Bullard echoed this and said, “It was really humbling to see people in these situations and see that I’m much better off than I thought. It also showed me that I’m in a much better position to help others than I thought.”

The men’s lacrosse team have a new competitive advantage to their team this year, a strong recruiting class comprised of many freshman and transfer students. “We could have as many as five new guys starting this season, “ said head men’s lacrosse coach Joey Wilmot. “That’s a big change in dynamics, when half of your starters are guys that weren’t on the team the previous season.” Captain Josh Bailey ‘15 added, “It will be interesting to see how the team will work together and how they will succeed with a lot more talent on the team this season.”

Their first game is March 5 against Theil College in Greenville, Pa. The Highlanders are looking to improve their record and overall team performance from last season. The team is still developing as it is only the fifth season it has been an official sport at Houghton. During the off-season, the returning players worked hard to improve their lacrosse skills with conditioning, weight lifting, and practicing with fellow teammates. Captain Paul Chapman ’17 said, “The team is a great group of guys who work hard and persevere to honor God on and off the field.”

In regard to coaching style Wilmot had this to say, “We will be using offensive and defensive midfielders for the first time this year and we have a completely new offensive playbook.” The coaching staff is confident the new system will impact the team’s performance as the season progresses. There will also be role changes due to the many recruits joining the team. “These recruits will be looked toward to step up and help out the team on the field” said Chapman. “5 of our new players will likely take on starting roles including between the pipes as a goalie who will be directing our defense.”

Since entering the Empire 8 conference, the team has faced some tough competitors, but the coaching staff believes these recruits can make a big impact on the team. This season, one of the team’s goals include being one of the top 10 “most improved” teams in the country. Another one of their goals is to win an award in their region of the Empire 8 conference that as a team best exemplifies good sportsmanship. “We have a great group of guys here on the team,” said Wilmot. “High quality individuals that are eager to learn the sport, but more importantly use the sport as a foundation to minister.”

This spring, Houghton hosted three honors weekends, inviting academically-gifted prospective students to interview for the college’s honors programs, while also giving those students and their families the opportunity to experience life at Houghton firsthand. Each weekend ran from Friday morning through early Saturday afternoon, with a rigorous schedule of interviews, discussions, panels, and information sessions.

“The overall goal of our honors interview weekends is to help prospective students discern if Houghton is the right school for them, as well as to help Houghton decide who should be admitted to our Honors tracks,” said Betsy Rutledge, assistant director of admissions events and office operations.

Rutledge and others in Houghton’s visit office are responsible for organizing the logistics of the weekends and making sure that everything runs smoothly. This extends beyond just lining up classrooms for discussions and scheduling interviews. “We want students to get the whole picture of a Houghton education,” said Rutledge. “So we try to emphasize and help them experience not just academics, but also Houghton’s spiritual climate and student community.”

Houghton has three honors programs for incoming first year students: Science Honors, East Meets West, and London Honors. “Students are divided among those interviewing for Science Honors and those interviewing for the two humanities programs (East Meets West and London Honors),” said Professor Peter Meilaender, interim director of honors. Science students and liberal arts students have separate schedules for Friday, both of which include interviews and interactive experiences designed to give students a taste of what the programs will be like.

“Science students have departmental information sessions; humanities students attend an East Meets West class,” said Meilaender. “Science students do a problem-solving team exercise; humanities students participate in a simulated class discussion on an assigned reading.”

Ryan Spear, Director of Admissions, said the honors weekends help the college make decisions on scholarships and admission to the honors programs, but also provide the opportunity for students to get to know Houghton and to interact with other prospective honors students.

Rutledge agreed, describing prospective students’ exposure to Houghton as a critical part of the honors weekends. She said, “We want students to be able to envision themselves as Houghton students and ask themselves, ‘Can I see myself spending the next four years here?’”

Spear said the intensive nature of the honors weekends is intended to communicate to students that Houghton’s honors programs are more than just “a collection of a few ‘harder’ classes dubbed ‘honors.’” According to Spear, many students who interview for Houghton’s honors programs excelled in high school and are used to performing well academically. He said, “Our goal is help these students see that Honors at Houghton isn’t simply about slapping a ‘feel-good’ label on their existing accomplishments in order to entice them to enroll,” but is instead  “a rigorous experience that is intended to further develop their God-given potential.”

According to Rutledge, the most recent honors weekend (which ran February 12 and 13) had 64 students, the most of any interview weekend to date. Spear estimated a total of about 120 students for the three weekends combined, which he said is on par with previous years.

Both Rutledge and Spear emphasized the preparation for the honors weekends as a personalized process designed to connect with students on an individual level, and not just as throngs of intelligent young minds.

“We work really hard to make the Honors weekend a personal experience,” said Rutledge. “Because we strongly believe that the Houghton experience is a personal one.” She added,  “We want to welcome as many of these students into our Christian academic community as possible, and we want students and families to come away from the weekend feeling that we got to know them as individuals.”

Houghton College’s disciplinary policy regarding alcohol use is continually on the table for discussion among students and other community members. As stated in the 2015-2016 edition of the Student Guide, “The normal sanction for a first offense involving purchase, distribution, possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages…is disciplinary probation. A second offense normally involves suspension from the college.”

This “hard line,” as Vice President of Student Life Rob Pool called it, serves to make clear Houghton’s stance on alcohol use in the Christian learning environment. Yet there is question as to whether this “hard line” may also be heavy handed and conducive to the inequitable treatment of involved students, particularly athletes.

Disciplinary probation in is the removal of most co-curricular opportunities beyond the “core” of a Houghton education for at least one semester, according to Pool. Specifically, a student on disciplinary probation may not participate in intercollegiate sports, theatre, music ensembles, nor lead a student club or organization.

“Certainly,” Pool admitted, “ if you take a student who is not involved at all, versus a student who is involved. . . disciplinary sanctions would affect them more broadly than a non-involved student.” Pool also noted that as of last year, athletes in particular were reported for violations at a rate disproportionate to their presence in the student body, which is roughly 23-25%.

Maisie Pipher ‘16, a forward on the women’s basketball team, said that while the repercussions for alcohol use and other infractions may be tougher on student athletes, “I see why…it is a privilege to be an athlete and we are kind of representing the school. We are forewarned about it plenty of times,” at mandatory meetings at the beginning of every academic year. While Pipher admitted to the appeal of shorter suspensions from co-curricular activities for first time alcohol infractions, she also expressed hesitance, as such a policy could lead to arbitrary application.

In response to this issue, Athletic Director Harold “Skip” Lord stated, “To whom much is given, much will be taken away. Athletics and other co curricular activities are a privilege, not a right. The athletic department may implement discipline aside from Student Life procedures, including reprimands and suspensions.”

Taylor Button ‘16, student assistant coach of women’s basketball fell in line with Lord, stating, “We [as athletes] put ourselves in the position for the athletic department to hold us to a higher standard.”

Houghton College is not the only Christian college with a strict no-alcohol policy. Messiah College, a familiar face in athletic competition and musical events, is, like Houghton, alcohol, drug, and tobacco free. According to the Messiah College Student Guide, the exceptions to this policy are slim, the partaking of communion wine and the consumption of alcohol by of age students in the presence of parents and/or during breaks are among them.

Unlike Houghton, however, violations of this policy induce a range of disciplinary procedures, ranging from a written reprimand to expulsion. Steve King, Messiah’s Associate Athletic Director for Communications and Compliance stated, “Our Athletics administration and our Student Affairs administration tries to treat both non-athletes and athletes as students first. Banning student-athletes from teams is more likely to result from a violation of that team’s expectations rather than College policy.”

King continued, “Discipline, especially within large communities like Messiah and Houghton, is hard. Often we, in our human nature, I think, want things to be really obvious and equal with regard to disincline. ‘X violation always equals Y penalty’ is an attractive approach because it seems fair.” This view has led to an updated model of discipline at Messiah College, in which King said “the consequences may vary depending on the context of the situation.”

Pool emphasized that the implementation of disciplinary probation depends on the “severity, frequency, and [negative] impact” of an infraction. He said, “it’s not just Student Life asking ‘did you have a beer?’ and then putting a student on disciplinary probation.”

“The spirit behind disciplinary probation is ‘ok, you’ve been given freedom, and you’ve violated the trust of the community, and we’re taking some [of that freedom],” Pool said. “It seems heavy handed, perhaps, but we always look at various factors of severity, frequency, impact” which warrant the immediate severity –“the student guide states that one [drug or alcohol violation] will result in DP…that’s the hard line. However, [the Student Conduct Committee] has latitude in applying sanctions.”

However, not all students may find this satisfactory, and some may prefer Houghton to implement the contextualized approach of Messiah College as described by King. In the meantime, Pool said, ““I think it’s helpful for students to get to know the student guide. Students should know their rights and ask questions, and if students are unsatisfied with the current policy, [they should] recommend change to their student government association (SGA) and see where that process leads us.”