Tag: Houghton University

Categories
Opinions

Reflections on Halloween

By Johanna Lamont

As Halloween approaches, I think back to my childhood and reflect on how my family interacted with the holiday. We were never the type of people who would dress up and go trick or treating, or as the churches around home called it, “Trunk or Treating.” We never really did anything for Halloween except the occasional Addams Family marathon. The candy, costumes, and history of the event were never of much importance to us, and holidays were never a priority in general. The one thing that stands out about it was my mother’s exasperation at the amount of candy people would give to her children. We often had candy cleanses after the month of October, where we would purge the house of excess candy unless it was M&M’s. 

Now, as I am older and am embracing holidays with my own twist on tradition, I have to rethink how I see Halloween. I finally get the chance to break out from my family’s tradition and make the holiday my own. The holiday itself has roots in the pagan celebration of Samhain, but the modern celebration of Halloween in America has little to do with pagan rites and celebrations. The holiday has been turned into a consumerist event, with companies marketing their costumes and candy like their lives depend on it. Halloween is generally a night spent with friends and is full of fun and mischief. We’ve adapted this pagan holiday into a holiday that suits our modern mentality, and in doing so, we’ve sacrificed the original meaning of it. This new reincarnation of the holiday holds no real moral meaning to it. There should be no guilt in someone’s conscience for dressing up and having fun with friends. I think that Halloween is a fine holiday with a lot of potential for fun. However, like any situation, it can be taken and used for wrong things. 

I plan on dressing up for Halloween this year, enjoying the day with friends, and embracing the time to play and have fun. I don’t get the opportunity to dress up and embrace my love of fictional worlds every day, so this is an exciting holiday for me. I think that when dealing with holidays like Halloween that have complicated pasts or assumptions tied to them, it’s best to consider your own opinion and moral convictions. I don’t find anything wrong with celebrating Halloween, but for someone else, there might be an experience or conviction tied to the holiday that could cause an issue or distress for them. For me, it’s all about how I approach the holiday, what I carry in my heart, and intentions toward it. If I approached Christmas with a heart of selfishness or greed, I could turn the holiday surrounding the celebration of Christ’s birth into a day of sin. The intentions and desires of our hearts determine how we interact with and respond to holidays and celebrations. Halloween can be used for ill, as you can use the mystery and chaos of the holiday to harm others or cause distraction and fear. 

Overall, I like the freedom of dressing up and appreciating the candy sales. I love the cheap chocolate, looking through Halloween aisles, coordinating costumes with friends, and watching cheesy movies. The holiday is corny and full of fun traditions that are waiting to be embraced. It’s a non-demanding holiday. There is no pressure to participate, and it has enough variations in how it’s celebrated that anyone can find a way to enjoy it. I think that this is a time of year that I will continue to look forward to in the future and create my own spooky traditions for. I think that my inner Addams will always enjoy the spooky, mischievous gloom of Halloween – with or without the candy. ★

Categories
Stories In Focus

Board of Trustees Meeting

By Cody Johnson ('24)

The Houghton University Board of Trustees met on Oct. 23 to Oct.24 under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Joey Jennings, Chair of the Board and District Superintendent of the Western New York District of The Wesleyan Church. The Board heard reports from representatives of key departments and constituents, including Vice President of Finance Dale Wright, Vice President of Enrollment and Marketing Jason Towers, Faculty Moderator Dr. Susan Lipscomb, Staff Council President Amanda Zambrano, Student Body President Cody Johnson, and Alumni Board member Judith Rapley. 

The Board began both days of meetings with a time of worship and prayer in gratitude for God’s provision for Houghton University, particularly for increasing enrollment and burgeoning spiritual life. The Board regularly praised Houghton’s crystallized identity as an orthodox Christian institution. Several trustees attended Koinonia on Sunday and recounted their joy seeing students gathered voluntarily in worship. In addition, Johnson, Rapley, and President Wayne D. Lewis, Jr., emphasized the heightened sense of Christian community. 

Lewis reflected on the 2020-2023 strategic plan, “The Arc Towards Our Future,” spanning the end of President Emerita Shirley Mullen’s administration and the beginning of his own. As a result of the plan, Houghton has catalyzed Christian community, improved affordability through the 2021 tuition reset and Founder’s Promise Scholarship, and decided to prioritize the residential undergraduate experience over other delivery methods for Houghton’s distinctive curriculum. 

The 2023-2028 strategic plan, “Pursuing Christ-Centered Excellence,” includes priorities such as engaging students in Christian discipleship opportunities, creating applied learning opportunities across all majors, further integrating spiritual life and academics, and renewing residence halls. Increasing enrollment remains a high priority. The Executive Leadership Council recently finalized key performance indicators (KPIs) to track progress towards strategic priorities. 

Academics arose as an area of significant concern in reports by Johnson and Lipscomb. The Board shares concerns about the number of faculty needed to support upper-class students and meet the demands presented by a large first-year class. The university is actively recruiting tenure-track faculty in history, education, and computer science.

Additionally, the Board is seeking to invest more significantly in campus infrastructure and deferred maintenance. A report from Sodexo, Houghton’s facilities management contractor, highlighted the increasing urgency of investment in aging buildings to regulate deferred maintenance costs. In keeping with the strategic plan, the administration anticipates investing several million dollars in residence hall renewal projects within the next five years. These renewal projects will include improvements for accessibility, a priority discussed by Johnson and embraced by the Board. 

Notably, the Board enthusiastically renewed President Lewis’ contract, now extending through 2028, and expressed their deep appreciation for his visionary leadership for Houghton University. 

The Board also honored Ruth Woodworth for ten years of service and welcomed Emily Last, a Houghton alumna, to its ranks. 

The trustees look forward to improving collaborative leadership of the university under the Compact for Shared Governance and seek opportunities such as last Sunday’s ice cream social to gather student perspectives. Additionally, Student Body President Cody Johnson now serves as a resource person for the Student Life Committee of the Board of Trustees. 

The Board of Trustees will meet again virtually on Feb. 9, 2024 and on campus on April 15-16, 2024. ★

Categories
Opinions

First Impressions: Houghton Through the Eyes of a Freshman

By Abigail Hoover

Well, Highlanders, we are already halfway through the semester! The time has just flown by, and before you know it, it’ll be finals season, and we’ll be saying goodbye to one another until the new year! But before we jump too far into the future, I wanted to take some time to reflect on the year we’ve had so far. So, let’s get started, shall we?

Let me start with my story. I am a freshman in college. I am majoring in Adolescent Education and History so that I can become a U.S. History teacher someday. And I did not want to go to Houghton, at least I didn’t a couple of years ago. On Columbus/Indigenous People’s Day in my junior year of high school, I visited Houghton with my family and my best friend. While I loved the campus and the people were so welcoming and friendly, I was not convinced that this was the school for me. 

You see, my parents went to Houghton, as well as my grandma. They all wanted me to go here—the price had just gotten cut in half, and it wasn’t too far from home after all. But as their enthusiasm for me going to Houghton grew, mine diminished. You see, I didn’t want to do what my parents wanted me to do—I wanted to pave my own path. I had felt that throughout my life, I had always agreed with my parents and just simply made decisions based on what they thought. Not because they didn’t want me to have my own opinions, it was actually just because I trusted them to always be right. But as this important decision in my life came looming over me, I was determined to decide for myself where I wanted to go, and not to listen to what other people wanted. And what I wanted was to not go where my family had gone. Like I said, I wanted to make my own path. I wanted to go to a big school, like Liberty University. It was shiny and trendy; everyone knew of it—Liberty seemed more impressive than a little college in a little town in Western New York. I grew up in a small town; I went to a small church and a small school. Everything in my life was so small. I just wanted to do something big for once. 

But that wasn’t what God wanted for me. Slowly but surely, He showed me that Houghton was where I belonged. Going off to college used to be the scariest thing in the world for me to imagine. But when I thought about Houghton, it was different. Houghton became the only college that I wasn’t utterly terrified of attending. There was a peace about it that could only be explained as being from God. And soon enough, He started opening doors for me as well. The price of tuition being cut in half just in time for me, the Founder’s Promise Scholarship being first introduced to my class, the greater emphasis being put on being a Christ-centered college rather than just a Christian one—everything was just lining up perfectly for me to be able to attend Houghton and the school seemed to just be getting better and better (Thanks President Lewis!). You see, God knew what I couldn’t see. He knew that despite it also being my parent’s alma mater, it really was the best fit for me. He knew that I didn’t actually belong in a big college where I would get swallowed up by the crowd. He knew that I needed to go to a small college in a small town where the people really care about me and where I can be a part of a tight-knit community. He knew that I wouldn’t actually like being so far away from my family without the opportunities to go home or to my aunt and uncle’s every few weekends. God, as He always does, knew what was best for me even when I couldn’t see it.
I’m so glad He did. Being here, my faith has only grown. Through Koin, MercySeat, Communion, my Biblical Literature class, and chapel services throughout the week, I have had more opportunities to spend time with Him than ever before. We pray every day in my classes, and I have been reading my Bible a lot more often than I did before college. This place has provided me with the chance to really harvest and grow in my faith. While I know Houghton will change my life by granting me a degree and life-long relationships, this will be the most valuable thing I gain out of college. I feel so very blessed to go to such a Christ-centered college where I can really grow in my faith, and I cannot wait to see all the ways in which God continues to work in me during my time here. 

This place is really filled with so many Godly, wonderful people, and I feel so lucky to be a part of the Highlander community. Since being here, God has only confirmed to me that this is where I am meant to be. Throughout all my doubts and fears about Houghton and college in general, God has always confirmed this to me. This is the place where I will make great friends and great memories, become closer to Christ than ever, and see growth in myself like I have never seen before.  

See all that God has done in your life, how He was there for you through it all, and how He always will be there for you. Remember that He loves you. This will give you the strength to keep going throughout all of the inevitable ups and downs that college brings. ★

Categories
Columns

Barbenheimer Review

Kat Wojsiat ('24) and Caleb Tiedemann ('25)

Now, normally, movie reviews are Caleb’s thing. However, the Barbie review obviously had to be written by a woman, so here I am. The Barbie movie, directed by Greta Gerwig, took the world by storm this summer. I spent the summer interning in London, where there was a Barbie pink telephone booth on the bank of the Thames River for a week! I have never seen such astounding, impressive, and overpowering marketing as I have with this movie. It did wonders for the color pink. It brought a sense of community to all women in a way that was desperately needed after the division brought on by quarantine- and yes, I did get dressed up in pink to go watch it.

While in the movie, I was thoroughly entertained. I thought it was cute, hilarious, and very enjoyable. The set was highly impressive, the acting was great, and the plot was fascinating. However, the more I reflected on the movie, the more problems I found. The plot, however, had a few holes (how on earth did a grown woman dressed as a pink cowgirl just walk into a school?!), and I think that America Ferreira’s speech did not live up to its potential- that is just a personal opinion, though. But my biggest problem with this movie is actually quite controversial- I think it was rather anti-feminist. Hear me out! In Barbieland, men basically hold the position that women did just a few decades ago. The Kens aren’t even allowed to have houses to sleep in! After the Kens try to earn some equal treatment (and unfortunately take it too far), instead of trying to find some middle ground of equality, the Barbies’ response is just, “You are Kenough.” They aren’t even allowed to have representation in the Supreme Court! If the beg for equality between men and women had no further outcome than “you’re enough” in the real world, I wouldn’t even be allowed to write this review right now! (And yes, I understand that it took many attempts and centuries to get to where we are today, but keep in mind that Barbieland is meant to be a perfect world.) I think the movie had a chance to express feminism in a real and meaningful way to those not impacted by it, and it missed that opportunity. Other than these few shortcomings, I think the movie was a great experience and an excellent performance by all (especially Michael Cera as Allen!)

Barbie: 7/10

Oppenheimer is nothing short of a masterpiece. Christopher Nolan delivers in every possible way. This movie was my first ever IMAX experience, and WOW, what a picture! From start to finish, Nolan thrusts you into the harrowing stress of Oppenheimer’s mind. His obsessions, his passions, his regrets, his sadness, and all of his deepest emotions are on display for the audience to see. Cillian Murphy plays Robert J. Oppenheimer and gives an awe-inspiring performance. There is so much conveyed in his silence, his blank stares, and his remorseful mannerisms. Robert Downey Jr. plays Lewis Strauss, and also gives an excellent performance, rivaling Murphy’s quiet genius with vengeful jealousy. Nolan managed to make every single actor bare their heart and soul on this screen. Very few movies impact me the way that this did. The contrast of joy from the masses happy that the war ended against the realization of the evil that was created by the atom bomb. This contrast of morality and ethics is where the movie truly shines. 

Never before have I understood and related on an emotional level the catastrophe and horror of an atomic weapon. This movie has some of the best camerawork ever. The editing is stellar- the pasting together and switching perspectives on a dime encapsulates a feeling of stress and anxiety. Ludwig Goransson’s score permeates every single scene. It is loud and prominent, and it raises the tension and stakes to the max. The contrast of color and black and white gave a whole new layer to the film; it added to the political game and power plays that get used to achieve such devastating power. The juxtaposition of color and passion in such a project that would help win the war contrasted with the black-and-white harsh reality of its after effects drove certain elements home harder than Nolan had any right to. The mere fact that any government has these weapons at their ready and can start a war or annihilate millions in a matter of seconds is horrifying. This movie masters every single technical aspect in a way that I do not think I have ever seen before. I very strongly encourage everyone to see this film as it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that will leave you thinking about the morality, the ethics, and the philosophy behind such a weapon. 

Oppenheimer: 10/10

Categories
Campus News

Student Performer Series

Pianist from Junior SPS - Courtesy of Savannah Stitt
By Isabella Bratton ('26)

The Sophomores’ Student Performer Series begins at 8 p.m. on Oct. 25 in the CFA Recital Hall.

The Student Performer Series (SPS) intends to prepare students for performing in juries at the end of the year, and their future capstone recitals. It gives music majors (typically music performance and music education) the chance to become more comfortable with performing. 

Dr. David Clem who is the Dean of the Greatbatch School of Music, explained that the performance, “exists to provide students with the opportunity to work through the challenges of performing, such as performance nerves and anxiety, and to grow accustomed to performing, well before they have to give a capstone recital. From experience, I (and the rest of the music faculty) can attest that the only way to get to a place where you are comfortable performing is to do it repeatedly, and the SPS is a pedagogically sound way of doing that.”

Sophomore Katrina Kaufman (‘26) is looking forward to both performing  for and watching her own classmates perform. 

Kaufman says, “A classmate mentioned to me recently that he is working on a complicated saxophone piece, and a vocalist is preparing a popular Broadway piece for next week as well! You can expect to get a mix of both vocal pieces and instrumental pieces from next week’s performances.”

Kaufman explained that each SPS, this year, is separated by class year. The seniors and juniors have already done their performances, and the week after the sophomores is the freshmen performance. This new division prevents an extremely long SPS that lasts hours. 

Kaufman says that while it makes sense logistically, it could take away from the quality of the performance that they would have with more time.

“Having a limited amount of time to prepare for a performance is part of being a musician,” Kaufman adds.

Dr. Clem explained that the most experienced students should be the most prepared for an early recital, and that’s why the seniors go first and freshmen go last. There is also a fifth performance for people who had to miss their classes, or who wanted to do extra performances.

Kaufman really enjoys seeing others perform, since they are typically on their own in practice rooms, saying, “Seeing others play in SPS has been inspiring to me personally and has given me ideas for techniques that I want to implement into my own playing.” 

Kaufman herself will be playing a Bach Fugue next week, along with a Chopin piece the following week. 

She also enjoys the fact that SPS gives her a chance to perform without the added pressure of being graded on her performance, saying that, “At juries, I am usually thinking about the fact that making mistakes has an impact on my grade. But at SPS, I can focus more on the joy of getting to share with a supportive audience and not worry about being graded.” ★

Categories
Campus News

Kingdom Conversations Return

Kingdom Ambassadors with Professor Peter Meilaender - Courtesy of Michael Blankenship
By  Jiana Martin ('26)

On Tuesday, Oct. 24, the second Kingdom Conversation will be held at 7 p.m. in Schaller Hall located in the Paine Center.  

Professor Peter Meilaender and President Wayne D. Lewis, Jr. will continue their discussion on the classical debate between Booker T. Washington and W.E.B Du Bois regarding education’s nature and purpose. The first conversation centered around Washington and his emphasis on vocational training in education. In the upcoming conversation, the speakers will examine Du Bois’ viewpoint and his emphasis on a liberal arts education.  

This series of three conversations is the first of its kind hosted by the university’s new program, the Kingdom Initiative, in hopes of promoting academically oriented discussions.

“We thought a great way to introduce the initiative to the campus would be to start with an inaugural series of conversations,” President Lewis explains.

When thinking about the topic for the first series, Professor Meilaender wanted to work with President Lewis. He also searched for a topic that has academic seriousness drawing on classical discussions in American history. Together, they chose this famous debate, not only because of its importance in American history, but also because it is a part of President Lewis’ field of education. He has background and expertise in this area, and their works and scholarships significantly influenced his own. 

Furthermore, Washington and Du Bois’ debate continues to influence public discussions today around higher education. As a university, Professor Meilaender believes these conversations provide a great chance to look at pieces of historical literature that discuss education. 

“There’s still a lot of relevance to what they are talking about,” Professor Meilaender comments. 

In addition, he hopes these events are a chance for people to learn more about Washington, Du Bois and this part of America’s history and cultural heritage. 

The Kingdom Initiative plans to hold many Kingdom Conversations in the future.  

“The initiative is an effort to bring together several things that the college deals with in issues of race, diversity, equality, and God’s kingdom in the broadest sense,” Professor Meilaender states.

They do not have a planned schedule, but are open to suggestions relating to the above mentioned issues.

Along with this effort, one of their goals is to look at these topics through a distinctive and authentic Christian worldview. They hope the conversations will take people across cultural context and into different issues, in order to explore diversity in all its forms. 

President Lewis wants to see the campus community come together and engage with rich ideas, history and literature to have conversations that explore different viewpoints.

“I think we can create something really beautiful at Houghton,” expresses President Lewis, “when we bring together our diverse community through a decidedly Christ-centered lens and consider the gift of diversity.” ★

Categories
Campus News

Professor John Rhett’s “Self-Evaluation”

By Kelsey Curtis ('27)

This October, Houghton’s Ortlip Art Gallery will host a retrospective exhibition of art by Professor John Rhett. The exhibition, titled “Self-Evaluation”, will open on Friday, Oct. 27, starting at 6 p.m., and feature a gallery talk with Rhett at 7 p.m. The reception will also offer an opportunity for students to earn Around the Table credit for their attendance. The exhibition will share select works from Rhett spanning nearly five decades in art.

Gallery Director, Professor Linda Knapp expressed her excitement for the show, praising Rhett as “such a gifted painter.” Knapp shares her love of Rhett’s perspectives illustrated in his paintings with Rhett’s long-time coworker and friend, Professor Ted Murphy. 

Murphy says he looks forward to seeing the progression of Rhett’s art and that it is valuable for students “to appreciate a painter’s evolution in skill, depth of ideas, experimentation, and maturity.”

Commenting on Rhett’s eye for subject matter, Murphy appreciates how he “paints the ordinary, banal landscape but finds great beauty in the edges and margins—parking lots, street lights, and roadway intersections.” 

Professor Rhett’s process of painting these ordinary landscapes contributes to their beauty as well. For many of his works, Rhett travels and paints what he sees, making an adventure out of his process. He says it forces him to “sit there and work until it is done.”

Murphy and Knapp expressed their gratitude for Rhett’s presence at Houghton and appreciate his contributions to the university.

Professor Rhett finds both professional and personal benefits in his exhibit. Rhett acknowledges that it celebrates his milestone of over 25 years with Houghton, and gives him a chance to reflect on his numerous years in art. Rhett says that although it was an “odd feeling to look back” it was valuable to see how he had progressed over his career.

He explained that looking back has helped him consider his failures and learn to move beyond pieces he hadn’t finished. Mentioning a river study he had done, Rhett realized even though he felt frustrated while painting it, he discovered the value of his work when he saw it apart from his reference. He found this as an example of, “getting out of your own way” and still being able to make something worthwhile.

Rhett drew attention to a set of smaller ink paintings he had done from photos. He recalls enjoying them and said, “Boy, I wish I could paint like that!” Even in his critical appraisal of many of his works, he is still able to appreciate successful moments in his creations.

Rhett will show work that has previously never been seen on display, as well as work from faculty shows over the years. He views his exhibition as a way to show more than just the curiosity and craft of a local art teacher. He believes that artists even in the smallest of communities, like Houghton, have the same integrity and skill as those found in large cities and the exhibition will mirror this idea.

“Self-Evaluation” will be in the Ortlip Gallery until Dec. 15, open Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ★

Categories
Opinions

Fresh in the Fall

By Grace Hall

Hey guys, my name is Grace Hall! I am excited to be the new freshman class representative! Thank you for voting for me and for giving me this opportunity. I am super excited to serve you guys in this way and I can’t wait to see what God has in store for our class. As your representative, I am happy to hear any suggestions you may have to help improve our class and campus. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me with any questions or concerns. 

A few things about me are that I love nature and creation. I believe we are very fortunate to live where we do. The beautiful sunsets and sunrises and the bright stars at night have always captivated my attention. I am looking forward to the leaves changing. Western New York is known for its beautiful colors in the Fall. I have lived in Portville, NY, my whole life, which is a little town 15 minutes from Olean. I love where I live and I am so thankful for the beauty of this campus. We truly are blessed to have such a gorgeous school. I am passionate about studying God’s Word and worshiping Him in every area of my life. I love music, singing, and playing the piano. I have four amazing brothers who I adore. We live on a farm and have lots of cute cows. I love tacos and iced coffee. I love chasing sunsets and stargazing. I am passionate about making sure others feel valued and seen. I care deeply about people and truly want to help you guys in any way I can. 

Coming to Houghton has been such a God thing. I am confident that the Lord has brought me to Houghton for such a time as this! I am majoring in Inclusive Childhood Education because I love working with kids and want to help them succeed in this life. My plan is to graduate in 2027 with my bachelors degree and hopefully jump right into teaching at a school. 

I hope to serve and represent our class with excellence. I am excited to plan events and get everyone involved. Above all, I will strive to bring glory to God in all that I do as the representative for the freshman class because that’s what we are called to do!

I am passionate about helping people and leading with confidence and integrity. In high school, I was involved in student council and really enjoyed leading in that way. I am aiming for organization and structure. I have had my fair share of dealing with conflict and resolution and I am devoted to helping out my classmates and making sure their voice is heard and that they feel seen. I have had some of my classmates already express event ideas that could bring our class together and encourage us to get to know one another, such asKaraoke nights, bible studies, and game nights! A goal of mine is to implement an in depth bible study that encourages others in their faith and where we can dig into the Word together. Transitioning into college is a huge change, and having some type of support group and encouragement can be very beneficial. Some leadership skills that are necessary to attain are honesty, kindness, and consistency. It is also very important to be good at communicating, which I am confident that I can do well. 

Being a member of the Student Council comes with a whole group of upperclassmen that I can come to with issues that I or my fellow classmates may have. It is so encouraging to know that I have the support from other class representatives and other members of the Student Council. 

What I want to do with my position is to make the freshman class the best it can be. I want to encourage others to ask for help when they need it and to be fearless in the face of adversity. Life is full of trials and tribulation but as Christians, we have a hope and His name is Jesus. We are called to share His name with others and I believe that being the class rep will allow me to encourage others to be bold in their faith and to keep on fighting the good fight. There are going to be struggles we encounter, but I know that with perseverance and prayer, God will lead us through every late night spent studying for that test and every bit of drama with that classmate you really don’t like. I never want to be outside of His will for me. I am praying that He will guide and lead me and I am praying the same for all of you. I am excited to see what God has planned for the freshman class. I am confident that He has good things in store. Plans to prosper us and to help us, plans to give us a hope and a future! He has always been faithful in the past and I am confident that He will be faithful now. What a loving and merciful God that we have. ★

Categories
Campus News

2023 Homecoming Events

Photo of previous homecoming dance - Courtesy of Rylee Archambault
By Juliana Schmidt

Homecoming takes place from Oct. 5 to Oct. 8 and is four days of community bonding, dancing, concerts and alumni returning to their alma mater. 

Every year, the Houghton community gathers together and celebrates with one another. Alumni look forward to homecoming because it is a chance for reunions and a weekend of different activities. For Houghton students, homecoming week allows the students to participate in Purple and Gold events, which are organized by the Campus Activities Board (CAB). Purple and Gold Week is a friendly competition between the students that involves gathering points by attending various events throughout the week and tallying the points up at the end to see which team wins. The students are divided into their respective teams by last names, effectively pitting friends against friends for the week.   

“I’m excited for P&G week this year, CAB has done a great job planning events throughout the week. It’s a fun tradition that adds some excitement to an otherwise busy time of year and reminds us to celebrate being at Houghton in little ways like being ‘purple’ or ‘gold.’ We hope to see lots of students come out!” writes Jana Newberry, the Director of Student Engagement. 

CAB planned, among many different events, the 80’s Funksplosion homecoming dance on Oct. 6, and SPOT: The 80s on Oct. 7. SPOT takes place in the chapel at 10 p.m. and is a time for the student body to let loose and have a few laughs while enjoying a variety of different comedy acts put on by their fellow peers.   

Junior Emma Ryan mentions that she has always liked homecoming, and it is one of her favorite parts of the semester.

“I look forward to homecoming every year,” Ryan comments. “Because it is a good chance to reconnect with my Gold group members every year and to take a break from homework.” 

 In addition, there are other events taking place on homecoming weekend, including the Collage Concert at 7:30 p.m. in the Wesley Chapel on Oct. 6, and the Equestrian Open House on Oct. 7 at 9:30 a.m. at the equestrian center.

Homecoming at Houghton is open for all ages, with a bouncy house, a parade that kids can ride their bikes in, and even a professional juggling and variety show at the Homecoming Parade & Festival on Saturday, Oct. 7. 

Senior Hannah Seow states that homecoming has always been very special to her and is excited for this year’s activities.

“Homecoming,” Seow says, “will always have a special place in my heart because that is where I met most of my friends. It is such an important community-building event that showcases the spirit of Houghton.” ★

Categories
Stories In Focus

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.” ★