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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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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.★

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Harvestival Returns

By Jax Johnson

Hosted by the Center for Sustainability, Houghton University’s annual Harvestival returns today, from 3-5pm on the quad, bringing craft vendors, live music, pumpkin carving, and more.  

Director of the Center for Sustainability, Brian Webb, says,  “The main goal of the Harvestival is to connect students and our community to local vendors. It’s also a great opportunity for students to learn about the Center for Sustainability. We offer free cider donuts to anyone who makes a sustainability pledge (any commitment to put creation care into practice in their daily lives).  Finally, this is the most beautiful time of year at Houghton, so we might as well get outside and enjoy the beauty of God’s paintbrush on the trees around us!” 

Along with  Webb, the event will be run by  Anna Zimmerman, a senior, who is one of the Center for Sustainability interns. Houghton MANRRS will also be partnering with the Center for Sustainability to run the pumpkin carving table. 

The Harvestival vendors will consist of both Houghton students, the wider Houghton community, and members of nearby towns. Also in attendance,  local businesses such as Jockey Street Coffee and Coppa Co will be selling coffee and art.

Senior Emma Wetherell,who will be selling her art at the Harvestival, says, “I have always loved art and making homemade gifts, but recently I have started making jewelry. I have found a real love for it and wanted to show others what I have created. I hope that it can inspire others to turn their hobbies into something they can share with the community. This is the first time I will be selling something I have created and I am very excited for what’s to come.” 

Sophomore Aubrey Armes says, “ I am so excited to be selling at this years harvestival! The harvestival is such a great opportunity for the community to gather and support one another, to appreciate the work of artists within the community, and to celebrate fall! I hope that what I’m selling will bring joy to the people that decide to purchase it from me, or to who they decide to give it to. I’m thrilled to be involved!”

Another vendor, senior Abby Weeks,  shares her excitement by saying, “I am a senior biochemistry major with an art minor and this is my first year as a vendor for Harvestival. This year I will be selling my ceramic mugs, cups, and bowls, as well as some jewelry. I am so excited for Harvestival, and I can’t wait to see what my peers have made for the event!”

Aubree Niles, a junior and returning vendor says, “This will be my second year setting up for Harvestival, and I am so excited! As an art major, it’s such a great opportunity to showcase my work and also build experience. I will have original paintings, prints, stickers, and jewelry for sale. Connecting with community members, faculty and staff, and other students is another reason why I love Harvestival. I hope to see you there, you won’t want to miss it!”

The music performers of this year’s Harvestival expressed excitement for the event, with many of them having performed at  Harvestivals in years past. 

Senior Linette Taylor says, “In general, I take any opportunity that lets me make some music outside. I love playing at Harvestival because I’m surrounded by other creatives and I get the chance to enjoy a lot of new art and music.”

Another performer, junior Josey Ikker, shares  joy  for Harvestival by saying, “Sharing different covers of my favorite music, especially when they’re more relatable songs allows me to share stories from experience with others. Harvestival is an incredible stress-free time to spend with friends as well as with the community as a whole.”

The Harvestival is an opportunity to experience the fall season here at Houghton, while also taking a minute to explore sustainability. It is also a chance to support local creatives and their work. If you’re interested, stop by the quad this afternoon. ★

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Creation Stories: People and Their Origin Tales

By Timothy Rasmusson JR.

Indigenous Creation Tales is a new campus activity this fall semester  that is hosted by the Men’s Area Coordinator for Rothenbuhler and Lambein Hall, Shua Wilmot. 

Regarding the event,  Wilmot told  the STAR that  members meet once a week, and they listen to a creation tale about various religious groups. After discussing the cultures together , he  asks the other members what stood out to them.

Some of the questions that are often asked are, “What does the story suggest about their creator?” Another is, “What might you think about these values?” 

Wilmot describes the environment of  the event as “a safe space for students to develop critical thinking”, and it challenges the students to dig deep into what the stories are all about. They also reflect on the Genesis story, share knowledge, and he claims that “there is truth in every story”. 

Senior Gabriel Huizenga told the STAR  that the event is more of a come and go, and you do not have to commit to going every week it is  held. 

Andre Spronk, a sophomore, said the event takes place  in Echo Base  on the first floor of Rothenbuhler, and that they meet every Monday night at 7:30.

When asked what he liked most about the event, Huizenga said that everyone goes to it not knowing what to expect from the stories. Additionally, he said it allows them “to leave our own expectations and our own assumptions, and cultural ideas behind.” To him,  “the point of it is to listen to them and talk about them as if we don’t have preconceptions of our own of like how the world was made.”He described listening to these stories as “seeing it [the world] through a new lens”. ★

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Equestrian Open House

By Hannah Avery

The Houghton University Equestrian Center is bustling with activity this fall semester with the conclusion of the annual Houghton Horse Trials, Combined Test, and Dressage Show in September. 

 If you missed the opportunity to check out show day, there are still many opportunities to explore Houghton’s beautiful equestrian facilities, starting with the annual Homecoming Open House event on Saturday, Oct. 8th, from 9-11 a.m.

The Open House is “an amazing opportunity to show the community, especially alumni, how much the equestrian program has changed in such great ways,” said Equestrian Society President, and senior, Cassidy Kuhlmann. “We also love to give people hands-on experience at the barn to show them what we love so much about the barn!” 

The Equestrian Open House will host a variety of activities, including a photo booth, pony rides, and hay rides. There also will be a variety of demonstrations from the upperclassmen who will showcase disciplines such as jumping, dressage, and horse training. 

The program’s assistant barn manager and event coordinator, Hannah Williamson, and the Equestrian Society Club have remarked that this year’s open house may be the biggest one after the COVID-19 pandemic, and a lot has changed over the course of these past few years. It gives an opportunity to students, alumni, and community members alike to get out and experience what is happening at the equestrian center and see the four-legged teachers that help get the job done through a variety of fun activities.

Included in the Equestrian Center’s changes, a brand new custom jump course was recently unveiled – a project made possible by generous donors. The program is very excited to have these jumps, which includes a custom “Houghton University” banner, for the students to learn with, and put to good use at events and shows.

“The new jumps mean a lot to our program. We so rarely get things custom made for [the program],” said senior, Izzy Gritsavage. “One of the great things about them is that they look different than our old jumps, which presents new challenges for both us and the horses.” ★

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Coffee, Chocolate, Conservation

By Amelia Brown

Everyone knows Eli Knapp loves birds, but at the Coppa Conservation event at 7 p.m. on September 23, Knapp will share about his love of wolves, which began as a child and led him to Yellowstone National Park as an adult.

“Some of us outgrow our childhood interests and some don’t,” he said.

Knapp is a part of the group that did not outgrow their childhood interests but rather he turned them into his career. Today he is a professor, birder, field botanist, and animal expert. As Knapp studies the interactions between the environment and humans as he did in East Africa, the importance of conservation has never left his mind.

“To diminish the world to just us, or just a few species, diminishes us and the expression of God’s glory,” he said.

Human’s ever-increasing impact on the environment has led to habitat destruction and loss of biodiversity, thus leading to less opportunities to encounter God’s creation.

Brian Webb, the director for the Center for Sustainability, describes the purpose of the Coppa Co and Center for Sustainability event. 

“We are hoping to bring awareness to conservation issues, such as biodiversity and animal protection, and how our purchasing of items like coffee and chocolate can have a positive or negative effect on biodiversity” Webb explains. 

Students that follow the Center for Sustainability on Instagram can receive a free flight tray of Fair Trade coffee. Other drinks from Coppa Co are also available for purchase. All other community members can purchase coffee flights for four dollars. Endangered Species Chocolate, a brand that prioritizes conservation through donations and sustainably sourced ingredients, will be available for tasting.

Elijah Studt, a freshman, explained he will be attending the event because “I want to know what difference I can make” to conserve natural resources. 

After an hour of live music from Selah Kurtz and Linette Taylor, Knapp will share stories about the animal encounters he has experienced around the firepit at Coppa Co.  If you are still on the fence of whether to attend, Knapp has already considered this possibility

“Even if the stories fail, we still have hot chocolate and fire.”★

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Changes to Residence Hall Life

By Jax Johnson

Fall semester has come to Houghton University and students have settled into their respective housing locations. While every year brings new beginnings, this year provided more than previous years with the dorm changes for the ‘22 -’23 academic year. Due to the renovations in Shenawana, Lambein has been temporarily converted into a men’s dorm, which, in turn, has made Gillette the only women’s dorm this year.  

  Students like sophomore Jacob Holmberg are happy with these changes, saying, “Lambien is an upgrade to Roth. The rooms are bigger, there’s more storage, and the showers are twice as big. It’s also nice not having to walk up Roth hill every day. It makes me understand why girls outweigh the guys here at Houghton.”

 Others like junior Sarah Rider, a previous Lambein resident, are embracing their new home. Rider discussed that she has enjoyed events such as the Great Gillette Race and the overall liveliness that comes with the new combined women’s dorm. 

“I have been so grateful to have been invited into the Gillette community and really like having all the girls living in one dorm,” she said “It feels more full in there and there are more people around and opportunities to do things with others.”

Senior Izzy Murch, who was previously a resident assistant in Lambein and is now a Gillette RA, has bittersweet feelings toward the transition.

“While I was initially pretty sad about moving to Gillette my senior year after living in Lambein for the last three, I’ve found that the ability to connect with all on-campus women in the same residence hall has been incredibly rewarding and fun,” she said. “Living in a new place has kept the RA position fresh for me and has given me the opportunity to work with 13 amazing women, which would have never happened if I still lived in Lambein. I still miss my creekside view, though!”

Senior Kathryn Groff, another Gillette RA who has moved over from Lambein, has shared her thoughts on her new experiences.“It definitely is a learning experience having lived in Lambein the past three years, but it’s wonderful to have previous Gillette RAs lead the way and with such patience,” Groff said “Additionally, it is an exciting opportunity as an RA to have all the women in one residence hall and focus in on what brings us together women at Houghton, and cultivating a unique culture for future generations of women who come to campus.” 

Resident Director of Gillette Hall Reagan Zelaya also expressed her excitement for Gillette’s changes by saying that she is loving the opportunity to experience the unique culture of all of the women on campus, and is hoping that this experience can display a sense of unity without the division between Lambein and Gillette. 

While the change in dorms has been an adjustment, it is also an opportunity for students to experience something new. Along with those new experiences are new dynamics created through different people living in a community.★

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Sophomore Leadership Conference Returns

By Elise Koelbl

It was gone but not forgotten. After a year of strict COVID-19 guidelines forcing its absence, February 4 marks the return of the Sophomore Leadership Conference, just in time for it’s 5th year. The Sophomore Leadership Conference is an event for sophomore students to further understand their strengths and show them their abilities as a leader. This year’s theme is titled “Activate: Leadership, Gifts, and the Kingdom of God,” which is notably different than in past years where the theme was “Oh The Places You’ll Go.” This continues to be a program designed to promote leadership in young students.

The person in charge of organizing the event is Rachel Wright. When asked about the decision to direct this event towards sophomores, she stated, “This event has focused on the Sophomore year as students near the time to officially declare their major and there were already existing opportunities like Transitions, Senior Seminar courses, etc. for students during other years. Because of the pandemic, the event was canceled in 2021, so we are opening this year up to those who would have been Sophomores last year.” The event itself goes from the evening of Friday, February 4 to all day Saturday, February 5. There will also be an exclusive dinner with Kindschi Faith and Justice Symposium guest Rev. Dr. Soong-Chan Rah on Monday, February 7 for all of the conference attendees.

Adelaine Morgiewicz (‘24), who is currently a sophomore, plans to attend the event. Like many sophomores, she received an email from Houghton’s Office of Vocation and Calling informing her of this event. As someone who is still undecided in her major, she is excited to attend to gain a better understanding of herself as a leader. 

Highlights of what is included at the conference with the $20 registration fee include: participants completing the Clifton Strengths Finder Assessment; students completing a Positive Change Project during the event, which can feasibly be enacted during their time as students; as well as Conference swag; and Saturday meals. 

Guests this year include Dr. Greg Bish, the Keynote speaker, who is also the Chief of Staff at Houghton College; Dr. JL Miller, the Associate Dean of the Chapel at Houghton College; and the Strengths Coach, Dr. Ellen Marmon, a Professor of Christian Discipleship and the Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program and Asbury Theological Seminary, who will be Zooming in to the Conference; Sharon Mulligan, the Director of Academic Support and Accessibility Services at Houghton College, who will be leading an Ideation Session; and Rev. Dr. Soong-Chan Rah, a Robert Boyd Munger Professor of Evangelism at Fuller Theological Seminary, who will be having dinner with Conference participants on Monday.

The administration is excited the Sophomore Leadership Conference was able to return after its absence last year. With a variety of guest speakers, attendees will experience a helpful and informational event. ★

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MLK Day Changes Wrought by Snowstorm

By Anna Catherman

Across the nation on Monday, Jan. 17, Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday was celebrated with a variety of activities. Houghton College had planned to commemorate the day with a variety of special programs in lieu of classes. Unfortunately, a blinding snowstorm with a foot of snow put Houghton’s plans on pause. The chapel speaker, Rev. Dr. Carolyn Peeler from Macedonia Baptist Church, was unable to reach Houghton safely, and other planned events were canceled as many faculty members worked remotely. 

Prior to the event, the STAR interviewed President Wayne D. Lewis about what he was looking forward to about the day. He explained how growing up, he went to various services commemorating the day over the years, and expressed deep appreciation for how Houghton sets aside a day away from classes for the occasion. “The day for me is really special because it gives us the opportunity to pause what we’re doing and reflect on his life and his legacy, just as a leader who’s had an incredible impact on our country.”

Though the day did not look like it was planned, Houghton still invites students to pause and reflect. Posters were hung around campus, and they remain up for students to read. From academic departments to the dining hall, these posters inform passersby of the accomplishments of Martin Luther King Jr., as well as other prominent black figures. David Stevick, Director of Library Services, explained that in lieu of the planned poetry and children’s book readings, the library has set up displays of books for students to peruse throughout the coming days. 

Some of the other festivities, including the chapel service, will be rescheduled. According to Dean of Chapel Michael Jordan, Rev. Dr. Peeler’s talk is now scheduled for Feb. 21. The Dirty Bird Chicken & Waffles food truck’s visit has not been rescheduled at this time. Also in limbo is an evening concert by Priscilla Ozodo-Acevedo (‘10) and her band. 

Despite the inclement weather, Houghton was still able to honor Dr. King and reflect on his legacy. ★