In addition, students have opportunity to attend athletic events, lectures, several on-campus film festivals, a 24 hour fashion show, and “Rink and Roll,” an all-campus ice-skating event at Rosa Parks Circle in downtown Grand Rapids.  Read more. 


Weblogs for off-campus January Interim programs

This month a record-breaking number of 551 Calvin students are participating in 32 Interim courses taught at off-campus locations. Many of these Interim course locations are outside of the U.S., including Venice, Ecuador, London, Germany, Kenya, Greece, South Africa, the Netherlands, Cambodia, Mexico, Australia, Jamaica, Panama, Tanzania, Guatemala, Switzerland, and Belize. A few of these programs are maintaining a blog (weblog) highlighting events and featuring photos of the group’s activities. 
•  Business and Engineering Interim in Europe
•  Dutch Landscapes Interim
•  South Africa Interim
These blogs can also be accessed from the Calvin Weblog site.


Author visits Calvin prior to CTC’s production of Dead Man Walking

In the memoir of her spiritual journey with a death row inmate,  Sister Helen Prejean raised the issue of capital punishment in the U.S. to a new level of national consciousness. When Dead Man Walking was turned into a movie, written and directed by Tim Robbins, and starring Susan Sarandon and Sean Penn, the story of Matthew Poncelet touched millions, and the debate intensified. The Calvin Theatre Company will present Dead Man Walking, Robbins’ adaptation of Prejean’s book for the stage, on February 1-3 and February 8-10.  The director, cast and Calvin community had a rare opportunity on January 11 to meet with Sister Helen when she visited Calvin College to lecture about her story and her continuing journey to fight the death penalty.  Read more about Prejean’s visit on the Media Relations Web site.  Tickets for the CTC production of Dead Man Walking can be ordered from the Calvin Box Office at 616-526-6282.


There’s still time to encourage someone apply to Calvin

Although Calvin Admissions has received a record number of applications, there is still time to encourage qualified applicants (relatives, church family, neighbors, and friends) to apply to Calvin for fall 2007. Applicants may use the convenient, online application--the online application fee is only $35. Please forward the following URL, along with an encouraging word, to any prospective students who should be considering the benefits of a Calvin education. http://www.calvin.edu/apply


Calvin Intervarsity Chapter to host missions fair in February

In February, the Calvin chapter of Intervarsity Mission Fellowship will host an array of missions organizations at the annual Missions Fair. The idea behind the fair, which will be held from 9 am to 4 pm on February 6-7, is to showcase the many forms mission work takes today, and the many opportunities these missions present for students. “It’s easy to think of missionaries as full-time,” says senior Melody Joachim, co-leader of the Intervarsity leadership team at Calvin, “but there are so many opportunities for people our age to go even for a summer or a couple of years. This fair is a good way for them to learn about it and a good way to know about which organization might fit them. It’s also an opportunity to see how God’s working in the world and see many people who are committed to serving the Lord and serving others.”  Read more. 


Calvin Symposium on Worship: January 25-27

The Calvin Institute of Christian Worship and the Center for Excellence in Preaching warmly invite you to attend the Calvin Symposium on Worship, January 25-27, 2007. The Calvin Symposium on Worship seeks the deepening and integration of all aspects of worship. As worshipers, we concentrate on our specific interests and gifts in seminars and workshops, and experience their integration into the full mission of worship as we gather for the Symposium’s worship services. In interdisciplinary and ecumenical conversations, we ask searching questions, exchange dilemmas, encourage each other. We leave with a renewed commitment to the full ministry of the church. Online registrations will be accepted through January 19; after that date participants must register in person at the Symposium.


Homecoming 2007: Center Stage features alumni musicians

Homecoming 2007, set for February 9-10, features a variety of activities as alumni and friends are welcomed back to campus.  The latest addition to the line-up is “Homecoming Center Stage” featuring alumni in The David Molinari Band and The New Midwest, along with student group Ben and Bruno.  In addition, Chimes alumni gather to celebrate 100 years of Calvin’s student newspaper, and the Calvin Alumni Association marks their centennial with a gala dinner on Saturday evening.  Other Homecoming highlights include the annual Airband contest, exciting Calvin basketball, concerts, plays, luncheons, and dinners. Be sure to order your Homecoming 2007 tickets online today.
Calvin Distinctive #3: Spirited Community

Calvin’s thoughtful Christian community strengthens heart, soul, mind and body. Calvin students, faculty and staff value the task of serving God together through intellectual exploration, spirited interaction, worship and work. At Calvin there is an emphasis on applying discernment to learning. Across the curriculum, students and faculty analyze all aspects of culture and respond to God's call to make all things new. This begins with Calvin's first-year student program, which includes a series of classes called Prelude and an Interim class called Developing a Christian Mind.  These courses provide new students with a framework for building a worldview - a framework of faith that supports their entire Calvin education. Read more.