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Freshmen Diversity on Campus

By Rebecca Dailey

The 2023-2024 school year brings in 272 Freshmen, the largest freshman class since 2016. 

Thereasa Villnave (‘27) says, “It’s been really good because teachers seem to really care, are willing to make appointments and understand you as a person.” 

Villnave hopes to play a sport and is looking forward to the unique options for classes. 

Freshman class representative Grace Hall (‘27) says, “I hope to get involved and engage with people. Everyone is so nice and the campus is beautiful.”

Grace Hall partakes in Monday morning bible studies and student council.
Hall is “Super excited and grateful for the opportunity to be voted class rep for the freshman class. I am excited to serve my class and hope to make an impact for Christ on our campus. I am thankful that there are many opportunities to engage in worship on campus. Koin has been great. I love worshiping with other believers. I am so grateful for the beauty of Houghton. This campus is gorgeous and we are so blessed to live here. God has been good and faithful. I am expectant that He will do great things with my class!” 

Her brother, Carter Hall (‘27), is “Excited to see what the future holds and create stronger relationships.” 

Carter Hall has been given the opportunity to help with Koinonia, and has been invited to join other studies which look at the scriptures as well as encouraging singing and worshiping.

“College/University is the time where we must, if we have not already,” Carter Hall states, “make our faith our own. If you look, those opportunities are all around. This can include Bible studies, student led ministries and fellowship on and off campus.” 

Jackson Collins (‘27) stated, “The way we perceive things and the different [C]hristian perspectives is important. I didn’t expect to be so busy, there is definitely a balancing act between friends, family and spiritual life.”

Collins participates in Koinonia, Mercy Seat and is on the cross-country team. 

Collins says, “God has given me the gifts of music and I am certainly called to the musical ministry of Koin and Mercy Seat. From my observation, there has been a large spiritual awakening and desire to follow God and honor him through music, Bible studies, and a strong community. Koin and Mercy Seat mean a lot to me, since it is a way I can honor God and grow in community.” 

Samantha Renken (‘27) didn’t expect “how supportive everyone is and they’re so nice even if you don’t really know them.” 

Renken hopes to continue to grow with the people.

Collins “didn’t expect how busy he would be or how strong and diverse the Christian community is.” 

Dean of the Chapel, Michael Jordan sent the 2027 freshman class off with, “Stay curious, freshmen have a wonderful way to look at the world. I hope they keep loving Houghton and growing their faith.” ★

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Feature: Amanda Cox

By Jax Johnson

The Director of Houghton’s Lyric Theatre, Professor Amanda Cox, who recently directed Houghton’s production of “Into the woods” has recently participated in numerous other projects. Some of these projects include working on a film called “Through the eyes of Grace”, and acting in a production of “The Last 5 Years”. Cox discusses her recent step into the acting world with the exciting, the anxiety inducing, and the everyday, all as a part of the experience. 

On entering the world of professional acting, Cox says, “It’s something I have always dreamed of doing. I thought I would love to do this. I think I’m gifted in this way but it just wasn’t what I did and I’ve had a beautiful, wonderful, fulfilling life…but then it was like God looked at me and said, ‘But what if you could?’”

In early 2022, Cox found a casting call and began auditioning for a film titled, “Through the Eyes of Grace”.

Cox describes the film as “a faith-based thriller about a mother who’s teenage daughter disappears and throughout the movie we’re just trying to get her back.” 

Cox notes other recent on-screen appearances through true crime productions acting in the recreation scenes as well as a short film called “Dear Hallmark”.

While she has begun acting on-screen, Cox still keeps her love for the stage. She has recently been in several shows including “Camelot” and “The Last 5 Years”, as well as an upcoming role as Marmee in “Little Women”.

Cox continues by describing the process of getting headshots, going for auditions, and getting her first manager. 

She says, “you’re basically signing up for a permanent temp job, because there is no permanent job…sometimes there will be months or years in between and that’s normal.” 

With auditions, she says, “You just have to release them out into the universe.” Throughout the whole process she notes that she is incredibly grateful for her family, including her husband who has been, “a great foundation to rely on.”

Moving forward, Cox says, “I just want to keep having projects in front of me.” ★

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Inside the STAR

STAR Articles study this week's edition of the paper -- Courtesy of Nathan Versari
By the STAR Editors

Have you ever wondered what goes into publishing each issue of the Houghton STAR?

As you may know, each issue is a team effort, with two Editors-in-Chief at the helm. Junior Christian Welker is one of them. He explained that the Editors-in-Chief “work with the editors to edit articles, lay out the issue, and deal with any problems that may arise in the process.” He also added that the Editors-in-Chief meet biweekly with the STAR’s Faculty Advisor. In addition, the Editors-in-Chief “speak with members of the administration, staff, and faculty teams on behalf of the STAR”. They also complete various website and paper-related projects, as well as odd jobs in the office.

Senior Victoria Hock, another Editor-in-Chief, further added that the Editors-in-Chief “Collaborate with each other and the other Editors to come up with story and writer ideas for the STAR.”

Additionally, Welker and Hock stated that, despite some rumors, the Faculty Advisor has little oversight over the article editing process. They are only given access to articles pre-publication if the Editors-in-Chief see a potential issue they want feedback on. Most of the time, the STAR’s Faculty Advisor only sees articles after publication, at the same time as the rest of Houghton’s Campus.

In addition to the Editors-in-Chief, there are Four Section Editors, News, Opinions, Columns, and Photo and Media.

Junior Joshua Carpenter is responsible for overseeing our News section. He said that he is “responsible for finding three writers to cover either a news or feature story. Once I receive their articles, I edit them and lay them out in Affinity Publisher (the software we use to create the print form of the newspaper).”

Overseeing our Opinions section is Sophomore Victoria Arndt. Discussing her responsibilities, she stated, “As the Opinions editor, I collect writers for opinion pieces and then work with the writer to edit them, as well as format the piece within its section of the newspaper.”

           Sophomore Caleb Tiedemann oversees our Columns section, which is found at the back of each issue and contains anything from reviews to artwork. He explained that he is “responsible for finding someone to write an article and someone for Artist of the Week. I edit the submitted article and then format it, as well as the Artist of the Week submissions, onto the back page of the STAR.”

           Junior Savannah Stitt is our Photo and Media Editor. Each week, she will “photograph or source the photos of people and events the STAR features in each issue.” Stitt also runs our Instagram account.

           Layout occurs each Wednesday in the Houghton STAR office, which is located in the Campus Center basement. Each editor is responsible for inserting and formatting their content in their respective sections. After the Editors lay out their articles, the Co-Editors-in-Chief go through the entire issue again, checking for mistakes and filling any leftover space with puzzles, advertisements, and more. Then it is shipped to the printing press, where it is printed and prepared for handout after Friday Chapel. 

After the physical issue is sent to the printing press, each article is formatted into an online version for publication on the STARs Website. The online articles are scheduled to be posted at the same time as the physical copies are distributed so that interested parties both on and off campus can get the issue at the same time.

The Editors may be responsible for putting each issue together, but this would not be possible without contributors, which we are always looking for more of.

            If you are interested in contributing to any section of the Houghton STAR, please email the Editor of the section you’re interested in. We would also welcome Letters to the Editor in response to our previous pieces, which can be sent to star@houghton.edu. Letters to the Editor can range from a few short sentences to a maximum of 600 words.

If you are interested in becoming an editor, feel free to fill out the application below to become our new News Editor as Carpenter is joining Welker in the Editor-in-Chief position after Hock graduates at the end of this semester.

            If you want to contribute, but are not sure if or where your idea would fit, feel free to email one of our Co-Editors-in-Chief. ★

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Feature: Linda Knapp

By Anna Catherman

The Ortlip Gallery is one of the highlights of Houghton University’s campus. For years, the gallery was managed by the art department. It gained new leadership, however, when Linda Knapp took on the role of Gallery Director in August 2022. As the Gallery Director, Knapp has taken a huge burden off the art professors and helped the gallery thrive post-pandemic.

Each academic year, five different shows are held. Each show requires planning, advertising, lighting, set-up and tear-down work, and more. This fall, Knapp worked with acclaimed painter Nick Blosser and alumnus Craig Proulx,  who collects valuable mid-19th century David Roberts lithographs. In the spring, the Faculty Art Show, Student Art Show, and Senior Show are all packed in. Each gallery opening is a labor of love, reflecting the creativity of the artist(s) and hard work of the gallery crew.

Knapp is aided by three gallery assistants, including junior Aubree Niles, sophomore Aubrey Armes, and senior Danae Jarrett. Niles noted that getting “[t]o work with Linda and the other gallery assistants has been incredible. We have bonded so well and so quickly.”

Knapp echoed similar statements, praising her assistants for their great work. “They kinda taught me,” she chuckled, explaining she hadn’t had much experience with running art shows before starting her position.

While Knapp is new to curating gallery experiences, she isn’t new to Houghton or the art world. A fourth-generation “Houghtonite”, Knapp’s grandmother, Aileen Ortlip Shea, was the first art professor in Houghton’s fledgling art department.. Knapp grew up in the art world, but wasn’t  trained as an artist or curator until recently. “I wasn’t an art major,” she explained. Instead, she majored Bible and Intercultural Studies at Houghton before completing graduate studies in Anthropology at Colorado State University. Still, she has a love for art. While she dabbles in a bit of sketching of her own, she focuses on uplifting others’ works.

Former Gallery Director and Professor of Digital Media and Photography Ryann Cooley was very appreciative of the work Knapp has done with the gallery. He shared that previously he was juggling the gallery alongside his normal class load and chairing the art department. “I couldn’t give to the gallery what it needed to be.”

Knapp, he noted, “is doing a great job.” 

“She’s bringing in a level of professionalism that’s very welcome,” Cooley said.

One of the highlights has been the emphasis placed on opening receptions. Exhibits that include gallery talks have been able to grant Around the Table credits, and have been drawing larger crowds than gallery openings have in years. Refreshments have also been a crowd-pleading addition.

Knapp has been overwhelmed by the campus community’s responsiveness to the art gallery’s events. With the gallery openings at capacity or even overflowing, she noted that it has been so meaningful to stand shoulder-to-shoulder in “a sacred place” to support artists and learn about their work. ★

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Feature: Student Council

By Christian Welker

On Wednesday, Feb. 22, The Student Council will hold Elections for the 2023 Fall semester. 

After replacing the Student Government Association in the Fall of 2021, the Student Council has acted as the voice of students to the University’s Administration. The Council consists of 11 representatives: 1 for each Class (4 total); 1 Academic; 1 Athletics; 1 Diversity and Inclusion; 1 Resident Life; 1 Spiritual Life; 1 Student Organizations, and the Student Council President. 

The Student Council Representatives meet weekly with their respective administrators, bringing concerns to their attention and discussing potential solutions that would benefit the student body as a whole. Additionally, they invite the administrators to Council meetings, in which the wider student population can ask questions and give feedback about changes and practices of the University. 

Academic Representative and Junior Cody Johnson stated, “Through Committees and relationships with administrators, we can speak into things that many students do not know about.” 

This open communication with Houghton’s Administrative team allows the Student Council to create effective changes on campus. 

To Johnson, one of his favorite things about working with the Council is that “you can create policies and programs that will still exist long after your graduation.”

Over this semester, the Student Council has worked on several projects for the benefit of the Student Body. Class of 2024 Representative and Junior Kat Wojsiat commented that one of her semesterly projects is getting a food vending machine for Chamberlain. Along with Wojsiat, the Council has worked on improving building hours, increasing signage around areas such as parking lots, and providing student perspectives on the upcoming strategic plan.

The Representatives also expressed their excitement for the improvements that the Student Council hopes to experience throughout this semester and the next. 

Student Organizations Representative and Junior Anna Catherman commented that she “would love to see more engagement [between the council and] the student body.” 

Similarly, Athletics Representative and Senior Ali Wisniewski stated that she would like the Council to “get the students to feel more comfortable coming to us with their concerns, this would help us make sure their voices are heard.” 

As the Elections Approach, The Student Council is looking to build next semester’s team. Petitions to run for a representative position are open and due on Monday, Feb. 20. Every Representative interviewed commented that they would love more candidates to get involved. 

Class of 2023 Representative and Senior Kathyryn Evans states, “It’s an amazing opportunity to be involved in the “behind the scenes” side of the school.”

 Wojsiat added, “If you feel strongly about advocacy and/or improving the college, I highly recommend running next year!”

Elections will take place via email, and the results will be posted on Friday, Feb. 24. If students are interested in hearing the candidates speak, there will be speeches during the scheduled meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 20. ★

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The Becoming of President Lewis

By Joshua Carpenter

As the President of Houghton University, Dr. Wayne D. Lewis is a busy man. His responsibilities as president frequently take him off campus, and many times, even out of state. One week he may be working in his office, the other, somewhere across the country.  

According to President Lewis’ wife, Monica Lewis, he “has had a very demanding job most of our marriage and all of Whitley’s [their daughter’s] life[,] so we’re accustomed to his 40% travel, weeknight and weekend commitments.” 

When he is on campus, students will usually see him giving a speech during chapel or eating in the dining hall with his family. However, because of his schedule, students may find it hard to approach him, or, other than what he says about himself in chapel, students may feel as though they barely know him. 

Sophomore Vincent Ocasio says, “I would love to talk with President Lewis behind closed doors because he seems very firm and bold in what he believes in, and I want to know if he is the same person behind closed doors as he is in front of chapel.” 

Mrs. Lewis, who has been married to President Lewis for 19 years, describes her husband as a “God fearing, relationship building and compassionate man,” who, “wholeheartedly gives what he can because God has been so generous to him.” 

 Dr. Lewis grew up in the city of New Orleans surrounded by family. Because his parents went back to school when he was a kid, and because of the nine-year age difference between him and his younger sister, he spent a great amount of time with his extended family. 

His mother’s side of the family was in and around the city of New Orleans, and his father’s side of the family lived about two hours from New Orleans in Patterson, Louisiana.  

As Lewis said, he “routinely spent lots of time with grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and second cousins, who were more like brothers and sisters to me than my cousins.” 

 Returning to his immediate family, Lewis described that his parents’ “determination to earn their undergraduate degrees, both to provide a better economic situation for the family, and to model the importance of education” had a great impact on him and his sister, even to the point that they followed in their father’s footsteps and went to the same undergraduate school that their father went to, with his sister getting an MBA at the school where their mother got her undergraduate degree. 

To Lewis, “parents have been, and continue to be, a big part of my life. They are a big part of the people who have shaped me into who I have become.” ★

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FEATURE: Hispanic Heritage Club

By Victoria Hock

     One of the many clubs that Houghton offers is the Hispanic Heritage Club, which provides members of the Hispanic Community and the general student population an opportunity to learn about Hispanic Culture and partake in events. The STAR recently sat down with President, sophomore Kelsey Villatoro, and Vice President, freshman Alayna Byrum to discuss the club, their involvement, upcoming events, and how other students can join.

      Both Villatoro and Byrum expressed high hopes for the club this year. Specifically, Villatoro noted that she hopes to have events (like history lessons), as well as provide opportunities for minorities to get involved. Byrum added that she hopes to deepen her understanding of her culture, as well as others and that the club can be a safe space.

        Villatoro and Byrum also noted that the club is planning several possible events in the future. In addition to a possible collaboration with Houghton’s Black Heritage Club, Villatoro explained that they are also thinking of holding a Thanksgiving event featuring childhood dishes, as well as a Valentine’s Day event. Byrum also discussed that they hope to hold a Christmas event, because “Christmas is a very big thing in all the Hispanic cultures, so we want to have dishes and music and dancing.” The club also ran a table at Homecoming, featuring snacks, drinks and 

Byrum encourages anyone who is interested in getting involved with the Hispanic Heritage Club to stop by the Mosaic Center, noting that even if they’re not there, someone can put them in contact with the club. Villatoro further adds that the club is “open to anyone”—all students are welcomed and able to get involved. ★

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FEATURE: The Writing Center

By Jacqueline Johnson

One of Houghton’s wonderful academic resources is the Writing Center. Located in the Center for Student Success in the Chamberlain Center, the Writing Center assists students on any writing assignment or paper. They are open from 3:30 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. on Mondays and Thursdays, and 3:30 P.M. to 7:30 P.M. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. During these times, Students can book slots with their choice of four wonderful student consultants: Megan Brown (‘23), Rachel Huchthausen (‘23), Jacob Lajza (‘23), and Elaine Starling Leeli (‘22). 

The Writing Center is designed to assist students at any point in the writing process from the planning stage to finishing refinements. Whether it be gathering ideas and organizing thoughts or reviewing any stage of draft, the Writing Center consultants are there to help with many different types of assignments, from formal research papers, to personal essays, to lab reports. In addition to a variety of assignments, the Writing Center is also well-versed in a number of styles including MLA, APA, and Chicago. 

The Writing Center is advised by Professor Laurie Dashnau, who is also one of the writing professors here at the college. Professor Dashnau expresses her joy of the Writing Center, along with high praises of the consultants on both their writing skills and their encouraging nature. 

Jacob Lazja (‘23), one of the Writing Center consultants, talks about some of the benefits that he has seen through working in the Writing Center. “Consulting allows me to collaborate with my peers, not only to produce an A+ paper but to produce lifelong writing skills.” He continues by saying, “Our goal at the Writing Center is not to proofread, edit, and send you away. Instead, it is to guide you through strategies and improvements that will, hopefully, be helpful throughout your college career and beyond.” 

The Writing Center has recently welcomed Rachel Huchthausen (‘23) as its newest addition to the consultant team. She is eager to begin helping people hone their writing skills. “I am looking forward to discovering the writing processes of the individuals who come to Houghton’s Writing Center and learning how to tailor each session to each person’s own areas of strength and areas of growth.” Huchthausen has also expressed how her experience with the Writing Center so far has expanded her insight on the writing process and everything that goes into making the Writing Center what it is. 

The Writing Center is truly something that can help any student improve and hone their writing craft. From advanced writers to those who are just starting to develop their voice, any student who walks into the Writing Center will be met with kind and encouraging student consultants who are there to help you along the way to reaching your writing goals. ★

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FEATURE: Student Council

The Student Council is a vital and fundamental part of the student body at Houghton College. They are a collection of students that represent the various aspects of being a student at Houghton, such as a representative from athletics, academics, and each class, etc. In an interview, Cassie Cavell (‘23), the Representative for the Class of 2023, echoed this statement, saying, “Student Council is a peer-elected group of students that represent the student body as a whole in all areas of life at Houghton.” 

According to the coordinator of the Student Council, AC Taylor, the Student Council has a significant role in aiding all Houghton students to have a voice when it comes to events, conditions, and circumstances here. He remarked that “Student Council represents student concerns and opinions to the institution through councils, committees, and relationships with administrators.” 

The Student Council, once known as SGA, or Student Government Association, has observed a few changes in 2021, including their office space being renovated and a name change. While Cavell stated that “the office actually did not physically move,” she did note that, “it just got remodeled and renamed over the summer! The CEO’s (chief executive officer or someone in a higher leadership role) new space features inviting glass doors on which our office hours are posted. We love the grand conference table as it incorporates our mission to hear every voice. There are also chairs for hanging out and chatting.” This inviting and comfortable space can be found exactly where the SGA office used to be, for any students interested in voicing a concern or wanting to get in touch with any of the representatives or members of the Council.

Being a member, as any of them will tell you, is a rewarding and honorable position, meant to ensure all students at Houghton College feel connected to all the administration, faculty, and staff. Class of 2022 Representative Hannah Heinl (‘22) explained that elections for the Student Council will be held on Thursday, February 24th, with petitions beginning on Monday, January 31st and closing on Monday, February 14th. Heinl also added that during the Monday, February 21 Student Council meeting, candidates will be able to give their speeches.

Cavell also commented on the election process and what an interested student should reflect on: “They should evaluate their current experience in leadership, communication skills, advocacy, and self-motivation.” There are several tasks members are required to complete each week, including sharing feedback, utilizing office hours, and continuing projects; it is no task to be taken lightly.

Another member of the Student Council, Haley Dejager (‘22), the Athletics Representative, stated, “Whether you have limited leadership experience or lots of it, I think the student council is a great opportunity to serve your fellow students! Be prepared to dedicate a couple of hours a week to various council and committee meetings. There’s also a team atmosphere in which members collaborate on many projects, while still maintaining a personal agenda specific to an individual’s role.” Even when the tasks and expectations flow in regularly, the Student Council members work together to support each other and keep each other going. Dejager also stated, “Most importantly, I really enjoy the feeling of making a difference on our campus. Knowing you’re making a difference and being able to see that difference come to life is a really great thing to experience.” While it has many responsibilities, it is a respectable and significant position to have at Houghton College, and any student hesitating to campaign should head over to the newly renovated office space named the Campus Engagement Office, and speak with any of the members there.   

Taylor encourages students who are interested in running to, “Go for it! The institution wants to know what students are thinking and feeling and the Student Council is the go-to structure.” Dejager also stated, “Most importantly, I really enjoy the feeling of making a difference on our campus. Knowing you’re making a difference and being able to see that difference come to life is a really great thing to experience.” While it has many responsibilities, it is a respectable and significant position to have at Houghton College, and any student hesitating to campaign should head over to the newly renovated office space named the Campus Engagement Office, and speak with any of the members there. ★