Calvin Alumni Association - Calvin Wire Newsletter

Turning tightropes into bridges

Talking about science and creationism can be like walking on a tightrope from one side of the Grand Canyon to the other. Geology professor Ralph Stearley partnered with his colleague and longtime mentor, geology emeritus Davis Young, to revise a book about the Bible and the age of the earth that turns that tightrope into more of a bridge.

Cardboard Canoe Contest a splashing success

What happens when you give some old boxes, a few trash bags and a roll of duct tape to Calvin students? You get the annual Cardboard Canoe Contest organized by Calvin's American Society of Civil Engineers. See how things went on that beautiful Saturday in September at Calvin.

Family Weekend: October 23-25, 2008

Family Weekend is Thursday through Saturday, October 23-25, 2008. Ticket orders (for the banquet, Improv show and Fall Music Festival) may be submitted online. Many of the ticketed events for that weekend are sold out so check the schedule of events for the most recent information. If you are not planning to attend the banquet or any of the ticketed events, you do not need to register ahead of time, but please check in at the Parent Oasis tent or one of the residence hall desks upon arrival to sign in and pick up a Family Weekend schedule and map. Please refer to the Family Weekend site as the best and most up-to-date source for current program information, including Family Weekend sectionals.

Chaplain Search 2008

At Calvin our chaplain serves in a variety of theological and pastoral functions, working primarily for the faith formation of students, but with some attention to the needs of our staff and faculty. After the recent retirement of our long-term chaplain, Dale Cooper, the college has been reflecting on the nature of Christian formation on campus. Find out what those are, as well as what the search criteria is, on the Chaplain Search 2008 site.

Off-campus programs offer enrichment and education

"I was scared to death to go, but I knew I wouldn't regret it!" As many students, like the one quoted, prepare to go off-campus for a semester or even just for an interim class, there are many resources for them on the off-campus programs site to prepare them. Visit this site to see photos from places all over the world (like Thailand -- pictured at right, Honduras, Washington D.C., Spain...) and read blogs from past trips of a variety of student experiences.

Integrated Science Research Institute

Calvin College is launching a new science institute funded by a $1.1 million grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Calvin's Integrated Science Research Institute (ISRI) is being created in recognition of the current trend in the sciences to work across traditional disciplinary boundaries. Calvin is one of 48 institutions nationwide to receive one of these grants. campus image