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Club Highlight: Sigma Zeta Honor Society

By Josh Carpenter

For the fall 2022 semester at Houghton University, the Sigma Zeta National Honor Society is reaching out to diverse audiences as it turns the page to its new Beta Nu chapter. 

According to Sigma Zeta’s official website, “Sigma Zeta welcomes the formation of new campus chapters interested in furthering the purpose of the society as stated in the mission statement: a national undergraduate honor society to encourage and foster scholarly activity and recognize academic scholarship in the natural and computer sciences and mathematics.” 

         Senior Skye Chaapel, who is President of Sigma Zeta’s Beta Nu chapter, explains,“Beta Nu just indicates that this is the specific chapter of the national honor society, Sigma Zeta, here at Houghton University. It doesn’t have any other meaning outside of that.” 

This current chapter of Sigma Zeta adheres to the theme, “To make science more accessible for diverse audiences of all ages,” shares Chaapel.

To accomplish this, Skye hopes that Sigma Zeta members will share their love and appreciation for the math and science fields with others through celebrating days like Pi Day and Mole Day, also by putting on Lab Saturdays once a semester for high school students. 

Karen Torraca, Professor of Chemistry at Houghton University and Sigma Zeta’s faculty advisor, is encouraging the club this semester to participate in community outreach.  

Torraca writes, “I work with local Christian schools, homeschool groups and public high schools to invite high school students to come to campus for a Saturday afternoon of labs in chemistry, biology, and physics.” 

 Leading these labs are members of Sigma Zeta, who come to campus from 1 p.m.-4 p.m. on Saturdays. In her observation of them, Torraca writes, “[It’s] fun to watch the Sigma Zeta students interact with the high school students and vice versa. It’s a win-win for everyone.” 

To be eligible for Sigma Zeta, students must be a declared STEM major with a GPA of 3.0 or higher collectively in STEM classes and a 3.0 GPA or higher overall. Students are additionally required to have completed at least 25 credit hours, including 15 hours in the natural sciences or mathematics. If students meet these requirements, they will be selected based on all classes taken through the fall semester, then be invited to join Sigma Zeta during the spring semester after they pay a national membership fee of $35. 

Students who think they meet the requirements but were not contacted about joining the club should contact Dr. Karen Torraca, the chapter advisor. ★

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Freshman Thoughts: Life at Houghton

By Caleb Welker

Being a freshman here at Houghton has been quite the experience, to say the least.  These past eight weeks have had their fair share of highs and lows, but through all of it, I can say it’s been pretty fun.  When I came here, I found myself almost instantly pulled right into the community.  As a member of the baseball team at Houghton, I didn’t need to wait long to find people who I was going to be spending a lot of time with.  I remember walking up to Lambein Hall and being instantly greeted by Coach Reitnour and an upperclassman baseball player.  Being a student-athlete has already provided me with long days of practicing and class. I didn’t know how difficult it would be to balance my academic, social, and athletic life, but Houghton came to my aid very quickly.

In my first week of classes, I could already tell how much the professors cared. Their instant connection to us as students was evident in their opening lectures. Being at a school where the professors know you and truly want to help you succeed is an amazing thing that not many people get to experience. One of my favorite classes I have taken so far this year is Introduction to Communication Theory. I take this class with Professor Gaerte, who has made an 8 A.M class way more fun than it should be.  Although I dread waking up and dragging myself to the library to sit in class, I’ve always been drawn in quickly by him.  He also is a prime example of how much the professors here care, as he is constantly making conversation with me, whether it be about baseball or just how my day is going. He always seems to make an effort to talk to me.    

Being a member of the baseball team here has provided me with so many opportunities in the last eight weeks alone.  Team events have included meals together every day, trips to the weight room at six in the morning, and late night practices in the freezing cold. We have also participated in events such as sitting together, being very loud at volleyball games and working the Harvest Festival at Houghton Wesleyan Church.  Whatever you want to do, there’s someone there to do it with you.  After four weeks of practice, it felt very odd within the last few weeks not having to block practice out of my day, but I managed to figure some things out to make sure I wasn’t too bored.
With Houghton’s location, there’s not really a lot to do off-campus. First of all, before I got here, I got a job as the Women’s soccer team’s public address announcer and scoreboard operator. Throughout the season, I got to watch the team’s games, announce the goals and substitutions, keep track of the score and time on the board, and struggle to pronounce the names of the opposing teams’ players. I found myself becoming very invested in the success of the team throughout the season, at points having to contain myself after goals, remembering I have a job to do.  The job gave me experience in the field of athletics, and I got paid to watch a sport, so that was pretty cool.

Another connection that I have here at Houghton is through my family.  I don’t know if you have realized reading this yet, but I share a last name with the Opinions Editor of the Star. At first, I told everyone I wasn’t going to Houghton because I didn’t want to be at the same school as my older brother.  Obviously, my opinions changed because, well I’m here, but having a sibling at Houghton has given me another connection.  I was able to say hi to his friends and impress some other Freshmen by knowing upperclassmen.  Plus, it hasn’t been anything like what I thought it would be like, we aren’t right on top of each other. It’s cool to see a family member here as I do miss my family, but we really do have separate lives here, and we can spend time together, but it’s not like we’re home.

Other Freshmen and I have had different experiences. I know that I’ve helped some people by telling them the things I picked up about Houghton before I even came here from my brother, and I know of people whose experiences here have been quite different from mine. Many people here at Houghton have different experiences and can answer the question, “What does Houghton mean to you?” very differently.  I know people who aren’t athletes, who seem to be shocked when I tell them I had to wake up early for practice.  But those same people are there to listen to me, when I’m annoyed with a class, not that that ever happens, or just need somebody to talk to.  And that’s really what makes Houghton beautiful.  Sure we spend a lot of our time with different groups of people, but we truly all come together to make the Houghton family.

All in all, Houghton has already been amazing in the short time that I’ve been here.  The community here has shown me why the people I know who attended loved the school so much.  The small closeness of this campus and the community of students, faculty, and staff really have made my time here special and makes me look forward to the rest of my four years here. ★

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News

Houghton Welcomes Back Fall Productions With Little Women

By Victoria Hock

At 7 p.m. on November 3-5 in the Center for the Arts Recital Hall, Houghton University presents their production of Little Women. 

According to Music Theatre International, Little Women “follows the adventures of sisters, Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy March. Jo is trying to sell her stories for publication, but the publishers are not interested – her friend, Professor Bhaer, tells her that she has to do better and write more about what’s close to her. Begrudgingly taking this advice, Jo weaves the story of what she and her sisters experience growing up in Civil War America.”

Junior Lydia Rech, who portrays Beth March, noted that Little Women has been one of her “dream shows” for a while now, so she is excited for the opportunity to be in this production. 

Junior Josey Ikker, who plays the role of Amy March, was not as familiar with Little Women, explaining that she had “no knowledge of what Little Women was about.” However, she further remarked that she wanted to audition for any musical, and “Little Women was no different.”

Ikker and Rech also expressed their excitement about playing their respective characters. 

“Playing the role of Beth March is both fun and humbling,” Rech said. “Beth is a lot like me – she loves music, she often likes to work behind the scenes, and she wants to encourage and support those around her.”

Beth “inspires” Rech.“She is sweet and supportive even when it’s hard,” she said. “She is not perfect, but she always seeks to live in a way that is honoring to God.”

Ikker, on the other hand, initially found Amy a little “difficult to relate to.” She explained that Amy’s attitude was: “I just want this but my time might not come for a while, or if anything won’t ever come.” Amy tends to “follow society”, and that she grows to have a “proper side to herself.” 

Rehearsals consisted of a lot of learning and character development for both cast members.

“It feels like we are already locking things in during rehearsals – not just getting lines memorized or having all the choreography polished, but really bonding as a family,’” Rech said. “When I get onstage with Emily, Grace, and Josey, they really feel like my sisters.”

Ikker praised the learning experience that rehearsal has provided to her.

“I’ve received lots of incredible feedback on how I can develop my character,” she said.

Both Ikker and Rech encourage members of the Houghton community to come out and see the show. 

In addition to Ikker and Rech, the cast includes Master’s Student Ethan Carr, who will be playing John Brooke, Seniors Linette Taylor, Grace Dietrick, Emily Quick and Mikayla Bond, who will be portraying the roles of Marmee, Jo, Meg and Aunt March, respectively, Juniors Thomas Auld, who will be portraying Laurie, Cody Johnson, who will be playing the role of Professor Bhaer, and Christian Welker, who will be portraying the role of Grandpa Laurence.

“This show is going to be beautiful and such fun!” Rech exclaimed. “I wouldn’t be surprised if we fill up the recital hall each night. I am so excited! You won’t want to miss it!” Ikker expressed similar sentiments, using adjectives like “empowering” to describe the production. She further noted how she hopes people find that Little Women provides “inspiration” and “healing”. ★

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The Campus Garden

By Sophia Vernon

“These are my potatoes! Pretty much any potatoes that you have in Metz are mine,” said Emily Wahlenmayer, the student caretaker of the campus garden.

 Potatoes are just one type of produce that  Wahlenmayer,  grows for the dining hall.   

Wahlenmayer is a junior at Houghton who started as an eco-rep through the Center of Sustainability (CFS) before the summer of 2022. When given the opportunity to stay in Houghton over the summer as the garden intern,  she leaped into caring for the campus garden. 

“The garden has gotten a bad rap,” she comments, after explaining that for years it was never nurtured or cared for, and in turn never produced any crops of substance.  

For the past five months, however, with full decision-making authority over the campus garden, she has curated the garden into a thriving resource for the school. 

When asked about the beginning of the campus garden,  Wahlenmayer replied with, “[it was started] 4 years ago? 2018…. It’s first year was unproductive, second year was covid, third year was bad interns, fourth year [2022] was me.”

There are a vast array of crops grown in the garden, including  tomatoes, kale, three colors of beans, stunning carrots, pumpkins, zucchini, sunflowers, and more.. 

An assortment of the garden’s crops is used regularly in the dining hall and students have free access to all these resources. During a brief interview with the head of CFS, Brian Webb, he outlined the main goals that inspired the garden to be constructed, and the purpose of continuing the program. Webb expressed the three main goals of the garden as: (1) Providing local produce for the dining hall,(2) Educating students about the importance of local produce, sustainability, and the aspects of caring for a garden, and (3) Providing on campus jobs.

In interviewing a variety of students around campus, the majority have never visited the campus garden or fostered any interest in getting involved. Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors r had  deeper negative perspectives than freshmen due to the past reputation of the garden.

In addition to the previously unmanaged nature of the garden, students are hindered by the distance of walking from campus to the garden, which is located next to the college flats.When asked how it would be easier to get involved, sophomore Emily Tam said she would go “If there was a car to take me there. The flats are kind of far.”  

With the crest of winter upon us, the last of the harvests from this once neglected garden have come to a close after the most successful season to date. Looking forward, the Houghton campus garden welcomes students to take full advantage of what it has to offer – be it through learning, growing, or eating. ★

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Upcoming Internship Fair

By Sarah Burton

On Nov. 9-11, Houghton University will host an Internship Fair in the Van Dyk Lounge by the fireplace from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm each day.

The Center for Student Success will host the event, which was planned entirely by Rachel Wright, who is the Director of the Office of Vocation and Calling, and Associate Director of the Center for Student Success. 

Wright says, “in talking with Dr. Burrichter, it [the Fair] was a need that we needed.” 

Wright hopes that, by attending the Fair, “students can learn about different internship opportunities and can realize the process may need to start earlier than they were originally thinking.”

The Fair will consist of  various employers for  various majors, with about ten employers presenting each day.

 Wright discussed the diversity of employers, saying “there are some missions organizations, summer camps, as well as guidance centers, and nonprofits,” as well as some based more locally and others from across the United States.

The Fair will also offer a multitude of internships, including summer internships that will be held on Houghton’s campus. Wright also stressed the presence of job opportunities at the Fair, and not just internships.

Ashley Burton, a senior Biology major, spreads her hope about the Fair by stating, “As a graduating senior, I haven’t received a lot of information about jobs, mostly due to Covid-19, and I feel like this can provide me with [career] opportunities I may not have thought of.” 

Hannah Gullifer, a junior history major, thinks that the Fair is  “a great opportunity to look into the different opportunities that I can benefit from,” “Internships look great on a resume and can help to get jobs in the future[,] and can help me to grow as a person and someone in my field. They can be really exciting learning experiences.”  

The Internship Fair will offer students opportunities for experiences that can help them build on their professional expertise as eager learners. Houghton University is helping pave the way to send off successful graduates by offering resources like this.

   Students can register for the Fair on Handshake or the Houghton Hub to receive more information about the Fair, specifically which employers will be present each day, including some virtual events from employers and information sessions.

 Wright mentioned the importance of students utilizing Handshake beyond the Internship Fairby saying, “Students can use it for scheduling appointments with the Writing Center, Vocation and Calling, and Academic Support, as well as receiving resources and guides.” 

 After the Fair, more information about open internships can be found on Handshake. These internships would be with employers who were not able to make it to the fair. ★

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Alien (1979): A Horror Classic

By Caleb Tiedemann

“I admire its purity.” – Science Officer Ash

Alien is just that. Purity. Through and through, it is perfect. At this time in film history, space was a relatively unexplored concept. Stanley Kubrick’s film 2001: A Space Odyssey and George Lucas’s Star Wars were the only predecessors in the space genre. Horror in space had not been done. However, in 1979 Ridley Scott delivered Alien.

Alien is a horror classic that follows the crew of the Nostromo when they intercept a distress signal from a planet of unknown origin. Ordered by their superiors, the crew lands and begins to explore. When one of the crew is attacked by an unknown creature, he is quickly rushed back to the ship, unaware of the impregnation of a parasite that will explode from his body and terrorize the rest of the crew. 

The plot follows the typical “last survivor” trope. To be fair, this is a trope of the 2000s and not really of the 70s, which leads me to wonder if Alien had a hand in kickstarting that. One of the complaints I’ve heard before is that the movie is slow, and I completely agree. But that’s where some of the mastery comes into play. The calm before the storm, so to speak, lets each character be established so you can gather their general personality. That being said, all of these actors are wonderfully handpicked, and each manages to bring personality and genuine humanity to their characters, no matter how long or short they are on screen. Each character is wonderfully alive, until they aren’t, of course, but their journey of survival is one that you latch onto with the hope that your favorite will come out on top. 

Another beautiful aspect is the costume for the alien known as the Xenomorph. A hulking black skeletal creature that skulks around silently, blending into the darkness before lunging out to kill you with its dangerous appendages. The cinematic aspects are enormous. The sets and scenery are absolutely perfect. A dark and cluttered ship offers the perfect environment for anything to hide. The clutter adds a paranoid claustrophobic element, as there is truly no escape from the horror. The use of lighting in this movie is amazing. Darkness completely covers the sets which work another fear in the movie, a silent terror in the darkness. 

The lack of computer-generated imagery (CGI) is also something to be praised. In a world where a movie without CGI is unthinkable, it is always refreshing to view classics and learn how filmmakers used special effects to achieve their desires. The alien costume is horrifying and looks far superior in live action, whereas the later alien movies used CGI for the Xenomorphs and therefore lost some of its distinctiveness. The space scenes use models just as George Lucas did for early Star Wars and honestly, in its own special way, it stands far superior to many movies that do not. The combination of these elements works tremendously well for the movie. 

The final aspect that sets the movie aside is the sound design. Combined with the factors above, the sounds of the ship are a whole new addition. All of your senses are preoccupied with sounds, sights, or lack thereof. The score is a horrifyingly eerie one that builds up tension. Sometimes it’s all for nothing, other times it doesn’t build up well enough until you see the Xenomorph take another victim. The movie does a great job of keeping you guessing whether or not you’re genuinely in for a scare. 

Overall, Alien is a classic horror movie that is essential for any horror lover. A 1979 classic that embodies all the essential emotions and fears of a horror movie, sucking you into this nightmare with the crew of the Nostromo. I truly believe this movie is “pure” in all the right ways and offers an experience that few movies can. 

Final Grade: 10/10 (A+) ★

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Creative and Comfortable: Deitrick’s Approach to Fashion

By Megan Brown

While the first day of a new school year may mark a time for new classes and new friends, for senior theology and communications major Grace Deitrick, it marks a chance to express her truest self through her first-day-of-school outfit.

“Even from preschool,” she said. “I loved picking out my first-day-of-school outfit.”

As with many kids, Deitrick’s mom chose and purchased most of her clothes, and as she grew up, Deitrick began to discover what her own style was. At the end of high school, she found what went on to make the biggest impact on what she wears today: a local vintage store.

“I started shopping there more regularly,” she said. “And I was like, wow, look at how creative these [pieces] are. There’s so much history in each piece of clothing. And that really inspired me to develop my style more in college.”

While Deitrick spoke, she wore a creamy short sleeve button-down with a muted floral pattern, jeans, and black slip-on shoes. These types of clothes are representative of what she currently loves to wear, a style which she describes as “grandma living on the French Riviera.”

But what makes Deitrick’s choices unique is how she mixes the posh clothing choices of an older woman with a college-aged woman’s practicality. This grandma hasn’t only lived on the iconic Mediterranean coastline.

“But also she lived on a farm before she moved to the French Riviera,” Deitrick said, continuing her analogy. “So she’s got a little bit of that salt-of-the earth in her.”

This parallels Deitrick’s own life as she grew up in rural eastern Pennsylvania but traveled to London her freshman year for Houghton University’s London Honors program.

“Living in London for a little while almost gave me permission to branch out because I saw the full extent of the creativity,” she said. “Since I’ve been in college, I’ve spent more time in different cities. And I always get really excited to go to a city because I can wear whatever I want, and it won’t be the weirdest thing there.”

Deitrick prioritizes unique pieces that stand out, but she also prioritizes comfort. This has been an essential aspect of her clothing choices since she was young because she has always been an active person.

“I’ve always been just throwing myself wholeheartedly into what I do,” she said. “And so that usually results in some kind of stain or rip.”

However, for women, fashion has not always been about practicality. In a recent book study, Deitrick explained how a section discussed how women’s clothing has historically been decorative whereas men’s was functional. She noticed this subconsciously, but facing it plainly written in a book put words to cues she didn’t know she had been observing.

“I don’t think how you do fashion is limited by your gender,” she said. “It shouldn’t be weird for a guy to wear a bracelet or a necklace, and it shouldn’t be weird for a girl to wear what makes her comfortable.”

The clothing that makes Deitrick comfortable is “ratty old button-downs,” blazers, dresses, and statement earrings. While some of these might seem in contrast with one another on paper, it all makes sense to Deitrick and helps her express what is to her the ultimate aspect of fashion: creativity.

“It’s really exciting to have an area of my life that I can just release all the creative energy that I want to, and it doesn’t take that much time out of my day,” she said.

College mars our schedules with homework, extracurriculars, and social events, and makes it difficult to find areas of pure joy. That’s why, for Deitrick, the task of getting dressed in the morning feels so special.

“This is the theology major in me coming out, I think it’s really cool that God puts these little glimpses of beauty that we can find every single day,” she said. “And we can just find joy in the way that something looks.” ★

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Don’t Check Out of Inconvenient Community

By Isabelle Murch

Let’s get the air cleared: I said it. I said our favorite-and-also-least-favorite Houghton word, the one that we love to hate on, but can never find a suitable replacement for. For better or worse, community has become our defining word, printed on Pres. Mullen t-shirts, made into memes, and always followed by a laugh. 

Community is a harmless word when it’s easy. And it’s great when it benefits us. It’s not hard to invest our time into late-night adventures or deep conversations. It becomes much harder to be a pro-community place when that community is inconvenient to us, interrupting our goals or daily life. 

Some of my favorite stories about Jesus happen when he’s interrupted. In fact, I’m not sure how often Jesus actually gets to where he’s going. Someone always seems to demand his attention. A bleeding woman grabs his cloak. A Roman Centurion begs for his daughter to be healed. A blind man shouts at him from the side of the road. Christ’s ministry revolves around inconvenient people. 

But how often do we let Christ’s example shape how we view those around us? Addressing inconvenience isn’t easy, and the busyness of homework, internal and environmental stress, and our personal preferences often take precedence over investing in our community. We remove ourselves from difficult conversations, avoid people we find annoying, and check out of gatherings that don’t suit our purpose.  

What’s at stake when we don’t put forth effort? If we look to Christ’s example, I’d say a lot. Think of the Gospel of Matthew, when disciples rebuke parents for bringing their children to Jesus. Instead of standing by his closest friends, Jesus says to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Not only does Christ disagree with his friends, he posits that the children, an undervalued population in ancient Judea, will inherit God’s kingdom. This suggests that “the least of these” are not only an acceptable but integral and important part of God’s vision for God’s people. 

Jesus seeks out everyone: groups with radical and uncomfortable ideas, exploiters and oppressors, women, disabled people, oppressed racial groups, legalistic religious leaders, blue-collar workers, doubters and worriers and children. The kingdom of God isn’t homogeneous by any stretch of the imagination, and when we act as if the ones worthy of our love and attention are the ones easiest for us to love, we are missing the point. We need to engage with those we find inconvenient and to realize that many times, we are the inconvenience. 

In our annual All Hall Meeting, Resident Director Raegan Zelaya likes to make the distinction between a “Renting” versus an “Owning” Mentality. When we live in the residence halls, we can act as if our space is not ours, treating it as temporary and of low value. We don’t care, and we don’t need to. As an owner, though, we carry responsibility. We have to deal with leaks and pests. But, our experience is much richer. We get to carry the pride of our work and care and hold authority in the spaces we’re in. In the same way, we can look at our communities through the lens of a renter or owner. We can rent our time at Houghton, staying away from difficult community while missing out on the joys that a full kingdom of God brings, or we could own our inconveniences, raising the stakes but greatly increasing our return on investment. 

How can we practice this? I think all of us can participate in owning our Houghton community. First, we must identify who and what we find “inconvenient.” It might be a person whom we find a little awkward, a group we strongly disagree with, or an experience like chapel or class. Naming and understanding our tendencies can help us identify our biases and learn to combat them. Second, we need to lean in rather than check out. There are plenty of ways we can do this, from being intentional with everyone who crosses our path to putting our phones away during a chapel service. Third, we can work to not only change our behaviors but also our attitudes toward inconvenient people. Interruptions can become opportunities to share Christ’s love, and inconveniences can turn into practices of patience and extending grace to others. 

While community lands like a joke to most of our ears, it’s also our most important task during our time on campus. We can choose to check in and out, like a hotel that’s not ours to keep, or we can invest in a home worth having. ★

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Shenoween Returns and with a New Name

By Gabriel K. Negus

There are not many times in the year when you could bump into a Jedi or a pirate in Houghton.  On Halloween, though, anything is possible.  How do Houghton students celebrate Halloween?  By going to Shenoween, of course!

Named in part for Houghton University’s well-known and currently unused Shenawana Hall, Shenoween is a decade-long Halloween tradition for students at the university. Typically hosted by the residents of Shenawana, the party takes place each year on the evening of October 31 in the dormitory’s basement. Shenoween traditionally features a costume contest, photo opportunities, and an ample supply of the Shen Men’s definitive beverage: IBC Root Beer. Unfortunately, however, due to ongoing renovations in Shenawana Hall, this year’s Shenoween will need – at least temporarily – a new home.

Jared Younger, a resident assistant in Lambein Hall, expressed his hope that Lambein will host the party this year and call it, “Lambeween.” But since then, the name has been changed to “Frankenbein.”

Younger thinks that the novelty of the location change may even bolster attendance, which suffered in COVID years. Lambein has partnered with the Campus Activities board (CAB) to bring in some fresh ideas for the event this year. CAB member Hannah Tyer, named by the board as the ‘Halloween Point Person,’ is tasked with planning this year’s event alongside the Lambein staff.

Tyer’s plans respect the origin of the event by featuring some past staples of the Shenoween party, including the plentiful presence of IBC Root Beer and the popular best costume competition. She also plans to bring in some of the Halloween activities which CAB led during the COVID years of 2020 and 2021, most notably the haunted trail walk. According to Tyer,  how the haunted trail walk might be incorporated into this year’s party is  undecided. Younger discussed the possibility of turning the dormitory’s second floor into a haunted house walkthrough where attendees could go for a thorough scare.  

According to Tyer, holding the party outdoors in the Larder Courtyard is  possible.  Having the event outside would make it easier to facilitate the large crowd of students expected to attend, though due to the routinely chilly October weather here in Western New York, holding the party inside Lambein may be a warmer option.

Whatever it may look like this year, excitement for the party is building in the student body now that it is October. Upperclassmen especially, who attended the party before the COVID pandemic, have experienced memories of Shenoween in its ‘glory days’ flooding back to them in anticipation of this year’s event. Though disappointed that the party is not likely to be held in Shenawana Hall this year, senior Micah Williams is very eager to attend. Williams has fond memories of the 2019 Shenoween, in the fall of his freshman year of college. He attended the party with a group of friends and experienced the costume competition, photo opportunities, mountains of candy, and IBC root beer.

“I had a lot of fun,” Williams said. “There are probably some hilarious pictures of that night somewhere.”

When asked the big question – what his plans are for a costume this year and whether he stands a chance in the competition – Williams responded, “Oh, not a chance I win best costume.  I want to go as Obi Wan Kenobi, but if that falls through, who knows?” ★

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Splash, Swim, Skate: Houghton University’s Newest Student Organizations

by Anna Catherman

Tuesday nights at Nielsen look livelier than they have in recent semesters. Outside, skateboarders and roller skaters zip around the parking lot. Inside, kayakers splash and practice rolling their boats in the pool. 

They are the members of Skate Club and Paddle Sports, which are two of the four new clubs on campus this semester. Houghton University has more than 20 active student organizations this fall. New to the roster are Skate Club, Paddle Sports, The Roaring Sheep (Ultimate Frisbee), and Sports Marketing Group.

Paddle Sports took a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the closure of the Nielsen swimming pool; however, under the guidance of the director of EPIC Adventures, Dr. Laura Thayer, senior Natalie Sommons is reviving the club. 

Sommons said she was inspired to revive the club after going on a whitewater kayak trip at Rushford Lake over the summer as part of her summer internship with EPIC Adventures. 

According to Sommons, the club has drawn people who aren’t the “outdoorsy” type that the Sports, Recreation and Wellness department usually caters to. 

An average of eight to nine students attend the club’s weekly practice sessions. These nights are open to anyone and serve as both an educational and social event. 

Another club for active outdoor enthusiasts, Skate Club is a brand-new addition to campus. According to Sophomore Caleb See, the club’s founder, “All kinds of wheels except bicycles” are welcome at the club’s open skate nights. 

There were already many people on campus who wanted to skate, See explained, and the club allows them to gather officially and signals to new students that there is a skater community on campus. The club has a group chat that members use to coordinate additional, informal skating sessions. 

Skate Club is eager to teach those who want to learn and is in the process of purchasing loaner skateboards and helmets, which will be available for any student to borrow during club meetings. 

Those interested in team sports may be intrigued to learn that Ultimate Frisbee, a longstanding Houghton tradition, also gained club status this fall. Its members are known as “The Roaring Sheep,” for reasons lost to time. 

According to club president Benjamin Dostie, a senior, Ultimate Frisbee has existed since the early 2000s, but did not become a club until this year due to the students’ desire to foster the spontaneous nature of the activity. This year, though, the attitudes shifted, and Frisbee players voted to pursue club status to gain funding for jerseys, equipment, and access to more Houghton facilities.

Jana Newberry, Director of Student Engagement, has been instrumental in helping these clubs become fully-sanctioned student organizations. If things go according to plan, more new and revived clubs will be joining their ranks. 

According to Newberry, there has been talk of reviving the Martial Arts club, another casualty of the pandemic. Lacrosse, which is no longer an officially sanctioned university sport, is in the process of becoming a club as well.

When asked to pitch their clubs to students, Sommons, Dotsie, and See all responded enthusiastically. 

“College can provide a lot of new experiences,” Sommons said. “[Paddle sports is] a rare opportunity…to learn those kind[s] of skills.”

She noted students have called the pool sessions their “therapy.” 

Dotsie noted via email, “Ultimate Frisbee is a great way to relieve stress through physical activity…We have a welcoming team and even those with little to no experience are able to participate meaningfully in the game.”

See responded more simply but no less passionately: “It’s a real rad time.” ★