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• Calvin Wire: April 15, 2008

• Academic advising for fall semester 2008: April 22 and 23
• Political Science Career Day: April 23
• Talking Points: April 2008 issue available online
• Blood Drive: April 29 - May 1
• Spring exam treat: order deadline is May 1
• Important dates for exams and Commencement 2008: May 8-17
• Purchase a Prism Yearbook for your Calvin student
• Student Health 101: April issues now available
• Student Life events at Calvin
• Calvin Distinctive #4: Promising Futures

• Calvin Sports: Upcoming athletic events
• Concert Calendar: April, early May
• 5K Spring Classic Run/Walk & Fun Run: April 26
• Calvin Alumni Choir in Chicagoland: April 26 & 27
• Glenn Bulthuis & the Tonedeafs: May 2-3
• Engineering Senior Design Night: May 3
• Calvin Around Town: Grand Rapids Ballet - May 6
• Art Installation at the Bunker Interpretive Center - May 14
• Breakfast for Parents of Graduates: May 17
  

• Cal Thomas Lecture for April 21 is Cancelled
• Lecture: God, Israel, and the Future of the Nations in Biblical Perspective - April 23
• Nursing Seminar: April 24
• Inner Compass: Stand if Able: Disability and the Church - April 27
• Conference: Philosophy and Liturgy Conference - May 20-22
• Summer Conferences, Workshops & Seminars
  

Academic advising for fall semester 2008: April 22 and 23

All first-year, sophomore, and junior students have been informed that they must make an appointment with an academic advisor to plan a selection of courses for the 2008 fall semester. Advising will be done by faculty members in their offices on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 22 and 23. Classes normally scheduled for Tuesdays and Wednesdays will not meet on these dates. Students can access additional information about the spring registration process on the Office of Academic Services Web site.

Political Science Career Day: April 23

What Can I Do With A Political Science Major? On Wednesday, April 23, all are invited to hear alums of Calvin's Political Science Department talk about how they put their degree to good use. Alums, their current professions, and times for meeting with interested students are as follows:
•  Virginia Parish Beard, Professor and African Studies Researcher - DeVos 120 @ 10:00 am
•  Matt VandeBunte, News Reporter for Grand Rapids Press - DeVos 120 @ 11:00 am
•  Pam Hoekwater, Attorney for Legal Aid of West Michigan - DeVos 130 @ 11:45 am
•  Mark Lemoine, Government Affairs Director at Spectrum Health - DeVos 120 @ 12:00 pm
•  Chad Goote, Associate Political Director for All Children Matter - DeVos 130 @12:30 pm
•  Keith Van Beek, Deputy City Administrator for the City of Kentwood - DeVos 120 @ 1:00 pm
Sponsored by the Political Science Department and Pi Sigma Alpha.


Talking Points: April 2008 issue available online

Talking Points, a monthly newsletter, was launched to keep the Calvin community and stakeholders abreast of the activities of the Office for Multicultural Affairs and to provide "talking points" about the campus' progress toward becoming a campus that is anti-racist, multicultural, accountable, and reconciling. Each issue highlights components of FEN (From Every Nation), an important governance document of the college which articulates Calvin's vision, goals and strategies for transforming Calvin into a college that is always vigilant in recognizing racism, always conscientious in promoting reconciliation, and always active in the work of restoring a healthy multicultural community. For additional information visit the Multicultural Affairs Web site.

Blood Drive: April 29 - May 1

Calvin College, in conjunction with Michigan Community Blood Centers, is sponsoring a blood drive next week on April 29, 30 and May 1 in the Chapel Undercroft. Donors are welcome to drop in any time between 11:00 am - 6:00 pm, or may sign up for a specific time slot (and avoid waiting in line) in the Service Learning Center office (Commons Annex).

Spring exam treat: order deadline is May 1

Help your hard-working student jump-start spring exams with your vote of confidence! The Spring Exam Treat ($15) features a box filled with study snacks (popcorn, candy, granola bars, etc.) and study supplies (bluebook, pens, and pencils). The order deadline for this treat is Thursday, May 1; the treat will be delivered to students on Tuesday, May 6. Remember that you can also surprise your student with the popular "Pizza and a Movie" treat, which can be ordered anytime and often! This treat features a certificate for a large two-topping pizza, a bag of popcorn, and a Blockbuster® gift card!

Important dates for exams and Commencement 2008: May 8-17

Here are some important dates to note in conjunction with the end of the spring semester, exams, and Commencement:
•  Thursday, May 8: Last day of classes (Friday class schedule in effect)
•  Friday, May 9: Reading Recess (no classes)
•  Saturday, May 10: Exams begin at 9:00 am
•  Thursday, May 15: Exams end at 10:00 pm
•  Friday, May 16: Residence halls and Knollcrest East apartments close at 10:00 am. Residents must move out of on-campus housing 24 hours after their last exam. Students with Thursday exams, or those with special permission, may remain in the halls or KE apartments over Thursday evening, May 15. Students with questions or concerns should see their RD.
•  Thursday-Saturday, May 15-17: Commencement activities
•  Friday, May 16: Residence hall lodging available for parents and families of graduates after 3:00 pm
•  Saturday, May 17: Commencement Ceremony at 2:00 pm at Van Andel Arena; tickets required

Purchase a Prism Yearbook for your Calvin student

How often do you dust off your high school or college yearbook to look up old friends or maybe someone you ran just ran into? You probably don't remember how much you bought your book for, because to you it's priceless! Prism, Calvin's yearbook, is the only publication that captures the spirit of an entire year at Calvin College. Your student will look up past classmates, remember the professors that inspired them, relive the big game moments, and read copy written by students, staff, and professors across campus about life at Calvin College in 2008.

The book's price is $30, or $34 if shipping is needed. For your convenience and purchasing peace of mind, the book is now available for purchase through the Calvin Campus Store Web site. The deadline for purchasing books has been extended to May 17; books will be released in the fall.

Read a history of the Prism as featured in a recent Spark article: "Prism: A Colorful Reflection."

Student Health 101: April issues now available

Calvin students and parents now have access to Student Health 101, a monthly newsletter designed for both students and parents who are concerned with health issues affecting college students today. Topics addressed might include unhealthy diet and nutrition, depression, anxiety, fatigue, cold, flu and contagious diseases. By offering this publication we hope to better promote wellness within the Calvin community. Each month there will be two newsletters, one for students and one for parents:
•  Student Health 101
•  The Parent Perspective
The Parent Perspective provides a short summary of the content of the Student Health 101 newsletter.

++ Tickets are available from the Calvin Box Office, 616-526-6282.

5K Spring Classic Run/Walk & Fun Run: April 26

Calvin parents, families and friends are invited to participate in the 5K Spring Classic on Saturday, April 26. In past years several out-of-state families participated and made a fun family weekend of this annual event! There is a 5K Run/Walk scheduled to begin at 8:30 am. A Family Fun Run for kids ages 12 and under (and anyone else who wants to join in the fun) is scheduled for 9:15 am, immediately following the Run/Walk. All kids 12 & under that register for the Fun Run will receive a race t-shirt, race number and runner packet. All ages are welcome to participate, so bring your mom, dad, grandma and grandpa! And, when your fun run is over, there will be prizes and cash give-a-ways (held this year in the Prince Conference Center) for all registered race participants. For more information visit the 5K Spring Classic Web site.

Calvin Alumni Choir in Chicagoland: April 26 & 27

The Calvin Alumni Choir, under the direction of Pearl Shangkuan, will provide two fine concerts for alumni, family and friends in the greater Chicago area:

•  The music of Stephen Paulus, "You Shall Have a Song" - Saturday, April 26 at 8 pm at Bethel Christian Reformed Church, 3500 Glenwood-Lansing Rd., Lansing, Illinois. Free admission; an offering will be taken for the Chicagoland/NW Indiana Chapter Scholarship Fund. Reception following.

•  "Go Where I Send Thee," the music of Paul Caldwell and Sean Ivory '92 - Sunday, April 27 at 5 pm at First United Methodist Church, 516 Church St., Evanston, Illinois. Tickets for the Sunday concert are $18. Call the Youth Choral Theater of Chicago at 847-535-9873.

For more information, visit the Alumni Choir Web site or call 1-877-526-2276.

Glenn Bulthuis & the Tonedeafs: May 2-3

Glenn Bulthuis, a 1977 Calvin grad and "Calvin Rock-n-Roll Icon" for the past thirty years, will perform with his band, the Tonedeafs, at the historic Ladies Literary Club (61 Sheldon SE) in downtown Grand Rapids on May 2 and 3. Show times are at 8:00 pm on both nights. These shows are billed as "CD Release Parties" for the upcoming "Greatest Hits" CD that will be coming out this spring. Glenn sprinkles numerous "Calvin songs" throughout his concerts. Tickets are available through the Calvin Box Office, 616-526-6282. To learn more about this event and Glenn and his band, visit the Glenn Bulthuis Home Page..

Engineering Senior Design Night: May 3

The 24th annual Senior Design Banquet & Projects Night for engineering graduates and their family and friends will be held on Saturday, May 3. Punch bowl and prototype viewing begins at 4:30 pm, dinner is served at 6:00, and the 16 design teams will present their projects from 7:30-9:00 p.m. Come to see the results from design teams "Cooling Calvin Cleanly," "Recumbent Hydraulic Bicycle," "Cambodianfinity" and 13 others! Tickets are required for the dinner; additional details are available on the engineering department Web site.


Calvin Around Town: Grand Rapids Ballet - May 6

The Calvin Alumni Association Grand Rapids Area Chapter will host its next edition of Calvin Around Town at the Meijer-Royce Center for Dance and the Peter Martin Wege Theatre, 341 Ellsworth SW in Grand Rapids, with the Grand Rapids Ballet Company. Ellen Van't Hof, assistant professor of dance at Calvin, will give an update about the college's offerings in this area. Laura Schwenk-Berman, GRBC associate artistic director, and company dancers will present a brief oral history of ballet and a short demonstration class explaining ballet technique. You are cordially invited to attend. The event will take place from 6:30-9:00 pm on Tuesday evening, May 6. The fee is $20 per person and includes an hors d'oeuvre and dessert buffet. For additional information call 616-526-6142 or visit the Calvin Around Town Web site.

Art Installation at the Bunker Interpretive Center - May 14

Everyone is invited to attend an art installation reception and view a series of painting and quilts titled " Delight in God's Creation." These painting and quilts will be on permanent display in the hallway of the Bunker Interpretive Center. Please save the date of May 14 from 7:00 - 9:00 pm to attend this delightful event.

Breakfast for Parents of Graduates: May 17

Come and celebrate with us! Join President Byker, student-selected "2007 Professor of the Year" Dr. Joy Bonnema, and other Calvin administrators for this special Commencement event on Saturday, May 17 from 9:00-10:30 am in the Prince Conference Center. Tickets are $15 per person and can be purchased from the Calvin Box Office at 616-526-6282. Seating is limited to the first 300 parents who place their order. Tickets for this event will not be sold after May 12, 2008. (Note: During this event the graduates will be participating in the annual Senior Brunch held in the Commons Dining Hall).

Nursing Seminar: April 24

The next Nursing Seminar will be held on Thursday, April 24 from noon to 1:00 pm in room SB 010. Our speaker will be Nesibu Kebeda, Director of Yezelalem Minch (Everlasting Spring) Orphan Program in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Nesibu and his wife Birtukan, started an orphan program with the assistance of two women from the Rehoboth CRC, Jayne Morrison and Jan Arrowsmith. "Providing Hope to Children devastated by AIDS in Africa" is the title of the presentation as Nesibu shares the impacts of HIV in Ethiopia and how we can positively contribute to the needs of orphans in Ethiopia.

Inner Compass: Stand if Able: Disability and the Church - April 27

If the Church is the "body" of Christ, then church members function as its distinct yet complementary parts. When those roles aren't obvious, how can we help each other find them? Christopher Smit of the Calvin communication department explores with host Karen Saupe how churches can progress beyond installing ramps to fully embracing the unique roles of the disabled.

Inner Compass is a Calvin-produced television show that explores how people make decisions regarding ethical, religious, and social justice issues. Inner Compass typically airs in western Michigan on PBS station WGVU-TV on Sunday afternoons at 1:00 pm: Grand Rapids (channel 35/cable channel 6) and Kalamazoo (channel 52). Two full seasons of episodes are also downloadable in video or audio from the Inner Compass Web site. Each Wednesday the latest program is added (or, each Monday on iTunes, podcasts section).

Conference: Philosophy and Liturgy Conference - May 20-22

The renaissance in philosophy of religion has engendered sustained philosophical reflection on a number of key aspects of theology, but there has been a notable paucity of philosophical engagement with a central aspect of religious practice: worship and liturgy. This conference brings together leading scholars in philosophy and theology to investigate key themes in worship with the tools of philosophy, with the ultimate goal of informing practice. There is also the reciprocal goal of letting liturgical practice become a fund for philosophical reflection on classic questions and themes. The conference will thus stage a reciprocal encounter between philosophy and liturgy, with the goal of generating a liturgical philosophy, and a philosophically-informed liturgy. The office of Seminars in Christian Scholarship invites you to attend the Philosophy and Liturgy: Ritual, Practice, and Embodied Wisdom conference. This conference will be hosted by James K. A. Smith, John Witvliet and Nicholas Wolterstorff and will be May 20-22 at the Prince Conference Center.

Summer Conferences, Workshops & Seminars

The summer months at Calvin are busy with many activities and events, including a sizable offering of conferences, workshops and seminars. Here is a sampling of many of these upcoming summer events:
•  Christian Hymnody in Historical Perspective - June 23-July 3. Co-sponsored by the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship Funded by the Lilly Endowment, Inc.
•  Congregations and Religious Diversity in Contemporary America - June 23-July 18. Co-sponsored by the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship Funded by the Lilly Endowment, Inc.
•  Imaginative Reading for Creative Preaching - July 7-18. Funded by the Center for Excellence in Preaching at Calvin Theological Seminary
•  Being Muslim in the United States - July 14-August 1. Funded by The Louisville Institute and Seminars in Christian Scholarship at Calvin College
•  Teaching and Learning as Spiritual Disciplines - July 21-25. Funded by the Kuyers Institute for Christian Teaching and Learning at Calvin College and the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship
•  From Text to Sermon - July 21-25. Funded by the Center for Excellence in Preaching at Calvin Theological Seminary

Please visit our Web site for description and application information. Call Marilyn or Mary at 526-8558 or e-mail seminars@calvin.edu with any questions.

Calvin-Parents, published by the Calvin Office of Parent Relations, is an e-mail newsletter published for parents, grandparents and family members of Calvin students. To subscribe, unsubscribe, or change delivery to a different e-mail address send an e-mail message to parents@calvin.edu, call 616-526-6094, or follow the directions posted on the Calvin-Parents Web site. Click here to access archived issues of Calvin-Parents.

. E-mail Jim Van Wingerden, Calvin Parent Relations Director | 616-526-6094