Straight from the minds of the Houghton Student Body
- Out of Season: The Death of Christmas Music?By Jackson Collins ’27 The day is November 28, 2024:Thanksgiving. Location: my house. I was minding my own business listening to Christmas music out of… Read more: Out of Season: The Death of Christmas Music?
- Critique: A Form of Love and GrowthBy: Sydney Arnold (’27) Have you ever thought that your family was perfect? That they were doing everything right and everyone else was wrong? We… Read more: Critique: A Form of Love and Growth
- Why Worship?By Cora Paige (’27) Hey to everyone reading this article! I hope you are having a great Friday, and enjoying the new day God has… Read more: Why Worship?
- It All Matters: Complicity, Choice, Repentance and PoliticsBy Micheal Jordan Because of print turnaround time, I’m writing this before Tuesday’s presidential election. You are reading this after the election, and so you… Read more: It All Matters: Complicity, Choice, Repentance and Politics
- Tips From an International Student: Culture ShockBY: Sara Martinez (’28) Hello my fellow international students and any other American students that may be reading! I am writing about culture shock in… Read more: Tips From an International Student: Culture Shock
- The Privilege of a HorseBy: Lydia Scharlau When people think of horses, they immediately go to major jumps, fancy dressage moves, or as Snoop says, “That horse is crip… Read more: The Privilege of a Horse
- On American Christianity and Its FailuresBy Paul Claydon Everything in life carries a scent. My mother’s town, home to a sugar factory, was burdened by a pervasive odor. But over… Read more: On American Christianity and Its Failures
- In Defense of Ring by SpringBy Caleb Choate Tonight, I cut my son’s hair for the first time. At twenty-five, I have never cut anyone’s hair save my own. As… Read more: In Defense of Ring by Spring
- God Calls Us to TestifyBy: Dr. Natasha Davis Testimony. Have you ever heard someone’s testimony? Of course, throughout the Bible we read many accounts of people sharing their testimony… Read more: God Calls Us to Testify
- God and Your 20’sBy Dr. Craig Whitmore It’s my opinion that your 20’s are your most formative years. Now, I thought about writing a piece on politics, church… Read more: God and Your 20’s
- Theology Matters By Danielle Skinner I hear them all the time: subtle, and not so subtle, arguments against theology. “Why don’t we just love Jesus?”, “It’s just… Read more: Theology Matters
- We Have no Mouth, But We Must SpeakBy Christian Welker As I looked back over my college experience, there was this nagging sensation following me that I struggled to put my finger… Read more: We Have no Mouth, But We Must Speak
- Letter to the Editor: Discipleship, not Gender RolesBy Dr. Kristina LaCelle-Peterson In a culture obsessed with gender differences and gender roles, it’s good to consider how absent these themes are in Scripture.… Read more: Letter to the Editor: Discipleship, not Gender Roles
- Chapel can be Worth Your TimeBy Will Allen Have you ever felt like attending chapel is a chore that you get little out of? Do you find yourself stressed or… Read more: Chapel can be Worth Your Time
- Flesh is Cringe, Embrace the Machine (April Fools 2024)By Christian Welker People often ask, “Why go through the trouble of replacing every part of your human body with electronics and mechanical components?” Social… Read more: Flesh is Cringe, Embrace the Machine (April Fools 2024)
- Jesus Take the Reins By Hannah Lee The equestrian world is an ever growing career that has gained more popularity each year. Though it’s primarily a female dominated field,… Read more: Jesus Take the Reins
- Letter To the Editor: Controversy?To the Editors of the Star, Last week, Hannah Smith wrote an excellent opinion about Metz, targeting students who claim that Metz is the sworn… Read more: Letter To the Editor: Controversy?
- In Defense of MetzBy Hannah Smith “Metz is terrible.” We have all heard that one before. Metz has no options. Metz is nothing compared to home cooking. Metz… Read more: In Defense of Metz
- Raising Up Christian FathersBy President Wayne D. Lewis, Jr. On my birthday, my father often reminds me that I was born the same night as Lionel, the fictional… Read more: Raising Up Christian Fathers
- The Constant Pursuit of Something GreaterBy Evelyn Simanowski What is a Vocal Performance major’s art? Short answer: I spend a lot of time singing songs I think are pretty. That… Read more: The Constant Pursuit of Something Greater
- The Power of Faith in GodBy Rebecca Dailey It seems impossible that I once sat writing about coming to Houghton. I can remember a crisp summer turned fall day, being… Read more: The Power of Faith in God
- Volleyball: The Sport For LifeLindsay Seddon I remember my first day of modified volleyball practice when I was in 7th grade. My mom, who played volleyball in high school… Read more: Volleyball: The Sport For Life
- The Language of MusicBy Katrina Kaufman “Where words fail, music speaks.” This was the Hans Christian Anderson quote on my piano teacher’s wall before coming to Houghton. This… Read more: The Language of Music
- Good Tidings & Good GriefBy Molly Connolly As the holiday season runs its course, we see familiar scenes of warmth: being wrapped up in flannel and knit blankets, lilting… Read more: Good Tidings & Good Grief
- Christmas Music in NovemberBy Abigail Young This may be an unpopular opinion, but I don’t love Christmas music. I can get into the holiday spirit as much as… Read more: Christmas Music in November
- The Gospel of Jesus ChristBy Joshua Armstrong The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God (Mark 1: 1). These are written so that you may… Read more: The Gospel of Jesus Christ
- Enjoying HoughtonBy Anna Catherman “In for the Highlanders is #24, Hannahhhhhhh Smith!” I grinned and pumped my fist as my sinkmate jogged out onto Burke Field.… Read more: Enjoying Houghton
- Reflections on HalloweenBy Johanna Lamont As Halloween approaches, I think back to my childhood and reflect on how my family interacted with the holiday. We were never… Read more: Reflections on Halloween
- First Impressions: Houghton Through the Eyes of a FreshmanBy Abigail Hoover Well, Highlanders, we are already halfway through the semester! The time has just flown by, and before you know it, it’ll be… Read more: First Impressions: Houghton Through the Eyes of a Freshman
- Fresh in the FallBy Grace Hall Hey guys, my name is Grace Hall! I am excited to be the new freshman class representative! Thank you for voting for… Read more: Fresh in the Fall
- Stress, Rest, and SabbathBy Christian Welker A new semester has begun with all the stresses and anxieties we have come to expect, from the first-year students who are… Read more: Stress, Rest, and Sabbath
- The Way Things WereBy Grace Deitrick “How do you pick up the threads of an old life? How do you go on, when in your heart you begin… Read more: The Way Things Were
- Stepping Into the UnknownBy Victoria Hock At this time next month, I will be done with my academic career. I will have walked the stage in my cap… Read more: Stepping Into the Unknown
- More God, Less WorldBy Victoria Arndt Here at Houghton University, students are required to attend a mandatory chapel service on Mondays and Fridays, with an Around the Table… Read more: More God, Less World
- Why the Earth is Flat and You are Wrong (STAR April Fools 2023)By Elizabeth Sutay We live in an age where fake news is as common as a rainy day. We are told that Mark Zuckerberg is… Read more: Why the Earth is Flat and You are Wrong (STAR April Fools 2023)
- Spiritual Life at HoughtonBy Kat Wojsiat Houghton University is a college founded on a Wesleyan faith in the Trinity, meant to be a community of believers pursuing academic… Read more: Spiritual Life at Houghton
- Fish Fridaysby Ethan McCarthy Do you know what Dean Jordan means when he talks about Lent? While the ancient practice may not be present in all… Read more: Fish Fridays
- Hustle Culture has No Place HereBy Abigail Weeks As I wrote this during our spring break that happens during the winter—Why don’t we call it winter break?—I found myself struggling… Read more: Hustle Culture has No Place Here
- Stockholm Syndrome in Sharm El-Sheik: Searching for Hope at a UN Climate ConferenceBy Issac Mann Everyone in the conference center at COP27 (the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference) was looking for something. Some were looking for… Read more: Stockholm Syndrome in Sharm El-Sheik: Searching for Hope at a UN Climate Conference
- The Need for a Student ConstitutionBy Joey Schunemann There is a disconnect at Houghton. At a school where student-faculty relationships are built strong by invested professors and eager students, the… Read more: The Need for a Student Constitution
- Metz Misses the Mark… AgainBy Anna Catherman Big Al’s is dead. The campus center’s basement dining establishment is quiet. Still. Too still. Metz calls the rebranded ice cream and… Read more: Metz Misses the Mark… Again
- Phones or FriendsBy Hope Willert It’s common knowledge that many Millennials and Gen Zers are addicted to their phones, and it often seems as though they are… Read more: Phones or Friends
- A Quiet Place to Stay: 24 Hours a DayBy Caleb Kasper The life of a college student can often be quite busy. Finding time to finish assignments, work through readings, and studying can… Read more: A Quiet Place to Stay: 24 Hours a Day
- Loving Our NeighborsBy Skye Chaapel Mark 12:29-31 (NIV) “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.… Read more: Loving Our Neighbors
- Intentional God TimeBy Marith Anderson Chapel is truly one of the most important aspects of our lives here at Houghton. Yet I have seen it being treated… Read more: Intentional God Time
- Freshman Thoughts: Life at HoughtonBy Caleb Welker Being a freshman here at Houghton has been quite the experience, to say the least. These past eight weeks have had their… Read more: Freshman Thoughts: Life at Houghton
- Don’t Check Out of Inconvenient CommunityBy Isabelle Murch Let’s get the air cleared: I said it. I said our favorite-and-also-least-favorite Houghton word, the one that we love to hate on,… Read more: Don’t Check Out of Inconvenient Community
- (Un)willing to ListenBy Anna Zimmerman The word “perfect” can mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people. A perfect Houghton could involve Perry’s… Read more: (Un)willing to Listen
- Civic BrotherhoodBy Cody Johnson Did you know that the United States’ oldest surviving daily newspaper was founded in Philadelphia? The Philadelphia Inquirer has been published every… Read more: Civic Brotherhood
- I Couldn’t Agree Less: Debate in the Modern WorldBy Christian Welker I love to debate, sitting down with somebody who truly believes something I disagree with. I have spent hours sitting with friends,… Read more: I Couldn’t Agree Less: Debate in the Modern World
- Unfamiliar AtmospheresBy Aaron Hinton When I moved back to Houghton University, there were two things that I was excited to do once more: fiddle around with… Read more: Unfamiliar Atmospheres
- Treading the Transition: A Homeschooler’s Journey Through HoughtonBy Ethan Oakes I have fond memories of my life as a homeschooler. My family’s curriculum gave me a lot of room to pursue my… Read more: Treading the Transition: A Homeschooler’s Journey Through Houghton
- Student Council: A Year in ReviewBy Cassie Cavell The Student Council wanted to take a moment to recap our projects and share how we served YOU- the Student Body, Faculty,… Read more: Student Council: A Year in Review
- Ukrainian Students: What Education Means in Time of WarBy Jacqueline Johnson Like many others, I have been trying my best to follow the issues and events concerning the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.… Read more: Ukrainian Students: What Education Means in Time of War
- Need More ’84: How Surveillance Strengthens CommunityBy Christian Welker Houghton College is advertised as a safe, God-fearing campus, for the most part. Students are comfortable leaving their things out without fear… Read more: Need More ’84: How Surveillance Strengthens Community
- Inspiration in Historic IconsBy Elise Koelbl I have always found history to be fascinating. So many different cultures and worlds have existed on the same planet as we… Read more: Inspiration in Historic Icons
- Mending LoveBy Elise Swanson With Valentine’s Day a few weeks behind us, I have been thinking a lot about love. Not the romantic, chocolate and flowers… Read more: Mending Love
- Disability and AccessibilityBy Mary Chichester Lately, my For You Page on TikTok has shown me a very specific niche of content. This content is what inspired me… Read more: Disability and Accessibility
- More Than CauliflowerBy Cody Johnson “Cauliflower is nothing but cabbage with a college education,” wrote Mark Twain. By being here, reading this, you are, at the very… Read more: More Than Cauliflower
- Covid, Community, and a False Sense of SpiritualityBy Haylee Conrad On March 13, 2020, Houghton College sent out an email that marked the change for the rest of our lives. Now at… Read more: Covid, Community, and a False Sense of Spirituality
- Finding Yourself in a Distracted WorldDistractions. In 2022 with social media, an abundance of things on your list to do, and the fear of shutdowns, distractions are unavoidable. I’ll admit… Read more: Finding Yourself in a Distracted World
- A Holistic Approach to BalanceBy Evan Tsai (‘22) Almost all college students struggle with balance. In an environment that stresses productivity and involvement, there is always something around campus… Read more: A Holistic Approach to Balance
- Another COVID-19 Casualty: Concerning Decline in Rings by SpringOver the past year, COVID-19 has forced us all to sacrifice something personal. Whether it be the friendships we made along the way or the… Read more: Another COVID-19 Casualty: Concerning Decline in Rings by Spring
- On SafetyBy David Bowers A couple of weeks ago, the We Are All Houghton project published an open letter in the STAR. The letter argued for… Read more: On Safety
- If You’re Stressed and You Know It, Raise Your HandBy Megan Brown (’22) It seems a little redundant to state that we are all a little bit stressed. Turn to any of your classmates… Read more: If You’re Stressed and You Know It, Raise Your Hand
- Finding God Amidst Declining Mental HealthBy Samantha Gorski (’23) When you think of the word “Dissonance,” what exactly comes to mind? Music majors might think of the sudden disharmony between… Read more: Finding God Amidst Declining Mental Health
- The Only Kind of “Radical” God Wants Us to Embody: Radical LoveBy Brianna Engler (’22) Out of all the commandments that Jesus could have focused on during his ministry and time on Earth, he chose the… Read more: The Only Kind of “Radical” God Wants Us to Embody: Radical Love
- Farmer’s Markets Will Heal The DivideBy Collin Zehr ‘22 Whatever political affiliations you may associate yourself with, we can all agree on one thing: Farmer’s Markets. An establishment that predates… Read more: Farmer’s Markets Will Heal The Divide
- My Experience: Asexuality and Coming Out in a Christian EnvironmentBy Sarah Evans ’22 Asexuality Awareness Week is October 25th-31st so I thought I would share a bit about myself. I identify as part of… Read more: My Experience: Asexuality and Coming Out in a Christian Environment
- Acknowledgement Does Not Equate DemandBy Caroline Zimmerman ’24 Houghton College has given me so many good things in the short amount of time I have been here. I have… Read more: Acknowledgement Does Not Equate Demand
- Conservatism: A Dialogue on the Pressing Subject of LGBTQ AwarenessBy Christian Miller ’21 Before writing this opinion, I attempted to reach out to the artists responsible for the We Are All Houghton art exhibit.… Read more: Conservatism: A Dialogue on the Pressing Subject of LGBTQ Awareness
- Journalistic Speculation: Responses to Predictions from 2010On January 20, 2010, the STAR staff published observations of current events at Houghton and their predictions for the coming decade. Here we respond to… Read more: Journalistic Speculation: Responses to Predictions from 2010
- Why is Science Up For Debate? Burning Coal & its Effect on our EnvironmentOne of the most divisive and bitterly fought over issues that Americans face today is the issue of climate change. As we look back through… Read more: Why is Science Up For Debate? Burning Coal & its Effect on our Environment
- New Decade, New Us?It’s a brand new decade! Hopefully the years 2020-2030 will bring all of us great joy, fantastic memories, and a deeper relationship with Christ. The… Read more: New Decade, New Us?
- Sovereign Grace and Human Depravity: Good News?“The chief end of man,” the Westminster Shorter Catechism declares, “is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.” I believe that is true, but how… Read more: Sovereign Grace and Human Depravity: Good News?
- Memes: Nonsense is Nothing NewIn the future when people cast their gaze back in time to analyze our generation, memes will undoubtedly be one of the flagship artifacts of… Read more: Memes: Nonsense is Nothing New
- It’s Not You, It’s God“Lately, God has been revealing to me that we are just not right for each other. I think we should break up”. This seems to… Read more: It’s Not You, It’s God
- Three Views on // Brett KavanaughBen Sasse, a conservative senator from Nebraska, has defended the traditional view of the supreme court during the Brett Kavanaugh hearings: the court… Read more: Three Views on // Brett Kavanaugh
- Three Views on // Brett KavanaughAs a political moderate, I’ve become used to paradoxes. After the election, for example, I received a phone call from both of my grandmothers in… Read more: Three Views on // Brett Kavanaugh
- Three Views on // Brett KavanaughOver the summer Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, Anthony Kennedy, announced he would be retiring at the end of July, giving President Trump his… Read more: Three Views on // Brett Kavanaugh
- Learning to Love LanguageHow many of you were eager to go away for college? If you fit the generic college freshman description, as I did, you must have… Read more: Learning to Love Language
- Marvel Goes RogueOf all twenty films MARVEL Studios has released over the past ten years, the Guardians of the Galaxy films are two of my favorites. The… Read more: Marvel Goes Rogue
- Ice Cream of Our OwnIt’s no secret that we, as Houghton College students, love our ice cream. In fact, we have good reason to be proud of our ice… Read more: Ice Cream of Our Own
- Op Eds and SNL: Why the Opinions Section MattersMy sophomore year of college, I discovered SNL. I saw my first skit sitting cross-legged in a Lambein double, at the ripe old age of… Read more: Op Eds and SNL: Why the Opinions Section Matters
- The Martyrs in the AltarThis summer I had the opportunity to travel to Italy and Greece on a trip which included cenotaphs claiming the bones of my favorite poets… Read more: The Martyrs in the Altar
- Intentional Positivity and HopeAs ordinary people living our lives in 2018, I think that all too often we let ourselves slip into a nasty habit of dwelling in… Read more: Intentional Positivity and Hope
- More Than A BurnoutI grew up in a small, rural, Western New York town. We had “drive your tractor to school” day, half of my high school had… Read more: More Than A Burnout
- Step Up 4: HoughtonYou know the old cubicle adage: ten percent of the people do ninety percent of the work. Low involvement certainly isn’t just a Houghton problem,… Read more: Step Up 4: Houghton
- April Fools Response: Letter to the EditorDear Sir or Madam, This is to protest the shamelessly hairist front-page article in your last edition. Its author, who is, I believe, one Helena… Read more: April Fools Response: Letter to the Editor
- 1978: Discontent at HoughtonThis is the fifth installment of an ongoing series investigating the Houghton Star archives. If you would like to check out some old issues of the… Read more: 1978: Discontent at Houghton
- Tech: Addiction Or OpportunityI think that we really like to throw around the word “addicted” when it comes to social media culture. People often fast from social media—Lent… Read more: Tech: Addiction Or Opportunity
- Crippled By ComplacencyLast Wednesday morning, it seemed as if notifications were clambering over each other to reach the screen of my phone. “Renowned physicist Stephen Hawking, dead… Read more: Crippled By Complacency
- Celebrating Our FriendsAs we head into February break, returning home to visit family and friends, it won’t be long before each of us hear that dreaded question.… Read more: Celebrating Our Friends
- 1918: Houghton Goes to WarThis is the first installment of an ongoing series that will investigate the Houghton Star archives. If you would like to check out some old issues… Read more: 1918: Houghton Goes to War
- Blinded By Our BrandingAs churchgoers, we are always encouraged to invite friends to church. We are urged to spread Christ in our workplaces, our schools, and our neighborhoods.… Read more: Blinded By Our Branding
- Two Views // On Loving Your Neighbor – Angela DowI find the current political dialogue disheartening. It seems like we’re all being forced to identify as either Democrats or Republicans, and if we dare… Read more: Two Views // On Loving Your Neighbor – Angela Dow
- A Hope Without ReasonIn recent months the word “hope” has appeared repeatedly to me in books, conversations, and chapel talks. I am thinking primarily about Dean Jordan’s chapel… Read more: A Hope Without Reason
- Two Views // On Loving Your Neighbor – Gena HartmanAs a Christian, one of my core beliefs is that we should love our neighbors. I work hard to support the people around me, but… Read more: Two Views // On Loving Your Neighbor – Gena Hartman
- Seeking Home, Finding GodWhat is home? This question was posed and discussed by President Mullen the first day of classes, and prompted a lot of reflection in my… Read more: Seeking Home, Finding God
- Many Misguided MessagesIn the 21st century, people enjoy things that are tragically beautiful. People take to the idea of “ending the stigma” around mental illness like a… Read more: Many Misguided Messages