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Houghton’s New Apiary Running Smoothly

Houghton’s new bee hives. COURTESY OF ANSLEY GREEN

By Ansley Green (’22)

Last June, with assistance from the Houghton Class of 2020, the Center for Sustainability (CfS) purchased three bee hives for campus, marking the beginning of the official Houghton apiary. Brian Webb, Environmental Studies professor and Sustainability Coordinator at Houghton, cited several reasons as to why the CfS made the apiary their next big project. “Students have been interested in beekeeping for years,” said Webb, “Bees also perform a vital ecosystem service by pollinating crops.” The hives are placed by the campus garden near the college flats for this exact reason, this way the nearby bees are able to pollinate the produce that the Center for Sustainability grows in the garden each year. Bees can pollinate within a range of up to five miles, so, in Houghton’s case, the campus hives work to pollinate the orchard that stands near Nielson and even the Houghton woods. 

Mary Chichester (‘22), the student intern for the Center for Sustainability who first lobbied for the addition of the bee hives to campus, mentioned an additional reason for the new hives: “It is important that we try and support our local bee population by raising bees because they are integral to the local ecosystems.And they are very cute!” they added. With the recent decline in the bee population, the addition of well-regulated hives is very important to the growth and survival of the flora in the area. 

The apiary is currently home to two surviving hives of honey bees. The third hive was not able to survive the winter due to a bad queen bee, which goes to show how difficult it can be for bees to stay alive even when they are being tended to by a keeper. The two good hives produced nearly five gallons of honey in the first harvest, which occurred in late September of last year. 

The honey produced was processed and bottled by the student interns at the Center for Sustainability and is now available for purchase at the CfS office in Chamberlain 322. The hope is for this honey to be available not only for purchase in the campus store, but also for general use in the dining hall. The bees also produce wax and, in order to stay as low waste as possible, this wax was collected and is being used by the art students in their creations. 

There are now plans to expand the apiary by this upcoming summer break. There will be an additional three hives purchased, along with a hive to replace the one that was lost during the frigid winter. In adding these hives, the expectation would be for the honey production to at least double for each harvest. With a goal of two harvests in this year, the bees could produce almost twenty gallons of local honey. Furthermore, the Center for Sustainability is purchasing more beekeeper’s suits so that a larger number of students would have the chance to appreciate the hard work of our newest residents on campus. According to CFS garden intern Clayton Hardiman (‘22) “If you love bees, or even if you’ve never worked with bees but love an adventure, we would love to have you come and help us out!” ★

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News

Campus Undergoing Construction

Faith of a Mustard Seed atrium under construction. COURTESY OF LARISSA STRAPELLO RIES

Next year, Houghton students will be able to enjoy several newly renovated facilities around campus.

One project nearing completion is the addition of the Faith of a Mustard Seed Atrium to the Equestrian Center. Construction of this atrium began at the end of January and is expected to be completed in mid-April. Larissa Ries, the equestrian program director, explains that the space will serve as the “first location people go when arriving at the Equestrian Center, [to] check in, register for competitions, gather information or hold meetings,” as well as a comfortable lounge space for students and visitors. The atrium space was anticipated when the Equestrian Center was built in 2018, but the original anonymous donation which funded the construction did not cover the costs for fully furnishing the atrium, according to Ries. Since then, one large donation and a number of smaller gifts funded the completion of the space, which will include a fireplace and TVs for watching indoor equestrian events.

Houghton’s Director of Athletics, Matthew Webb, says that numerous improvements to the athletic facilities are “in the works,” either as quick projects this semester or as renovations this summer. Donors have funded new turf for portions of the baseball and softball fields, new netting and protective tarps, as well as upgraded and reorganized equipment within the press boxes. Additionally, the college received a grant to build the KPAC KidsZone, a playground area near Burke Field. Webb calls the KidsZone “a beautiful addition to our facilities which will have great community impact.”

Paine Science Center will continue to receive upgrades according to the plans that began in the summer of 2019 to use funds raised by Houghton’s IMPACT campaign. Miriam Case, Academic Coordinator for the STEM departments, says, “There was too much to accomplish in one summer so it was planned for two, but with the closure of campus last summer we have stretched it another year.” The most noticeable changes will be completely renovated Anatomy & Physiology and Molecular & Cell biology labs. Remaining funds will help update the labs for General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Physical Chemistry.

Shen’s KPAC-side fire escape will be replaced out of the college budget. Between internal and external staircases, the building currently meets fire code requirements, according to Vice President for Finance Dale Wright. However, the “deteriorated” fire escape will be replaced with a covered stairwell similar to that on the Nielsen side of Shen. ★

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Grant Enables KPAC Kids Zone

By Elise Koebl (’22)

Houghton College has had its doors open to many different kinds of visitors. Whether they are prospective students, families, or friends, many have enjoyed what the college has to offer. Now, Houghton College is opening the doors wider to young children who visit with their families. Amanda Zambrano and the college have been working with the Ralph C. Wilson Foundation and KABOOM! over the past few years. “The idea grows out of the Play Everywhere Challenge through the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation and KABOOM! The challenge is to transform places where children naturally gather and help them incorporate play into their everyday lives,” said Zambrano. The KPAC KidsZone is planned to open in the triangular grassy area behind the bleachers at Burke Field during the summer alumni weekend, July 31st-August 1st. 

Their first priority is, of course, safety. Zambrano stated that they plan to install fencing around the underside of the bleachers, keeping kids from playing in a dangerous space with little visibility for supervision. Zambrano also mentioned they intend to put up a “natural border”  to deter kids from wandering into the parking lot.

“While I have personal interest in this project because I have little ones of my own, there were a number of factors that played into Houghton’s pursuit of this funding opportunity. Until the playground opened by the Field of Dreams, there were only two public playgrounds in Allegany County (data courtesy of the Wilson Foundation’s State of Play report), making Allegany County children some of the most underserved children in Western New York as regards to places to play. Our children also don’t get enough outdoor play time or physical activity. Houghton providing this kind of access is an important way for us to benefit our community and the children who live here,” Zabrano said. This interest to create a playspace for children is so that children have a space to use their imaginations and play within an area their parents and families can watch them safely. ★

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Houghton Holds Mental Health Awareness Weeks

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, approximately 4 in 10 adults have reported having anxiety and depressive disorder symptoms during the COVID-19 Pandemic. This is more than the 1 in 10 adults who reported these symptoms from the months of January to June in 2019. Adults have also reported having difficulties sleeping or eating, as well as an increase in the use of alcohol or other substances, due to the pandemic. 

Nuk Kongkaw, the director of the Mosaic Center, values mental health and sees how it “simultaneously impacts individuals and the relationships around us.” She also feels that “mental health is something people are realizing they can’t ignore as we’ve spent months in isolation or limited contact with others.” The Mosaic Center, along with Residence Life, Chapel and the Center for Student Success thus held Mental Health Awareness Weeks at Houghton College from March 15th to 25th.

Several different events were  held, including a talk-back on BIPOC mental health with Nuk Kongkaw, Nerissa Jones and Pierre Durant, a discussion with the Center for Student Success on how to support friends who are in crisis, a chapel talk with Dr. Mike Lastoria entitled “Leaving Home: Right of Passage in a Virtual World,” and an introduction to the Enneagram and some other tools to help grow your self-awareness and spiritual disciplines. 

Earlier in this event, a stand-up for your brother and sister event was held, along with a roundtable discussion with Rebecca Rowley, Ann Vazquez and JL Miller entitled “Am I a Bad Christian if I Struggle with Mental Health?,” a chapel talk with Pierre Durant entitled “And He Will be Called Wonderful Counselor: A Conversation on Faith, and Race” and a “Be Kind to Your Mind” workshop. 

There were also a number of opportunities to win prizes throughout the event. Several students have won a free yearlong subscription to the meditation app Headspace, and a weighted blanket has also been given away. There is also a grand prize to be won later in the event of a mental health basket. 

One of the hopes Kongkaw mentions she has for this event is that “in helping others care for themselves well, they would then be able to look around them, connect with others, and engage with caring for others”, further adding that “People are best equipped to help others when they have grown in their own self-awareness, know their triggers, and are willing to see their own areas of growth.” ★

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Houghton Professor Performs in “Zoomsical”

Houghton College Professor and director of the Lyric Theatre Amanda Cox has been cast in USUCC: An Original Zoomsical. This show chronicles the story of Hannah the Hound, an adjunct professor of Character Arts at The University School of Unified Character Craft, whose students decide to stage a mutiny after they are unhappy that the school moved online due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Professor Cox portrays the role of Hannah the Hound.

Director Brian Ryu discussed that he and director Julia Krom got the idea for making this Zoomsical “to bring people together and be creative.” Krom also added that the idea to focus on a relevant issue, particularly for those who are attending school in this new environment, was “exciting,” and she also mentioned that working from home “can be tedious,” so “having a project like this as a creative outlet was so fulfilling for us both.” Ryu also brought up that through this musical, they’re showing the schools that did not put the interests of students above their own.

Because this show was filmed remotely, Krom explained that they were able to “secure such prodigious talent, not only because of more available time during the pandemic, but also because we weren’t limited by geography. Cast and crew from Hawaii, LA, Indiana, New York and New Jersey all simultaneously contributed to this beautiful project.”

Both Ryu and Krom were in agreement that casting Professor Cox was an obvious choice. Ryu explained that although they had hundreds of people apply around the world, they did not audition anyone. He also stated that “We loved that Amanda was a professor and had this first-hand experience and interest in helping and educating students. We could tell from the get-go that she believed in the character’s mission and we loved how she brought her own spin to it.” In addition, Krom added that Professor Cox “brings such an effervescent energy to the screen and her background as a professor brought a unique authenticity to the role.” 

Furthermore, Krom says they hope this musical “questions the role of educators for their students during this pandemic.” She also brought up that “Amanda led this discussion with her superb acting and singing, but more so with her advice on the story and project. She was a great mentor for us — both cast and crew — and we hope that whoever watches it comes out sharing her spirit.”

Professor Cox explained that she was cast in this show after submitting to a casting call on Backstage.com. She says she realized quickly that she was in for a “wild and hilarious ride!” as she began to work with the cast and crew. Professor Cox also added that she “really enjoyed filming,” and “learned so much.” She mentioned that in a show like this, the cast not only acts and sings, but they are “also responsible [for] our own lighting, sound, recording our vocals, filming B-roll, etc. We were able to learn so much more about different aspects of TV and film than we would have in a normal production.” Overall, she said that “It has been an incredibly rewarding experience with really wonderful people!”

USUCC: An Original Zoomsical will be available for viewing on the HOCACA TV YouTube Channel, at this link: https://youtube.com/channel/UCH3YOFnkadZXyr39iZ9BECA starting Friday, February 12th.

What are your thoughts and feelings on producing and “performing” a musical like this? Will you wacth? If you do, let the Star know your thoughts! Comment below or get in touch with us via Instagram, Twitter, or email (star@houghton.edu)!

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Stories In Focus

How Teaching Remotely Complicates the Teaching Process

Article by Victoria Hock (’23)

As we all know, many changes have been brought to Houghton’s campus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, not only are some students learning remotely, but some professors are teaching remotely. 

Professor of Religion Kristina LaCelle Peterson discussed that she misses “being in a room with actual human beings,” and she also added that she’s “grateful for technology that allows us some amount of interaction, but obviously it’s not the same.” As for how she’s changed up her classes to an online format, she mentioned that she has structured her courses with “weekly independent learning opportunities,” which means that “each course is a blend of synchronous and asynchronous learning.” She noted that this “puts some of the responsibility for learning back into the hands of students.  This also gives her the chance to “hear a little of what’s going on in each student’s thinking,” which she added is “particularly helpful in big classes.”

Professors Heidi and John Giannini expressed similar sentiments. Professor of Philosophy Heidi Giannini brought up some of the positives to teaching remotely. “In some ways, I think working remotely has made my job easier than many of my colleagues’: I don’t have to worry about delivering the same course in as many formats at once, I don’t lose class time to sanitization procedures, and I can more readily have my students engage in small group work because I don’t have to worry about maintaining social distance.” 

However, she also added that there are a few “significant drawbacks” to being completely online too. Some of the drawbacks that she mentioned include having “less of a personal connection with my students. I worry that when I return to campus, I won’t recognize many of the students I’ve taught this semester because they appear only in little boxes on my screen, a few at a time, and many of them masked.” She also added that the “online dynamic is different from what you have in person,” specifically discussing that it is much easier to start a conversation during in-person classes than online. Professor Giannini also added that students can sometimes be “more frequently distracted” when they are participating in a Zoom class session, and that they can also “seem more hesitant to reach out and ask for help” when a professor is only accessible online. 

Professor of Philosophy John Giannini discussed that there are both well-known and less common differences between teaching online and in-person. “Some of the differences in online teaching are pretty obvious,” he mentioned, bringing up differences such as not being able to give quizzes on paper, that everyone is on computers for the whole class, and that technical issues can sometimes hinder communication. As for some of the more subtle differences, he explained they were things he wasn’t able to foresee. For example, he mentioned that a lot of communication goes on surrounding class time between him and his students, explaining that he chats with students, people ask him “questions that wouldn’t fit in class,” and he compliments people on their work. He then added that “while teaching online a lot of that communication just doesn’t happen.” Professor Giannini has also found “many other subtle ways in which being in a room is different from communicating via an online lobby,” mentioning things like “decreased ability to read body language, or much less fluidity in conversational back-and-forth.” He then added that “Even if you can technically do a lot of the same things online as in person they do not feel the same–and that matters.” 

Overall, much like online learning, online teaching appears to have benefits, such as not losing class time to sanitization procedures and more readily being able to have students engage in small group activities, and drawbacks, such as a higher likelihood of distraction and technical issues sometimes coming up. Online professors have been working their hardest to innovate and create an engaging, beneficial class. Given the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, online teaching may continue, so professors may need to continue innovating, creating an online learning environment that students can benefit and learn from. 

Do you have any professors teaching remotely? How have they handled it? Well? Comment below or get in touch with us via Instagram, Twitter, or email (star@houghton.edu)!

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Though COVID-19 Cases Surge Nearby, Most Students don’t fear a Campus Outbreak

Houghton Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, the location of a notable nearby COVID-19 outbreak recently. Credit: Evan Tsai

Article written by Megan Brown (‘23).

October 9th marked the halfway point of Houghton College’s fall semester and served as a reminder that, while active cases on campus remain at zero, the hamlet of Houghton does not fare as well. With 46 new cases of COVID-19 at the Houghton Rehabilitation and Nursing Center as of last Thursday, a case on the college’s campus seems inevitable because of the recent increase.

Even with this grim forecast, few students interviewed expressed additional stress because of the uptick in cases. A couple students even admitted they had not thought about the rise in cases surrounding our campus after the initial email about it from Marc Smithers. Sophomore Psychology major Mackenzie Milne views this as a wake up call, saying “it’s hitting close to home. It is suddenly becoming more of a reality.” 

One worry does unite the students interviewed: the residents and staff at the facility. Communication major Courtney Johson commented, “I think it’s very troubling…because I know a lot of other nursing centers where one person gets it and then a lot of people do. So I am very worried for them.” As the CDC has stated, COVID-19 can be more dangerous when risk factors, such as underlying medical conditions or older age, are involved. Students’ concern lies more with the residents residing at the rehab and nursing facility than with a threat to their safety here on campus. 

For those worried about the threat of COVID-19 coming to campus, Marc Smithers advises that students should not spiral into panic. The absence of students on campus contracting the virus so far this semester shows the dedication of many students’ adherence to the Big Three, which consists of masking, social distancing, and cleanliness. The increase of cases in Allegany County should instead renew the students’ commitment to following COVID-19 guidelines. With a higher concentration of local cases, the chances of a case occurring on campus rises. As Smithers says, “we cannot slip into worry, but we also cannot slip into complacency.”

While students may believe COVID-19 would not dare enter into the creekstone-clad asylum after the success Houghton College has had this semester, Smithers continues to stand by his stance that the campus will soon see an active case “not due to our campus community not practicing safe habits but more so because the virus is just too prevalent in our area.” Precautions to the virus’ spread are in place not because they eliminate the chance of contracting COVID-19 but because they decrease transmission. With a higher volume of cases locally, the chances of a student or faculty member contracting the virus increases, too.

Because of this possibility, the campus needs reminders of safety precautions because it is easy to become relaxed in Houghton’s “new normal.” However, of the students interviewed, only two professors discussed the local rise in cases with their classes: Professors Susan and Benjamin Lipscomb. Both professors reminded students of the proximity of the Houghton Rehabilitation and Nursing Center to the college and, like Marc Smithers, urged students to double down on following COVID-19 protocol.

What are your thoughts and feelings on the surge in COVID-19 cases at the nearby nursing home in Houghton? Worried about the residents? Worried about the safety of those on campus? Not very concerned? Comment below or get in touch with us via Instagram, Twitter, or email (star@houghton.edu)!

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Remote Learning: Hindrance or Help?

By Vicotria Hock (’23)

The COVID-19 Pandemic has resulted in a unique semester for students at Houghton. Some students are learning on campus, with various protocols in place such as the Big Three (masking, hand washing and social distancing) while some are learning from home, entirely online. Others are on campus, but have a mixture of online and in-person classes.

Riley Gastin (’20) is in her final semester at Houghton. She says that “being online for my last semester is bittersweet. Although I am saving a lot of money and I am able to spend time with my family and local friends, I definitely miss being on campus with my friends and professors. Houghton is such a special place which makes it extra hard to be remote. Everyone has been great though, professors and classmates are so helpful and are making this much easier than it could have been.”

Both Cory Messerschmidt (’21) and Isabela Godoy (’23) have acknowledged there are some challenges that have arisen with regards to remote learning. Messerschmidt mentioned that some professors have had difficulty with things such as “sharing their screen” and “making the microphone pick up sound,” though he did mention that he’s “thankful that they’re giving us the option this semester.”

Godoy discussed that for her, the switch to online has been pretty tough. She also stated that there have been some technical difficulties from both her and Houghton, and she added that staying motivated in front of a computer can sometimes be difficult. Having said that, she also feels Houghton has “converted their online teaching decently, but it is still very confusing when you have to check 15 different websites to see what your next homework assignment is.”

Seth Greene (’22) is enjoying the opportunity to spend time at home. He says that the extra time he’s had at home with his friends and family has been “a blessing,” and he also added that he’s  “found professors to be very understanding and accommodating in making sure that remote learners are able to fully participate despite the challenges of virtual schooling.”

Although Ryan Ozzello (’21) is on campus, the majority of his classes are online. He explained, “because it’s virtual, I’m able to create my own learning environment for class and spend more time quiet and focused, the way I learn best.” Outside of class, he’s “able to meet in person with classmates to study and be actively involved in many in-person organizations and clubs.” He ended with some compliments about the experience as a whole so far, saying “Houghton has successfully met me where I am during this less-than-ideal time to ensure that I am learning, growing, and engaging with the full college experience.”

Students have had a variety of different experiences so far this semester. Although there have been a few challenges with online learning, professors have been helpful in ensuring that those students who are online are still able to learn with the rest of the class.

Are you studying remotely this semester? How’s your experience? Comment below or get in touch with us via Instagram, Twitter, or email (editor@houghtonstar.com)!

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Tuition Reset Will Make Houghton College Best-Priced Christian College in the Nation


Article written by Vanessa Bray (‘21).

Houghton College is set to become the best priced Christian college in the nation. On September 22, 2020 Houghton announced its plan to reset the college’s annual tuition price. This reset will take effect beginning in the fall of 2021 and every returning and incoming student will be eligible to receive the benefits of this plan. The college’s tuition will be $15,900 for the 2021-22 academic year ($7,950/semester). Under this plan Room, Board and Fee prices have been frozen and will not increase next year. The reset is said to reinforce Houghton’s mission “To provide high-quality Christian education to students from all socioeconomic backgrounds and life circumstances—including those impacted by COVID-19.”

Jason Towers, who worked alongside President Shirley Mullen, Dale Wright (Vice President for Finance), John Oden (Executive Director of Advancement Services and Operations), and Marianne Loper (Director of Student Financial Services) to develop this plan confirmed that they were working on this plan prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Towers said, “This work was started well before the pandemic. . . In looking at graduation trends, we saw a correlation between a student’s decision to continue for all four years at Houghton and finances. Some students with very high potential were unable to benefit fully from a Houghton education and we wanted to ensure that cost was not a barrier for students in their choice of education. The COVID-19 pandemic has created financial hardship for many families and accentuated the need for simplicity in the cost of college. . .This new published cost helps to remove confusion around what a student will pay and makes Houghton an option for more families.”

When asked if Houghton intends to honor this plan indefinitely, Towers had the following to say: “We are committed to this new level of transparency and affordability. Will future years’ tuition prices include small increases to compensate for inflation? At some point, that is certainly possible, but any changes will be based on the new tuition rate of $15,900.” 

Responses to this announcement varied among the student body. An anonymous sophomore excitedly stated, “I think that the tuition reset is super generous especially when so many families are struggling financially due to the current state of global health. I strongly believe that as Christians it is our duty to care for the less fortunate, and this tuition reset is a fantastic way to provide a Christian Liberal Arts education to those who might come from families that are struggling financially during these times.”

Senior Phoebe Mullen stated, “I have to admit that my first response to hearing about the tuition reset was not ‘That’s great!’ but ‘What are they going to cut? Where’s the money coming from?’ If it’s going to benefit students overall, and there’s funding to cover the change, then I’m all for it. My friends are mostly seniors, though, and they’re annoyed we’re not still going to be here for the change!”

According to the statement released by Houghton College’s Public Relations, the college raised $41 million for student scholarships through the generosity of donors to the IMPACT Campaign for Greater Houghton. Returning students can expect the new tuition rates to be partnered with a revised financial aid process. 

Marianne Loper, Director of Financial Services, shared her excitement for the future financial packages that will be available to students,“I cannot even express how thrilled I am to share it with everyone and talk through the math of how it will truly save families money. I have had the opportunity to walk a few students through what their packages will look like for 2021-22.  Every student has been surprised and animated about the numbers.  It is not just the numbers but it is [the] ease and ability to comprehend it.  Students will be able to clearly see how the math worked and could follow every step.  It has been so encouraging to me and confirms this move was the right thing for the college and students.”

With the 2021-2022 FAFSA being available as of October 1st, both Towers and Loper encourage students to start applying early.

What are your thoughts on the impending tuition reset? Thrilled? Suspicious? Comment below or get in touch with us via Instagram, Twitter, or email (editor@houghtonstar.com)!

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We Are All Houghton Project Challenges School to Listen to Past and Present LGBTQ+ Experiences at Houghton

Credit: instagram.com/weareallhoughton/

We recognize that controversy surrounding this topic is ongoing, particularly regarding the recent paintings of the Spirit Rock. The STAR is still working to prepare our coverage of those events, and would invite anyone with thoughts or information on the subject to get in touch with us at star@houghton.edu.

2020 has been a year riddled with controversy, what with the U.S. Presidential Election looming, ongoing discussions concerning the best handling of COVID-19, and protests over racial tensions still dominating the streets of cities across the country. Small, rural Houghton has not been an exception to tensions and polarization, as disagreements have been anything but tepid, especially concerning the We Are All Houghton project recently rolled out by alumni Josh Duttweiler (’15) and Amy Coon (’14). 

We Are All Houghton, presented during the alumni art exhibition RECOLLECTIVE (held September 4, 2020 to October 3, 2020 in the Ortlip Gallery), consisted of light projections of quotes by LGBTQ+ alumni around notable spots on Houghton’s Campus, including buildings like Fancher Hall, Luckey Memorial, and Wesley Chapel. Quotes came from a group of recently graduated alumni—Collin Belt (’15), Mitch Galusha (’14), Sally Jacoby Murphy (’13), Sarah Jacoby Murphy (’13), Holly Chaisson (’16), and Emilie Powles Ocock (’14)—along with some who opted to remain anonymous, including current students.  

This project incorporated an anonymous survey which encouraged any person connected to Houghton College, whose sexual orientation and/or gender identity is “unaccepted by the college”, to answer and participate in. The survey served purposes twofold: one, “to allow those who would like to participate in the show in the Ortlip gallery to do so,” as select quotes would be projected in the gallery in hopes of amplifying additional LGBTQ+ voices from the school, and two, to present findings to the college after the show’s closure, so “administration can both hear from and better understand its students,” the survey form explained. 

Along with the physical exhibit in the Ortlip Gallery, the project has a website, weareallhoughton.com, as well as a page on Instagram (@weareallhoughton) which currently has 705 followers (as of Monday, October 5). The website explains the background and purposes of the project, introduces the alumni involved, and links to the survey. The Instagram page portrays photographs of several of the projections as well as quotes submitted as part of the survey. 

As the website explains, the project was largely in response to Houghton College’s involvement in the Supreme Court Cases regarding interpretation of Title VII and Title IX. The Supreme Court, in August 2020, concluded that firing an employee on the basis of being gay or transgender constitutes a violation of the Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This is pertinent because it interprets that Title VII protects LGBTQ+ Employees. Houghton College’s involvement, which became known to a group of alumni in August of 2019, was as an amicus curiae. Essentially, this means that they provided insight or a perspective to the court that they might not have considered or been aware of. The position that the amici took, which included Houghton College, was that the language in Title VII (which also relates to Title IX), does not and should not include protection for LGBTQ+ employees. 

After hearing of this, a group of alumni wrote a letter to President Shirley Mullen to voice their disappointment, both in Houghton’s decision to sign on the amicus brief, as well as their lack of communicating about it to current students and alumni. President Mullen responded, saying “The reason that Houghton signed the amicus brief was to say that the petitioner’s claims should be reviewed in Congress…The question at stake is whether the very best way to provide protection for LGBTQ persons is to ground that protection in the definition of ‘sex’ as that was established in Title VII and Title IX.” 

The exhibit was in response to the college’s involvement in these Supreme Court cases, as well as the experiences of LGBTQ+ students at Houghton at large.

Responses have been multitudinous. Mullen shared an open letter which was posted on the school’s website (see: https://www.houghton.edu/blog/an-open-letter-from-president-mullen/). This addressed the issue and also introduced the panel which they scheduled into Homecoming weekend: Houghton Alumni Family Dinner Conversations: Learning to Discuss Difficult Topics in a Polarized Context, which was held on Friday, October 2. Duttweiler was glad that this panel was being hosted, but “was disappointed that Amy and [him], as the artists of the project would not be included in any further conversation.” 

In terms of general reactions, Duttweiler and Coon expressed their overwhelmed feelings at how many positive responses they received from both participants and allies, saying they received many personal messages of gratitude for the project and, overall, received nearly 100 survey responses from LGBTQ+ current students, alumni, and staff/faculty. Duttweiler said, “their stories are heartbreaking. It’s a sobering reminder of the pain that the college’s policies have caused.” 

Of the matter, Coon shares similar sentiments, but wanted to add that she was “feeling a little disappointed in the reactions of those who are looking for a theological debate,” saying the project is not about that but rather “about truly listening to those who are hurting and learning how to sit in those feelings. I hope when people hear the hurt of their community, they then ask themselves how they can help and what they can do better instead of arguing about who is right and who is wrong.” 

Many of the responses from current students did take this theological approach in showing their disagreement with the project. 

Cory Messerschmidt (’22) believes that the project is a direct attack on the principles of the college. “The college has a God-given duty to shepherd its students…you have to truly love someone to share the truth with them, and the individuals involved with this need to hear the truth of the biblical gospel. This is a great opportunity to love them, but instead we’ve given them a platform for their attack on the college,” he said. 

Another student, Blythe Gilbert (’21), had a similar attitude, focusing more on the aspect of steering LGBTQ+ people away from “homosexuality, or any variety thereof, [which] is forbidden in the Bible.” As Messerschmidt said that Houghton should shepherd its students to the truth, Gilbert emphasized his belief that Christians are called not just to love, but to lovingly correct people to help them move closer to Christ. “To be sure, Houghton should tolerate and welcome LGBT students. I agree, certainly, that they should not be afraid to speak. However, they should not expect a Christian institution to be anything less than truly Christian.” 

Students who expressed their support of the movement focused less on theological debate and arguments, and more on their gratitude for the movement, along with acknowledging the need for support and inclusion for the LGBTQ+ members of the Houghton community. 

Emily Warner (’21) values the way that the project has called Houghton to act, both now and in the future. “Houghton has claimed to care deeply for its queer community. I would love for that to be true. We Are All Houghton is holding Houghton to its word—demanding that Houghton apologizes and does what it needs to ensure that queer students’ experiences are better in the future. I sincerely hope that Houghton will follow through and make concrete changes to care for and support the Houghton queer community, without feeling the need to remind us how wrong they think we are along the way.” 

Skye Chaapel (’23) and Caroline Zimmerman (’24) both pointed out how the project has displayed how the LGBTQ+ community is marginalized and excluded from the overall population on campus, and thus shows the “overwhelming need for [this] representation,” as Zimmerman said. The project, in giving voices to these people, both in alumni and those currently on campus, chipped away at just that. 

Another major focus of many of the supportive responses to the project was the fact that it showed the deep pain that has been inflicted on the LGBTQ+ community on campus. “There may be backlash and misunderstandings, but our classmates, friends, and people we haven’t had the pleasure of meeting yet are hurting. I just hope that from this we learn to not corner someone into some category or theological argument, but learn to listen to understand,” said Rachel Caine (’23).

If nothing else, it is clear that We Are All Houghton has given voice to those who have not always had the platform to share their experiences safely, and that Houghton’s “community” may have work to do to reconcile that term we value so much with those who have felt anything but welcomed into the community here. 

Duttweiler and Coon plan to continue the project “as long as it is helpful” and are seeking feedback on how to best go about doing this in the future. 

What are your thoughts on the We Are Houghton project? Angered? Validated? Comment below or get in touch with us via Instagram, Twitter, or email (editor@houghtonstar.com)!