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“Take Back the Night” Events Raise Awareness

A 2007 Department of Justice study revealed that 20% of U.S. college women reported being a victim of sexual abuse/assault at some point in their lifetime.

The issue of sexual assault is a prevalent one in today’s society, even on the rural campus of Houghton College. Reports of sexual abuse on campus, though rare, are not unheard of. To address this issue, the annually-held, student-led event Take Back the Night will once again be held on campus from April 2 to 5. The movement will consist of a series of lectures, workshops, and other events meant to raise awareness of, and combat, sexualized violence towards women.  Student coordinator Lois Leete ’15 stated, “Especially in the media, there is lots of victim blaming, which leads to silence. We want to break that silence because an issue that is not talked about cannot be remedied.”

tbnThe event is geared towards both raising awareness and encouraging those affected, both men and women, to speak out and express their own tragic experiences. As Rob Pool, president of student life, pointed out when interviewed, “We all benefit by women and men taking this topic head on and joining in the process to stop it.”

In years past, Take Back the Night comprised of mostly women both heading the event and taking part.  Student organizer Amy Eckendorf, senior, recollected that last year only three male students attended events throughout the week.  She referenced this statistic, stating that “Male participation would make a strong statement and I really encourage male students to actively participate in this year’s events.” Eckendorf later added that “We are trying to address this issue of years past and make it more inclusive.”

When asked why both men and women should be involved with the event, student coordinator Wynn Horton, junior, replied, “No conversation based on understanding and mutual respect will ever happen if there is only one ‘side’ represented.” Horton further said, “It is important for women AND men to join in the organization and participation of Take Back the Night.  This curse is ravaging the entire human race–why shouldn’t we address it as one?” All this to say, the event organizers, volunteers, and previous participants strongly encourage all students to attend the event.

Events throughout the week consist of a variety of sources in order to cover a wide range of problems within the overarching issue of sexual assault against women.  On Wednesday, April 2nd, events will start off with a film and panel discussion entitled Flirting with Danger.

The following day, Thursday April 3rd the general public may attend a variety of both seminars and workshops starting at 11 a.m.  These will be lead by guest speakers including Elizabeth Gerhardt from Roberts Wesleyan College, as well as Houghton professors such as Connie Finney and students such as Katherine Tomlinson, junior, and Brittany Libby, senior.

Friday, April 4th, a free Symphonic Winds Concert with the theme of Music and Healing that is open to the public will commence at 7:30 p.m. in Wesley Chapel. Following the concert, the Speak Out and March will begin at the chapel steps.  Students are strongly encouraged to come conquer the vulnerability felt in darkness or in hidden assault.  This event is particularly power because as Lois states, “The march will give faces to the issue, making it less of a ‘it doesn’t happen to us’ issue.”  Therefore stressing that violence occurs daily to even those we know personally.

Finally, on Saturday the 5th a Cattaraugus Community Action training seminar titled Bringing in the Bystander will take place. Concerning this event, Kristina LaCelle-Peterson, associate professor of religion, said, “For those serious about changing from being a bystander to an active agent for change, the session on Saturday morning promises to be very informative.”

Those involved in the event reiterate that it is not solely focused on women. Horton states, “One in five men will experience sexual victimization at some point in their lives, and one in six are sexually abused before they turn 18.”

 As Lacelle-Peterson explained, “Ultimately, Take Back the Night seeks to embrace the victims and set them on a path toward healing, but also to equip all of us to help reduce the violence in the first place.”

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Kerr-Pegula Athletics Complex Right on Track

The Kerr-Pegula Athletics Complex project plans were officially drafted in 2011 after receiving a letter of intent for a twelve million dollar donation from millionaire Terry Pegula and his wife Kim (Kerr ‘91) Pegula. By mid-spring 2013, the initial plans were approved by the Board and a timeline set in place. While the timeline has since evolved to reflect weather and fundraising realities, the project has continued forward with due speed. A walk past Shenawana Hall reveals the amount of work that has been completed already, and foreshadows the magnitude of these developments. David Smith, vice president of finance, is assisting in the flow of information to students and community members on behalf of the administration.

Of most pressing importance is the matter of fundraising and supporting this large venture. “The fundraising for this project has reached over $15M including the $12M lead gift by Terry and Kim (Kerr ‘91) Pegula with an additional $3M given by hundreds of donors over the past 18 months,” said Smith, “Individuals, foundations and corporations with affinity, capacity, and demonstrated generosity have been identified and are actively being solicited for this project.”

Ground_BreakingWhile the long-term project costs total more than $25M, the Advancement and Finance Departments seem enthusiastic and optimistic about reaching their goals. In a summary statement concerning fundraising, Smith said that he expects “to reach the fundraising goal by December 2015, which includes additional major capital gifts and endowment gifts designated for upkeep of the facilities, and a range of gifts from hundreds of dedicated alumni and friends.”

Another lurking concern about the complex is if the recent drop in enrollment could affect the finishing or expanse of the project’s plans.  When asked this question directly, Smith seemed optimistic. “The size of the facilities reflects many factors other than just enrollment, and all the factors, when included in the overall strategy, indicate our planning is still appropriate to our needs. For example, the size of this venue will be ideal for large multi-team track meets, concerts much larger than can be hosted currently, and other events that will promote Houghton College in our area/region.”

When asked a similar question, student government vice president and representative to the student athlete advisory committee, Andiana Sidell ‘14, also exuded positivity, “I definitely think that this project will have an impact on enrollment in the fall. Coaches and admissions have been using it as a recruiting tool. The presence of updated or new facilities is good for any type of program especially one that will impact the whole campus.”

Senator for athletics, Michael Bova ’15, also weighed in on the complex’s impact, saying, “I believe it will impact enrollment, especially if we have a multitude of future athletes coming to visit during the later portions of April or during May when the complex is nearing its final state. The complex adds grandeur to the Houghton campus, which is not something individuals expect when they look at the location of Houghton College–it adds to the “wow” factor, in essence.”

Smith holds hopes that the project will be completed very soon.  “The overall project, including the fields and field house, is on schedule to be completed by mid-summer 2014 and the fundraising plan is on schedule to be completed by December 2015.”

 

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Annual Student Juried Art Exhibition Opens Saturday

This Saturday, March 22, marks the opening of the 25th annual Student Juried Art Exhibition. Submissions were accepted from all Houghton students, provided that the works submitted had been completed within the last year. It will feature a wide variety of artwork including ceramics, printmaking, drawing, book art, and other forms of media, totaling nearly eighty pieces. The expansive selection of work makes it ideal as a sampling of what the art community at Houghton has to offer. “It’s a show we look forward to every year, both for the celebration of creativity among our student body and the recognition of the visual art, design and media programs,” said Jillian Sokso, chair for the department of art and director of the Ortlip Gallery.

Student_JuriedEach student can submit up to five pieces for the show, though only three are placed in the exhibition. This year, all submissions were subject to a jury process by artist Ian McMahon. McMahon is the co-founder and co-director of The Belfry, an artist-run exhibition venue located in Hornell, and his work in sculpture has been shown both nationally and internationally. Many Houghton art majors are already familiar with him and his work, having spoken previously during a Fine Arts Seminar and given critiques.

Amanda Irwin, assistant to the gallery and a junior Art and English double major, says that the great majority of work to be done leading up to the opening had concerned dismantling the previous gallery exhibition. In contrast with a visiting artist who would have specific parameters on how their work was to be displayed, this show requires a certain amount of responsibility and organizational skills from the gallery assistants and Sokso. “Jillian will go and look at all of our pieces and arrange them… and us as the gallery assistants go and hang everything and do the technical aspect of it. Later on we also do lighting ourselves.” Irwin assists alongside Alex Hood, Jordan Smith, and Lydia Wilson.

A number of awards will be designated during the event, also determined by McMahon. These awards include those such as the Ben Moss Award (3rd Place), the Alumni Award (2nd Place), and the Paul Maxwell Memorial Award (1st Place), along with the Ortlip Award for Best in Show, with cash prizes for each. Additionally, there will be a personal selection bid for two pieces of artwork by the College President and the First Gentleman, respectively.

The student show provides an opportunity for the college to acquire Houghton student artwork to display on campus. “We usually have a large turnout for this show,” says Irwin, “just because it’s student work, so it’s really fun to see if you got in and what they got or if your friends did, that sort of thing.”  Jillian Sokso also comments on the contemporary nature of many of the pieces. “The Student Juried Exhibition is an exciting showcase of what is happening in the visual arts,” she says. The entire exhibition will be available for viewing in the gallery until April 18th.

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HELP Day Gears Students Up for Future

This past Wednesday marked a continuation of the college’s yearly Houghton Life and Evaluation Planning (HELP) Day. The event, which spans the morning and most of the afternoon of a chosen Wednesday in the spring semester, cancels classes so that students may meet with their advisors to plan out their majors as well as attend various sessions throughout the day concerning topics such as career planning, graduate schools, and loan repayment.

Help_Day_WebPlanning for HELP Day began on the second Monday of this spring semester. A committee comprised of Sharon Mulligan, Marge Avery, Helena Oden, Greg Bish, Marc Smithers, Dan Noyes, Brian Reitnour, and committee chairman Mark Hunter met on a weekly basis to decide on what sessions and other services would be provided for students that day. Certain sessions geared towards underclassmen and upperclassmen, with a Grad Central Station set up for seniors to prepare for graduation and post-graduation plans. Dani Johnson of Career Services, who ran a booth at the station, explained that the purpose is to “give seniors a last chance to talk about job searching and graduate school and let them know we’re here to help.”

One of the new aspects of this year’s HELP Day, according to Hunter and Bish, was the morning sessions given to students in the dorms and townhouses, with each speaker unique to each residence hall. Speakers included Rick Melson, Vice President for Advancement; Eric Currie, Vice President for Enrollment; David Smith, Vice President for Finance, Robert Pool, Vice President for Student Life, and President Shirley Mullen. “We wanted to start off in the residence halls and give the vice presidents and the president a chance to interact with students on their own turf,” explained Bish.

Also new to this year’s activities were some of the sessions offered to students. “We added a few new sessions this year, one about loan forgiveness,” said Hunter. The college brought in Houghton alum Bruce Campbell ’81, currently Director of Graduate Admissions at St. Bonaventure University, to speak on Houghton’s loan forgiveness program and applying to graduate school. According to Hunter, the loan forgiveness session “was probably the most well-attended session. Our next best-attended session was preparing for graduate school, and then ‘Navigating Personal Finance.’”

Also added this year was a session on Gallup’s StrengthsFinder, which was made available to students through the career services office. “I think that’s an underlying big thing we brought this year–each person knowing their own strengths, getting to see others’ better … how together we form the body of Christ and are unique in what we bring to the table,” said Bish.

However, HELP Day isn’t solely a day for students. Faculty too attend sessions dealing with topics of professional improvement. Past HELP Days typically planned one session for faculty. However, this year, three were made available, one for a general faculty audience, one for department heads, and another for faculty in the process of writing for grants.

Hunter’s gauge of student response was positive. “We actually had greater attendance of our afternoon sessions this year than last year,” he said. As for planning for next year, he said that “we always welcome student input about how to improve HELP Day. We want it to be a thing that really is valuable for students when they think about the future, whether it’s next fall’s classes or a career or graduate school.”

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Meilaender Awarded Research Fellowship at Biola University

For Peter Meilaender, professor of political science, the opportunity to embark on a research fellowship next spring at Biola University is a “chance to sit down, free of distractions” to work on a subject that has piqued his interest for almost a decade.

After applying last October, Meilaender was awarded a research fellowship at the Center for Christian Thought (CCT) at Biola University, a Christian, California-based school. According to its website, the CCT awards a number of research fellowships, with all research “[focusing] on a theme of contemporary relevance and importance, which has bearing on both academic and popular issues.” The theme of 2014-2015 at CCT is “Intellectual Virtue and Civil Discourse.”

MeilaenderSpecifically, Meilaender will be embarking on a study of loyalty, a virtue that he described as involving a moral tension “between our duties toward particular persons with whom we stand in special relationships and our universal obligations toward all human beings.” In relation to the theme of the CCT, Meilaender hopes that “by defending a virtue that involves commitment to others without requiring ideological agreement, I … hope to strengthen an ideal of civility in our public discourse.”

Meilaender became interested in the subject of loyalty through his work on immigration in a book published ten years ago (and currently available in the Houghton library entitled Toward a Theory of Immigration.) During that study, he was interested in using loyalty as a “positive case for special preference to fellow citizens” in the broader immigration debate which, by contrast, according to Meilaender, currently favors open-border policies. Since his introduction to loyalty through that study, Meilaender has explored the topic in greater detail and even offers a course entitled “Loyalty” through the political science department.

Though his planned research on loyalty next spring is not an official sequel to Toward a Theory of Immigration, Meilaender feels that “intellectually, this is a sequel to the immigration book.” He also expressed his hope that the “three or four conference papers” that he completes during the fellowship might result in four book chapters for a book on loyalty.

Because the fellowship will take him away from campus, and consequently decrease the political science department by half, Meilaender will be teaching a full load of courses next fall, which include “In Search of Justice,” “Introduction to Political Thought,” and “International Law and Organization” in addition to supervising the political science senior seminar.

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Student Schedule Changes Approved for Next Fall Semester

After several semesters of tentative planning and re-planning, a new schedule was approved for next fall semester. The new schedule, which moves chapel start time from 11:30 am to 11:05 am, is hoped to provide students with more time to eat lunch before afternoon classes. It also sets the earliest class time at 7:55 am instead of 7:45 am and eliminates five-minute breaks between classes, making sure most students have ten minutes to get from one class to another.

Luckey_2Reasons for changing 7:45 start times to 7:55 were complaints about its earliness, while five minute intervals between classes were found to be insufficient for students, especially those walking from one end of campus to the other and those with physical ailments. According to Marge Avery, Director of Academic Records, “There was a proposal to do that to try to squeeze more time slots for classes in and still get things done in the time they thought it could get done in. Enough people said that doesn’t work very well because not all the other classes get out on time.”

The final schedule had to pass through multiple organizations on campus before reaching a general consensus required for final approval. Student government, Academic Council, faculty, Student Life, Sodexo, Dr. Jordan, the admissions office, the dean’s office, and the athletics department all provided input and approved of the final product.

“I know a number of people liked having chapel back at 11:00,” said Avery. “I think that will help. I think this will help with science labs and … one of the main things is that it gives students more time to eat lunch.”

 

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Baseball Teams Heads to Florida for Championship

This past spring break provided time for the Houghton Men’s Baseball team to embark on the 26-hour drive from campus to Florida to participate in The RussMatt Central Florida Invitational.  The week-long trip was an opportunity for the team to build relationships between each other and test their skills on the field.  Ten games were scheduled; however one junior varsity game was rained out. A total of eight varsity games were played as well as one junior varsity game for freshman and sophomores.

Up to this point the baseball team had only participated in scrimmages.  The tournament consisted of mostly northern college baseball teams and was intended to provide extra playing time for an otherwise short season.  It also gives players the chance to encounter scenarios that do not surface while practicing indoors.

Having participated in the tournament two years previously, with a beginning record of 1-7, the team is excited about this year’s record of 4-4.

rp_primary_IMG_5194Pitcher and DH Seth Cornell, a junior, remarks on the team saying, “We have improved every year and it’s nice to see that we compete.”

Coach Brian Reitnour says, “The team was competitive in all the games and this gives us a look at the big picture in order to move in the right direction for the upcoming season.” Reitnour points to the two home runs and two triples by freshman Tommy Walker as just one example of the type of playing exhibited by Houghton during the tournament.

The trip involved many activities for the baseball team besides the tournament itself.  Just one example was the parents’ cookout that was held for family that travelled to see the team compete. Additionally, the team held a worship service for a time of praise and testimony, spotlighting players such as Mike Kerr and Kevin Cassar in which teammates were able to see each other in a more vulnerable light.  They were also able to spend time bonding during a Washington Nationals and Miami Marlins game where two home run balls were caught.

For freshman Joe Gilligan, the trip gave him just a small look at the camaraderie shared between the players.  Gilligan says, “I thank my teammates for making this such a great experience.”

This season’s team consists of 12 returning players, 17 new players, and no seniors.  Being such a young team means that they are “not experienced yet at such a level, but have a lot of promise,” says Reitnour.

Watching the players grow into new roles on the team, especially those who have been on the team since its start three years ago, has been exciting for Coach Reitnour.  He says, “the guys teach each other academically, socially, and athletically.”

With such a team, Reitnour added that, “they play for something more than themselves, making it more meaningful individually and collectively.”

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National Sacred Honor Choir Performs at Carnegie Hall

As students returned back from break last weekend, one group of students did not look rested, though perhaps some of them looked rejuvenated.  College Choir spent this past spring break riding in a tour bus and performing in churches from Pennsylvania to Virginia and back.  From gospel music flash-mobs in King of Prussia Mall to Carnegie Hall, the College Choir generally was described as a rewarding experience by participants.

“Overall I felt that this tour was one where the choir connected the most with both each other and the music,” said senior Heather Todd, afterward, this being her third tour with College Choir.  “Our group devotional times became incredibly personal and through sharing of our connections to the text it brought us closer as a group.”  The sense of community by working and sharing together was not limited to music and spiritual growth, however.

Courtesy of media.npr.org
Courtesy of media.npr.org

According to graduate assistant Kelly Van Kirk, “Choir members stepped up, above and way beyond the call of duty all throughout tour.”  One particular situation arose in Philadelphia, PA where the choir was singing at 10th Presbyterian Church.  After some an afternoon of free time in the city, the choir went to the church to unload the trailer with equipment and risers and rest.  “Dr. Johnson had mentioned a mandatory nap time and we were super excited!”  said Todd.  But the van with the trailer broke down a mile from the church, stranded with all of the equipment.  Van Kirk described the experience, “I had to ask people who were short on sleep, had been wandering the city and were expecting a time of rest to skip that rest and carry hundreds of pounds of robes and risers a mile to the church.  I felt terrible, but right away a group jumped up and said, ‘We’ll go.’ I was shocked.”  A member of the group added, “A couple people would trade off every couple of blocks and we managed to get everything back in time for the concert.”  “No one complained for the rest of tour,” said Todd. “We met the worst it could be and we got through it together!”

The climax of the tour was the performance on Sunday afternoon at Carnegie Hall strengthened by the National Sacred Honor Choir.  There were rehearsals for several days before the performance with the group of Christian college students, community members, and students at private Christian schools from the greater New York City area.  Beyond the weekend of preparation and fellowship, the performance itself was agreed to be a memorable experience.  “The hall was amazing!” said graduate student Elizabeth Martindale.  “You could say something, hear it bounce off the wall behind you, go out over the audience and come back from the balconies.”  Despite being a Sunday afternoon, the hall was fairly full, according to Van Kirk.  “I was worried because of the time and day, but there were almost 2,000 people in the audience.”  … “I received really meaningful comments, from the high school students especially,” said Van Kirk who was in charge of most of the New York weekend.  “I think we accomplished our goal of showing the younger singers what a joy it can be to make music for God in this kind of way.”

The College Choir’s home concert is Friday at 7:30 PM in the Wesley Chapel.

 

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Crisis in Crimea Continues with Referendum

A referendum on the status of Crimea, formerly a subdivision of Ukraine, is to be held on this Sunday in which Crimeans will decide whether to join the Russian Federation or set a course for independence.

Courtesy of http://static.guim.co.uk/
Courtesy of http://static.guim.co.uk/

The move comes after Russian infiltration on the Black Sea peninsula. In seemingly effortless political stagecraft, Russia was able to gain control of Crimea in late February–all without firing a single shot. The crisis began to unfold following the uprisings in Ukraine’s capital of Kiev with the ouster of then pro-Russian president Viktor Yanukovych. With its interests threatened following Yanukovych’s flight, Russia was able to gain considerable political leverage over the new Ukrainian government by sending unidentifiable (no insignia or indication of national origin) soldiers to gradually take over the peninsula of Crimea. According to the Russian government, the intent was to protect the majority of ethnic-speaking Russians in Crimea who, the Kremlin claimed, were under threat from Ukrainian nationalist extremists in the new Ukrainian government.

After Russian soldiers took control of the airports, roads, and other major infrastructures, armed gunmen seized the main Crimean assembly building and presided over the election of Sergei Aksyonov (a high-profile advocate for Crimean unity with Russia) as prime minister of Crimea. Since the election of Aksyonov, the government of Crimea has set referendum for Sunday to decide whether Crimea joins Russia as a federal subject or becomes an independent state. (Additionally, the government voted ahead of the referendum to declare its intentions as independent should voters approve the split from Ukraine.)

A key question surrounding the Crimean referendum is its legality, something that the United States, along with other major world powers, have refused to recognize. In a statement to the press, President Obama claimed that the proposed referendum “would violate the Ukrainian constitution and violate international law,” citing that any discussion on the future of Crimea had to include the “legitimate government of Ukraine.” Said Obama, “In 2014, we are well beyond the days when borders can be redrawn over the heads of democratic leaders.”

Likewise, a statement released from the G7 (a group of developed world powers, including the US) on Wednesday condemned the referendum and said that such a measure “would have no legal effect.” The G7 leaders voiced their concerns over the hastiness of the referendum, as well as “the intimidating presence of Russian troops” which could influence the vote. According to the G7, “In addition to its impact on the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, the annexation of Crimea could have grave implications for the legal order that protects the unity and sovereignty of all states.”

The Russian government, however, claims that the referendum is perfectly legal and within the bounds of international law. Citing the case of Kosovo and other international laws, President Vladimir Putin claimed that the Crimean referendum was nothing more than an expression of the right of self-determination. (One wonders, however, if Mr. Putin would feel the same if Chechnya were also presented with this same right.)

In response the crisis in Crimea, a new executive order issued by Obama authorized sanctions and travels bans against those found to be causing or benefiting from the crisis. Worldwide, other countries are following the same measures. In addition to sanctions and other penalties, the United States has also pledged to issue a $1 billion loan package to support Ukraine, while the EU has put together a $15 billion package. Though the US and other international bodies have promised harsher penalities on Russia, exactly what the international response will be following the referendum on Sunday remains to be seen.

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Biology Department to Hire New Faculty Member

The Biology Department is interviewing to hire a new professor for the fall semester of 2014, intending to fill the gap in its staff after losing Drs. Matthew Pelletier and Kurt Vandock. Pelletier left Houghton for Liberty University;Vandock, for a job at Bayer.

“The hire in biology is a critical need given the loss of two professors last year.” said Dr. Jamie Potter of the Biology Department, “We have one of the largest majors at Houghton. As we look to the future of the biology department, a hire in biology is necessary to meet the needs of our students, majors and non-majors, in their educational preparedness and to share in our roles as advisors and mentors.”

Having only three full-time faculty members makes both teaching and advising biology students difficult. There are roughly 100 declared biology majors. The classes that most demand to be filled are basic genetics, which is essential to a BS in Biology.

In the spring semester 2013, faculty in the department formed a committee consisting of the biology faculty and one member from outside of the sciences. This committee, after receiving approval from college administration, developed a posting for the job. It was listed by the CCCU and the Chronicle of Higher Education.

The committee collected a list of those interested in the position. Each candidate was categorized as a “yes,” “no,” or “maybe” by Dr. Aaron Sullivan. Members of the committee reviewed the teaching philosophy, faith statement, and curriculum vitae of each candidate to narrow the selection from 30 to nine possibilities. The initial culling is very easy. Oftentimes, applicants do not include a statement of faith when they submit for candidacy. This automatically results in their elimination from the pool of potentials.

From here, the nine candidates’ applications were parsed thoroughly by the committee. Members looked through written submissions and contacted the references listed by the applicants. After scrutinizing the applicants in detail, the members of the committee each ranked them from best to worst by their own criteria.

They met and discussed their rankings. Each member explained how they ranked the applicants and a loose consensus of ranking was reached. The applicants each scheduled an interview via Skype with the committee.

Following each interview, the committee conferred about the candidate in question. Members listed good attributes and poor ones in order to gauge how well the interviewee would do as a part of the faculty. By the time the candidates had reached this stage in the process, their qualifications are generally similar. These interviews focused more on the person as an individual. Are they personable? Are they going to be easy to work with? Will students be able to approach them?

After these meetings dismissed, the members of the committee were encouraged to pray about their decisions. Each took time to reflect on the candidates. No conclusions were to be reached until the follow-up meeting. In this meeting, the committee made cuts. They decided who to decline and who to invite to campus for one final assessment.

Of the 9 candidates interviewed, 2 were brought to campus the week before Spring Break. Because of the costs involved in flying someone to the school and accommodating them on their stay, the committee needed to make sure that the candidates they brought to campus were the right ones. They only chose the very best.

The candidates were led through a hectic day. It began with meeting the committee itself in person. Here, a more in depth interview took place. The candidates, in their own meetings, were asked to elaborate on their faith statement. They spoke on how they would integrate faith into their teaching, what their biggest challenges would as professors, and where their passion for science came from. They met with several important figures on campus, including Dean of Science and Mathematics, Keith Horn; Dean of the Chapel, Michael Jordan; Dean of Academics, Mark Hijleh; and President Shirley Mullen.

They then taught a biology class. Members of the committee sat in on the class to evaluate their teaching skills. These also candidates gave lectures that were open to all students at a separate time. They met with students personally, without the committee present.

At the end of the day, they could relax. On both visits, some of the committee members went to dinner with the candidates. At a local restaurant, members sat down with candidates and chatted casually about their days. The members of the committee who were present enjoyed the ability to see the interviewee in a less formal setting. Here, they could really tell if they could work with this person as a colleague.

The candidates have both returned home and now the committee is in the process of choosing which one of them will join their faculty next semester. Having their opinions in place after interviewing and meeting the candidates, members of the committee will take into account the opinions of students both by word of mouth and survey. Once the committee has agreed, the candidate chosen will be announced and will join Houghton in the Fall semester.