By Megan Brown
On a bitterly cold Friday afternoon in late January, while most students were heading back to their residences or leaving campus for the weekend, I trudged up Roth hill on my way to an event occurring on the third floor of the Chamberlain building: the Center for Sustainability Open House.
As I entered this cozy room in Chamberlain, decorated with recycled paper chains handcrafted by Mary Chichester (‘22), an intern at the Center for Sustainability (CFS), I was greeted by a room full of people playing an environmentally-themed game of Kahoot, eating cookies, and getting to know each other. Both the space and the people were welcoming. The large windows revealed a bright and beautiful winter scene outside, framed with a variety of plants perched on the windowsill. In the corner, a bookshelf was full of a range of items, from an impressive collection of literature about sustainability and social change to Russian nesting dolls. Music gently played in the background. The room not only serves as an office for the Center for Sustainability but also provides a delightful hangout space for students and interns alike. It additionally serves as the office for Brian Webb, who heads the CFS.
When I asked what he loves most about his job working on issues of sustainability on campus, Webb remarked “I love Houghton students, getting to work with them, and building connections with them, both in and out of the classroom.” He acknowledged the many difficult challenges that our planet is facing, but noted that “the passion our students have for sustainability and protecting God’s creation gives me hope for the future.”
The first CFS intern with whom I engaged in conversation was Clayton Hardiman (‘22), clad in his signature ball cap and sipping a steaming cup of hot chocolate. He encouraged me to help myself to the array of snacks being served, and he even offered me a bottle of local honey. On the down low, he also invited me to take one of the mugs that the coffee and other hot beverages were being served in. Hardiman serves as the Garden Coordinator for the CFS, a position that he noted mainly consists of planning during the winter months. When asked about what the CFS means to him, he shared that the CFS “brings the issue of ecological care and creation into a Christian perspective.”
After chatting with some other interns and students attending the open house, eating some delicious cookies, and drinking a hot cup of coffee, I left the CFS with a complimentary bottle of honey and a smile hiding behind my mask. Next time you’re on the third floor of the Chamberlain Center, I encourage you to also stop by to visit the fine people at the CFS. You can sit down to parooze a book about environmental issues, have a meaningful conversation about sustainability with people who are well-versed on the subject, and perhaps have a spot of tea. ★
This year, professor Lori Huth will lead a cohort of Houghton faculty and students, which includes professor Linda Mills Woolsey, professor Stephen Woolsey, and professor Laurie Dashnau, as well as eight students from the English and Writing Department. This gathering provides a way for young authors to receive expert feedback regarding their work, as well as a way for faculty to hone their own composition skills while further developing their philosophy of writing instruction.
Naomi Woolsey, a Houghton graduate of 2010, has been practicing ceramics in Houghton College’s studio for over 5 years. She did not major in art, but has felt a love for creating ever since she was a child. “Some of my first memories are of playing in the creek here at Houghton when I’d visit my grandparents,” said Woolsey, “I’d make tiny pots out of the creek clay.” She paused, laughing softly, “Things have really come full circle.”
Goodenow works as a full-time custodian and her jurisdiction includes guest housing – usually the college flats – the library and half of the Center for the Arts building. Each custodian has their own building(s) and they hire student workers within their areas. Custodians are “supposed to have a daily schedule” she says, but when student workers don’t show up they have to cover their work. According to Goodenow “when things come up, we do them”.