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Comedyhouse: A Night Full of Laughs

By Timothy Rasmusson Jr.

One of the Campus Activities Board’s (CAB’s) newer events on campus is “Comedyhouse”, an alternative to the traditional Coffeehouse that, instead of singing, is filled with stand-up comedy.

Senior Joey Schunemann, the director of CAB, informed the STAR that his job is fun to have, but there are significant responsibilities he has, such as being “the voice of critique” and meeting Houghton’s expectations, because Comedyhouse involves a lot of creativity and students want to have a good time. 

Schunemann stated that he wanted to hold the Comedyhouse event specifically due to his “love of comedy.”          

Sophomore Hannah Sturdivant described Comedyhouse as a more comedic version of Coffeehouse that involves “stand-up” rather than just “playing music.” Sturdivant stated that one of the things she likes most about Comedyhouse is the “laughing,” as well as listening to students telling their stories. She also mentions what Comedyhouse was like last year, how successful it was at the time, and that it led to Junior, and CAB Coffeehouse Coordinator, Demetri Court recommending they do Comedyhouse again. 

With the event only being in its second year, Court stated that Comedyhouse is “a special occasion.” 

To sign up for a spot, students have to present an idea to him, and all of the students involved in planning Comedyhouse have to screen the comedy because, as Court said, “you never know who’s going to want to go up and say things.” 

If an insufficient number of students are signing up, he will reach out to those who enjoy writing comedy. ★

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East Africa Program’s Cancellation Addressed

By Jennifer Page

The last cohort of Houghton University’s East Africa Program returned to campus this fall disappointed in the program’s cancellation and hungry for answers.   

Since 1998, the East Africa Program has impacted the lives of Houghton students by offering them the opportunity to experience a culture vastly different from their own. 

Dr. Eli Knapp, professor of biology and director of Houghton’s East Africa Program since 2013, explained that the program offered a holistic approach to education where students and professors experienced life together, which allows relational opportunities a traditional classroom does not. 

Knapp participated in the program in 1999 and has a firsthand understanding of its effect on students and their education.

“I came alive as a student on the program,” he said.“Normal classes were fine, but I didn’t realize there was a higher plateau I could reach. Seeing lions on a kill in my Wildlife Behavior course was different from hearing a professor talk about it or reading about it in a textbook. I wanted to perpetuate that model of experiential learning.” 

This type of experiential learning helped students recognize how the lessons they were taught influenced their lives outside of the classroom.

“The program forced me to grow as a student and as a person, which is something my normal classes haven’t done,” said junior Kayleigh Verspoor. “It also forced me to challenge the beliefs I already had in place and find something deeper and more authentic. I really miss my time in Kenya.”

When asked how she felt about the program’s cancellation, Verspoor said, “I’m deeply saddened. I think it takes away life-changing opportunities for students.” 

Verspoor isn’t the only one who thinks this. Senior Nina D’Amato, Verspoor’s cohort mate, said, “It seems like [the program] had such an abrupt ending without reason. I think we’re all hungry for those answers.”

But those answers are hard to come by. 

Dr. Paul Young, who served as provost during the 2020-2021 academic year, gave his answer to the program’s cancellation by saying, “In earlier years of the program, the program budget benefited from enrolling several students from other colleges each year. As the numbers of students enrolling decreased, the overall budget became more difficult to balance.”

In early 2021, Knapp received news of the program’s termination. 

“For the sake of our students, the decision to end such a successful, long-running, and life-changing program saddened me,” Knapp said. “But a university has to be wise with its resources and I understand the reality of financial constraints. We had something unique and special, and I did want one last year to do it. So I was really grateful for that chance.”

Knapp ended up appealing the decision, and Dr. Shirley Mullen, Houghton’s president at the time, approved one final year of the program. 

Now that Dr. Mullen has moved on from Houghton, however, the cohort may not get the answers they are looking for. When speaking to David Davies, Houghton’s current Provost, he explained that a lot of economic and COVID-19-related factors may have played a part in the decision. “But it was ultimately President Mullen’s decision.”

He also stated that Houghton’s commitment to international experiences has not changed and that he does not want to see those opportunities go away for students. If Houghton could find a way to run the program sustainably, like running it on a four-year cycle, he is open to it.

“If we want to have international experiences for students, it makes sense to build off of the relations we already have. It makes more sense than starting a whole new program,” Davies said. “That’s a conversation worth having for sure.”

Houghton may not have seen the last of the East Africa Program, but for now, there are no concrete plans for Houghton students to return.

“It was going on for twenty years,” Knapp said. “It changed lives, it changed my life. It really is the death of something, but as I like to remind my biology students, the death of one thing may be the birth—or rebirth—of something else.”★

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An Unfortunate CAB Event

By Jax Johnson

It is with great pleasure that the Houghton STAR presents some unfortunate news. At 9 p.m. tonight in the John and Charles Wesley Chapel, the Campus Activities Board (CAB) will host the Wheel of Unfortune, where teams of up to five people will compete in a Wheel of Fortune style competition for a chance to win a prize. 

This event will be based on the popular game show, “Wheel of Fortune.” In the TV show, “Wheel of Fortune,”contestants spin a wheel with various amounts of money listed and, after spinning the wheel, are allowed to guess a consonant with the goal to complete the word puzzle on the board. 

 Hannah Tyer, who is running Houghton’s own version of Wheel of Fortune, describes how teams will compete in a series of challenges to get ahead and win prizes.

“It will run similar to Wheel of Fortune (the game show on TV),” Tyer said “The big differences are that it is team run (instead of playing individually) and instead of buying letters with money, they will have to perform tasks (like a certain amount of push-ups, eating spicy foods, etc.) in order to buy vowels similar to the show.”

Tyer also expressed her excitement for this event, saying, “My favorite part of the event are the prize baskets for the winning top three teams to pick from.” As to what those prizes are, only she knows— students will have to show up to find out.

Director of Student Engagement Jana Newberry, also describes the event saying, “Participants can sign up as a team to compete for some unique high stake’s prizes. It should be a great event that any student can enjoy.” 

Whether students love “Wheel of Fortune” or just want something to do tonight, they can show up to the chapel at nine and see who will win Wheel of Unfortune. ★

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“Foul Play” At Houghton

By Anna Catherman

Next Thursday, Nov. 17, students will have the opportunity to take a stab at solving a mystery  – a rather large mystery. 

The mafia-style event will ask students to solve the murder of a well-known Houghton University figure: Luckey the Lion. 

Junior Eileen Goodge, one of the event’s organizers, explained that the event is designed to be a fun way to meet new people and work together. Players have to find out the who, where, and why of Luckey’s murder, just like the board game “Clue.” There will be several different  mock rooms, according to Goodge,  in which groups of 10 players will search for cards and clues. 

Goodge explained that, though the event is themed after “Clue,” the gameplay resembles more of a murder mystery dinner party. 

“Emily [Fausnaught] and I have both played a dinner mystery game,” Goodge noted, which inspired them to choose a similar concept for their event. 

Fellow organizer junior Zachary Fahey noted that the event is designed to be “a thrilling experience for students while letting them just let loose while still using their minds to solve a murder.”

While there is no dinner at this event, participants will  have an opportunity to enjoy cooperative teamwork and meet new people. The event is designed for large groups of 10 people each, maximizing the possibility that people will work with others they don’t know well and hopefully meet a new friend. Intergenerational gameplay is encouraged as well: students from the ENCORE program for adult learners have also been invited.

The event is one of several organized by students each semester in the Sports, Recreation and Wellness Department’s Program Planning and Evaluation class, in which.  students learnt how to run events. 

Goodge spoke highly of the class, explaining that “It covers a lot of stuff our business classes don’t.” That “stuff” includes marketing, liability, and collecting engagement data. 

Every semester, many events are put on by students in the class. Students creatively brainstorm and put on some of the most unique events on campus. Last week’s Mobile Mafia night was put on by a different group of students from the Program Planning class. Another group of students is putting on “Luau at the Rock Wall” Saturday, Nov. 19. Other past events put on by the department have included a mac ‘n cheese cook-off, an escape room, a horseless horse show, and a movie night. 

“Foul Play at Houghton” will take place in the Chamberlain center on Thursday, Nov. 17 from 8p.m.-10 p.m. Goodge expressed the hope that sports teams, and those in evening classes, will be able to participate after their events are over. Sign-ups will be available soon, with various time slots available within the event’s run time.★

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Houghton Welcomes Back Fall Productions With Little Women

By Victoria Hock

At 7 p.m. on November 3-5 in the Center for the Arts Recital Hall, Houghton University presents their production of Little Women. 

According to Music Theatre International, Little Women “follows the adventures of sisters, Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy March. Jo is trying to sell her stories for publication, but the publishers are not interested – her friend, Professor Bhaer, tells her that she has to do better and write more about what’s close to her. Begrudgingly taking this advice, Jo weaves the story of what she and her sisters experience growing up in Civil War America.”

Junior Lydia Rech, who portrays Beth March, noted that Little Women has been one of her “dream shows” for a while now, so she is excited for the opportunity to be in this production. 

Junior Josey Ikker, who plays the role of Amy March, was not as familiar with Little Women, explaining that she had “no knowledge of what Little Women was about.” However, she further remarked that she wanted to audition for any musical, and “Little Women was no different.”

Ikker and Rech also expressed their excitement about playing their respective characters. 

“Playing the role of Beth March is both fun and humbling,” Rech said. “Beth is a lot like me – she loves music, she often likes to work behind the scenes, and she wants to encourage and support those around her.”

Beth “inspires” Rech.“She is sweet and supportive even when it’s hard,” she said. “She is not perfect, but she always seeks to live in a way that is honoring to God.”

Ikker, on the other hand, initially found Amy a little “difficult to relate to.” She explained that Amy’s attitude was: “I just want this but my time might not come for a while, or if anything won’t ever come.” Amy tends to “follow society”, and that she grows to have a “proper side to herself.” 

Rehearsals consisted of a lot of learning and character development for both cast members.

“It feels like we are already locking things in during rehearsals – not just getting lines memorized or having all the choreography polished, but really bonding as a family,’” Rech said. “When I get onstage with Emily, Grace, and Josey, they really feel like my sisters.”

Ikker praised the learning experience that rehearsal has provided to her.

“I’ve received lots of incredible feedback on how I can develop my character,” she said.

Both Ikker and Rech encourage members of the Houghton community to come out and see the show. 

In addition to Ikker and Rech, the cast includes Master’s Student Ethan Carr, who will be playing John Brooke, Seniors Linette Taylor, Grace Dietrick, Emily Quick and Mikayla Bond, who will be portraying the roles of Marmee, Jo, Meg and Aunt March, respectively, Juniors Thomas Auld, who will be portraying Laurie, Cody Johnson, who will be playing the role of Professor Bhaer, and Christian Welker, who will be portraying the role of Grandpa Laurence.

“This show is going to be beautiful and such fun!” Rech exclaimed. “I wouldn’t be surprised if we fill up the recital hall each night. I am so excited! You won’t want to miss it!” Ikker expressed similar sentiments, using adjectives like “empowering” to describe the production. She further noted how she hopes people find that Little Women provides “inspiration” and “healing”. ★

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The Campus Garden

By Sophia Vernon

“These are my potatoes! Pretty much any potatoes that you have in Metz are mine,” said Emily Wahlenmayer, the student caretaker of the campus garden.

 Potatoes are just one type of produce that  Wahlenmayer,  grows for the dining hall.   

Wahlenmayer is a junior at Houghton who started as an eco-rep through the Center of Sustainability (CFS) before the summer of 2022. When given the opportunity to stay in Houghton over the summer as the garden intern,  she leaped into caring for the campus garden. 

“The garden has gotten a bad rap,” she comments, after explaining that for years it was never nurtured or cared for, and in turn never produced any crops of substance.  

For the past five months, however, with full decision-making authority over the campus garden, she has curated the garden into a thriving resource for the school. 

When asked about the beginning of the campus garden,  Wahlenmayer replied with, “[it was started] 4 years ago? 2018…. It’s first year was unproductive, second year was covid, third year was bad interns, fourth year [2022] was me.”

There are a vast array of crops grown in the garden, including  tomatoes, kale, three colors of beans, stunning carrots, pumpkins, zucchini, sunflowers, and more.. 

An assortment of the garden’s crops is used regularly in the dining hall and students have free access to all these resources. During a brief interview with the head of CFS, Brian Webb, he outlined the main goals that inspired the garden to be constructed, and the purpose of continuing the program. Webb expressed the three main goals of the garden as: (1) Providing local produce for the dining hall,(2) Educating students about the importance of local produce, sustainability, and the aspects of caring for a garden, and (3) Providing on campus jobs.

In interviewing a variety of students around campus, the majority have never visited the campus garden or fostered any interest in getting involved. Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors r had  deeper negative perspectives than freshmen due to the past reputation of the garden.

In addition to the previously unmanaged nature of the garden, students are hindered by the distance of walking from campus to the garden, which is located next to the college flats.When asked how it would be easier to get involved, sophomore Emily Tam said she would go “If there was a car to take me there. The flats are kind of far.”  

With the crest of winter upon us, the last of the harvests from this once neglected garden have come to a close after the most successful season to date. Looking forward, the Houghton campus garden welcomes students to take full advantage of what it has to offer – be it through learning, growing, or eating. ★

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Upcoming Internship Fair

By Sarah Burton

On Nov. 9-11, Houghton University will host an Internship Fair in the Van Dyk Lounge by the fireplace from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm each day.

The Center for Student Success will host the event, which was planned entirely by Rachel Wright, who is the Director of the Office of Vocation and Calling, and Associate Director of the Center for Student Success. 

Wright says, “in talking with Dr. Burrichter, it [the Fair] was a need that we needed.” 

Wright hopes that, by attending the Fair, “students can learn about different internship opportunities and can realize the process may need to start earlier than they were originally thinking.”

The Fair will consist of  various employers for  various majors, with about ten employers presenting each day.

 Wright discussed the diversity of employers, saying “there are some missions organizations, summer camps, as well as guidance centers, and nonprofits,” as well as some based more locally and others from across the United States.

The Fair will also offer a multitude of internships, including summer internships that will be held on Houghton’s campus. Wright also stressed the presence of job opportunities at the Fair, and not just internships.

Ashley Burton, a senior Biology major, spreads her hope about the Fair by stating, “As a graduating senior, I haven’t received a lot of information about jobs, mostly due to Covid-19, and I feel like this can provide me with [career] opportunities I may not have thought of.” 

Hannah Gullifer, a junior history major, thinks that the Fair is  “a great opportunity to look into the different opportunities that I can benefit from,” “Internships look great on a resume and can help to get jobs in the future[,] and can help me to grow as a person and someone in my field. They can be really exciting learning experiences.”  

The Internship Fair will offer students opportunities for experiences that can help them build on their professional expertise as eager learners. Houghton University is helping pave the way to send off successful graduates by offering resources like this.

   Students can register for the Fair on Handshake or the Houghton Hub to receive more information about the Fair, specifically which employers will be present each day, including some virtual events from employers and information sessions.

 Wright mentioned the importance of students utilizing Handshake beyond the Internship Fairby saying, “Students can use it for scheduling appointments with the Writing Center, Vocation and Calling, and Academic Support, as well as receiving resources and guides.” 

 After the Fair, more information about open internships can be found on Handshake. These internships would be with employers who were not able to make it to the fair. ★

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Shenoween Returns and with a New Name

By Gabriel K. Negus

There are not many times in the year when you could bump into a Jedi or a pirate in Houghton.  On Halloween, though, anything is possible.  How do Houghton students celebrate Halloween?  By going to Shenoween, of course!

Named in part for Houghton University’s well-known and currently unused Shenawana Hall, Shenoween is a decade-long Halloween tradition for students at the university. Typically hosted by the residents of Shenawana, the party takes place each year on the evening of October 31 in the dormitory’s basement. Shenoween traditionally features a costume contest, photo opportunities, and an ample supply of the Shen Men’s definitive beverage: IBC Root Beer. Unfortunately, however, due to ongoing renovations in Shenawana Hall, this year’s Shenoween will need – at least temporarily – a new home.

Jared Younger, a resident assistant in Lambein Hall, expressed his hope that Lambein will host the party this year and call it, “Lambeween.” But since then, the name has been changed to “Frankenbein.”

Younger thinks that the novelty of the location change may even bolster attendance, which suffered in COVID years. Lambein has partnered with the Campus Activities board (CAB) to bring in some fresh ideas for the event this year. CAB member Hannah Tyer, named by the board as the ‘Halloween Point Person,’ is tasked with planning this year’s event alongside the Lambein staff.

Tyer’s plans respect the origin of the event by featuring some past staples of the Shenoween party, including the plentiful presence of IBC Root Beer and the popular best costume competition. She also plans to bring in some of the Halloween activities which CAB led during the COVID years of 2020 and 2021, most notably the haunted trail walk. According to Tyer,  how the haunted trail walk might be incorporated into this year’s party is  undecided. Younger discussed the possibility of turning the dormitory’s second floor into a haunted house walkthrough where attendees could go for a thorough scare.  

According to Tyer, holding the party outdoors in the Larder Courtyard is  possible.  Having the event outside would make it easier to facilitate the large crowd of students expected to attend, though due to the routinely chilly October weather here in Western New York, holding the party inside Lambein may be a warmer option.

Whatever it may look like this year, excitement for the party is building in the student body now that it is October. Upperclassmen especially, who attended the party before the COVID pandemic, have experienced memories of Shenoween in its ‘glory days’ flooding back to them in anticipation of this year’s event. Though disappointed that the party is not likely to be held in Shenawana Hall this year, senior Micah Williams is very eager to attend. Williams has fond memories of the 2019 Shenoween, in the fall of his freshman year of college. He attended the party with a group of friends and experienced the costume competition, photo opportunities, mountains of candy, and IBC root beer.

“I had a lot of fun,” Williams said. “There are probably some hilarious pictures of that night somewhere.”

When asked the big question – what his plans are for a costume this year and whether he stands a chance in the competition – Williams responded, “Oh, not a chance I win best costume.  I want to go as Obi Wan Kenobi, but if that falls through, who knows?” ★

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Splash, Swim, Skate: Houghton University’s Newest Student Organizations

by Anna Catherman

Tuesday nights at Nielsen look livelier than they have in recent semesters. Outside, skateboarders and roller skaters zip around the parking lot. Inside, kayakers splash and practice rolling their boats in the pool. 

They are the members of Skate Club and Paddle Sports, which are two of the four new clubs on campus this semester. Houghton University has more than 20 active student organizations this fall. New to the roster are Skate Club, Paddle Sports, The Roaring Sheep (Ultimate Frisbee), and Sports Marketing Group.

Paddle Sports took a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the closure of the Nielsen swimming pool; however, under the guidance of the director of EPIC Adventures, Dr. Laura Thayer, senior Natalie Sommons is reviving the club. 

Sommons said she was inspired to revive the club after going on a whitewater kayak trip at Rushford Lake over the summer as part of her summer internship with EPIC Adventures. 

According to Sommons, the club has drawn people who aren’t the “outdoorsy” type that the Sports, Recreation and Wellness department usually caters to. 

An average of eight to nine students attend the club’s weekly practice sessions. These nights are open to anyone and serve as both an educational and social event. 

Another club for active outdoor enthusiasts, Skate Club is a brand-new addition to campus. According to Sophomore Caleb See, the club’s founder, “All kinds of wheels except bicycles” are welcome at the club’s open skate nights. 

There were already many people on campus who wanted to skate, See explained, and the club allows them to gather officially and signals to new students that there is a skater community on campus. The club has a group chat that members use to coordinate additional, informal skating sessions. 

Skate Club is eager to teach those who want to learn and is in the process of purchasing loaner skateboards and helmets, which will be available for any student to borrow during club meetings. 

Those interested in team sports may be intrigued to learn that Ultimate Frisbee, a longstanding Houghton tradition, also gained club status this fall. Its members are known as “The Roaring Sheep,” for reasons lost to time. 

According to club president Benjamin Dostie, a senior, Ultimate Frisbee has existed since the early 2000s, but did not become a club until this year due to the students’ desire to foster the spontaneous nature of the activity. This year, though, the attitudes shifted, and Frisbee players voted to pursue club status to gain funding for jerseys, equipment, and access to more Houghton facilities.

Jana Newberry, Director of Student Engagement, has been instrumental in helping these clubs become fully-sanctioned student organizations. If things go according to plan, more new and revived clubs will be joining their ranks. 

According to Newberry, there has been talk of reviving the Martial Arts club, another casualty of the pandemic. Lacrosse, which is no longer an officially sanctioned university sport, is in the process of becoming a club as well.

When asked to pitch their clubs to students, Sommons, Dotsie, and See all responded enthusiastically. 

“College can provide a lot of new experiences,” Sommons said. “[Paddle sports is] a rare opportunity…to learn those kind[s] of skills.”

She noted students have called the pool sessions their “therapy.” 

Dotsie noted via email, “Ultimate Frisbee is a great way to relieve stress through physical activity…We have a welcoming team and even those with little to no experience are able to participate meaningfully in the game.”

See responded more simply but no less passionately: “It’s a real rad time.” ★

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We All Scream for Ice Cream

By Hope Willert

After a long day of classes and homework, many Houghton students look forward to a delicious bowl of ice cream. No matter how hard the day, ice cream can make it better. 

As the students approach the dining hall, the smell of food makes their stomachs grumble. 

But they really want ice cream.

So they make their way to the machine, grabbing a bowl on the way, only to find that it is gone. The unlimited supply of ice cream at Houghton University has been removed, leaving students upset and confused.

The university used to be well known for its ice cream consumption. In 2018, a Houghton Star article, titled “Ice Cream of Our Own,” by Abigail Reeth, reported that students consumed about 3,000 gallons of ice cream per year – information so impressive that Admissions tour guides would relay this information to prospecting students.

So, why was the ice cream removed? Grace Willert, a senior at Roberts Wesleyan University, stated that while RWU is also catered by Metz, they have continued to provide ice cream in the dining hall. Therefore, the changes do not stem from the Metz company as a whole.

When interviewed, Houghton’s Metz General Manager Bryon Richards explained the initial disappearance of the ice cream, stating that, “it was recommended for sanitary and food safety reasons [regarding COVID-19] that we remove the student self scoop ice cream.” 

Regarding the changes in the past few months, Richards explained that several staff members agreed to implement this change to “address the concerns of those wanting another eatery in the area and for those who wanted to see the return of hard scoop ice cream.” 

Ice cream can now only be purchased at Sizzle and Swirl – the result of Richards’ and other staff members’ decision. Senior Zoe Utterback, who was present through these changes, stated that, when she began as a freshman in 2019, “we had hard scoop ice cream from Perrys, and we usually had between 10 and 12 flavors at all times.” In contrast, she stated that “now the only way to get good ice cream is by paying for it.” 

Utterback and her friend, Makaila VanWie-Adair, explained that the change does not make sense because the price of meal plans has not decreased. Utterback stated, “I don’t think it’s fair that we have to go downstairs and pay for ice cream when it was something that was previously included in our dining services.” Many students across campus have a similar view. 

 Though first year students have never experienced self-serve ice cream in the dining hall. Freshman Abigail Englebert stated that the only ice cream that she has had have been the small, pre-packaged ice cream treats from the dining hall. She has heard about the availability of ice cream in the past, stating that “I definitely would prefer the ice cream machine over what they have now… it sounds awesome.”  

Between the Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors, who dearly miss the free ice cream in the dining hall, and the Freshmen, who have heard of the ice cream availability of the past, it is safe to say that the student body would like their ice cream back. 

Although frustration among students is understandable, Richard’s interview shows that these changes were actually made in an attempt to cater to student requests. Therefore, student opinion may have the potential to lead to more change, potentially bringing free ice cream back to Houghton.★