Monday, October 29, 2007
The new horizon of Romania
GRAND RAPIDS, U.S. - A new horizon on Romanian civil society has come into view among Romanian youth, according to New Horizon intern Andrew VanStee.
Andrew VanStee, an International Development Studies senior, returned this fall from his semester-long internship in Romania, and, on October 18 in the North Hall, described to an eager crowd the revolutionary programming of New Horizon in “one of the most politically apathetic regions” of post-communist Romania. According to VanStee, Lupeni in the Jui Valley is a city of coal mines, corruption, and a deep desire for community.
In an attempt to work against the corruption, the vision of New Horizon is to develop the role of youth in keeping their government accountable by seeking a stronger civil society because youth are the most open to change and the building of trust. The programs include summer camps for teenagers with emphasis on “IMPACT”, focused activities based on involvement, motivation, participation, action, community, and youth as well as service learning on three levels: direct service, indirect service, and activism.
According to VanStee, the sense of responsibility for the community, such as ownership and civic engagement, are a change from the “social atomization” apparent in Romania in the past. And the youth are the perfect generation to build up the foundation of civil society for the future. The ongoing corruption and lack of sustainable job opportunities in Romania have led to a common goal of the youth: “to leave the country, go to Western Europe, and work.”
Furthermore, the “[ethical values of] the majority of Romanian youth is that it’s a good thing to cheat and get ahead.” And, with the accepted normalcy of corruption nationwide, cheating toward individual success is not restricted.
On a larger scale, in democratic Romania the socialist parties’ means to gain power include preventative attempts to restrict the growth of civil society. For employees in an industry such as coal mining, an industry that requires trust in one another no matter what the socioeconomic status or ethnicity, socialist leaders in the past have successfully broken down the cohesion of workers. Attendee Roland Hoksbergen brought up an ongoing example that by sending trouble-makers such as thieves or liars to regions such as Lupeni, socialist leaders attempt to decrease the trust of miners among themselves, breaking up the growing alliance of workers.
Therefore, in such an underpowered civil society, New Horizon hopes to inspire youth by going against the grain. New Horizon plans to “bond the group” and “bridge out to the community”, supporting and empowering the youth to stand up with a belief that a difference can be made through their communal activism in a developing democracy. Through their teamwork, they will together learn to hold accountable the government and other societal leaders regarding issues at hand.
In a diverse group of attendees from Calvin and beyond, there was a large representation of students planning on going to Romania this coming January interim, eager to learn more in preparation for their travels.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Politics Meets Fashion
Thursday’s style section included an overview of presidential hopefuls’ campaign gear. The suggested that the gear each candidate is selling “can reveal more than a candidate’s face” offering insight into the kind of constituency each is targeting.
According to the article, Barack Obama and Rudolph Giuliani are providing the most fashion forward gear that will appeal to a younger crowd. I sort of wonder whether the reporter bothered to back that up by asking any younger constituents. Now, I may be a sage and slightly less than hip 22, but I think I can still speak to the relative coolness of the candidates’ campain gear. I checked out the stores for Obama and Giuliani, the candidates that the article claims have the “most extensive, fashion-conscious and youthful gear.” My response was a resounding “meh.” Translated, that means I didn’t see anything I would pay money for unless I really felt strongly about a candidate.
The article also noted that two candidates, Obama and Clinton are offering merchandise for the price of $20.08. Mitt Romney is selling foam mitts emblazoned with his campaign logo.
The end of the article pointed out that the one unwritten requirement for all candidate gear is that it be made in the U.S.
Two candidates, Joe Biden Jr., and Duncan Hunter aren’t selling any gear. A political consultant quoted in the article had this to say: “Gear is really for the converted, not to convert.” My reaction to the candidate’s campaign gear seems to support that opinion. You never know though: maybe if someone comes along with really cute logo-ed shoes…
Friday, October 26, 2007
Knights 4 life
This is the first draft of my 2nd article. It isn’t finished, but will be shortly!
The Student Alumni Association, or better known as Knights 4 Life, is getting its year started off right with yet another successful sophomore dinner.
The dinner took place on October18, in which over 500 people attended. “The Knights 4 Life dinner is to remind students that they are now considered alumni and we want to thank them for coming to Calvin College,” said Norm Zylstra the coordinator of Student and Young Alumni Programs, “We want to make students feel comfortable by building a sense of home.”
The dinner is set in more of a “party” atmosphere, welcoming all sophomores and other campus organizations to have a good time and enjoy a meal together. “It is a big event because the entire alumni board is there, the cokes and clubs organizations are there to promote student organizations and most of the sophomore class shows,” said Zylstra.
The dining services prepare a special meal of almost all the students’ favorites; including circle pizzas, French fries and an ice cream bar complete with a variety of toppings. There are also give-aways of canvas chairs, two liters of Pepsi, the Prism and K4L t-shirts.
“The Alumni Office sponsored the t-shirts and the Alumni and Student Life offices split the cost of the Prism so that sophomores were able to receive these for free,” said Zylstra. It is very important for these organizations to give the students these gifts because as Zylstra said, “[they] want people to keep remembering their experiences at Calvin.”
Besides all the prizes and games, the sophomore night is set up for fellowship among class members. “I took this position so I would be able to have a mutual relationship with the college, and through these events it allows a multitude of campus committees and leaders, along with students, to get involved,” said Zylstra.
The Knights 4 Life has many other events planned for the rest of the year, including events for other classes. Keep your eyes open for upcoming events or refer to the Knights 4 Life postcard in which students should have received in the mail.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Godspell
this is just the beginning of my 2nd news story. its nothing more than an outline really.
The Calvin Theatre Company is putting on the play Godspell in a week.
Godspell the musical was wrote in 1970 by John-Michael Tebelak and opened off-Broadway in 1971.
The plot centers around Jesus and the New Testament. The various parables of Jesus are acted out in sequence.
How the Christian community at Calvin reacts to the portrayal of Jesus and his disciples by the CTC remains to be seen. The CTC has had a skewered record lately with a poor review of the play “the lady is not for burning” being published by the Chimes. However, that review did not sit well with the actors.
This is an unusual role for the veteran student actors in the CTC, such as Tony Terpstra.
The students have been working hard on this production since the beginning of the semester, and are excited to see the fruits of their labor. The tickets have been selling fast, and some of the nights it will be showing are nearly sold out already, despite the fact that it is still a few weeks out.
Dave Leugs has been the interim head of the CTC this semester, and this will be the first production he has led.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Lions off to good start
For those who really have no care about professional sports whatsoever, I would advise you to stop reading. For those who are interested however, you may find this interesting.
I’ve been holding back but I have to acknowledge the recent success of the Detroit Lions.
As you may or may not know, the Lions, who are in the National Football League, have been the laughing stock of the NFL for some time. They have not won a Superbowl, haven’t been over the .500 win-loss mark since 2000, and haven’t made the playoffs since 1999. After past years averaging a record of about 5-11, the Lions, like every year, had reasonable hype coming into this year. Something freakish is happening at this point in the season, however.
The Lions have “potential” and “talent” every year, drawing the fans into thinking positively until the season actually starts. This year, though, they are finally producing. With a victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this Sunday, the Lions moved their record to 4-2 overall. This is the only the 6th time since 1978 that they have started this well.
Whether or not you are a fan of the NFL or even the Lions, I urge you to at least keep an eye on this team if you pay any attention to football. They might do something special.
Microsoft Invests in Facebook
Today Microsoft reached a deal with Facebook that gives them the rights to 1.6% stock in the company, according to the New York Times. The agreement cost Microsoft $240 Million, making Facebook valued at $15 Billion.
As part of the deal, Microsoft will sell banner ads appearing on Facebook outside of the United States, splitting the revenue with it.
Google and Yahoo were apparently also jockeying with Microsoft for the deal involving the 3-year old Facebook.
I find this to be completely insane, to begin. As stated, Facebook, which was created at Harvard by Mark Zuckerberg, is now valued at around $15 billion. A website, a cyberspace area that is not even concrete or can be physically touched, is worth 500,000 times more than a year of tuition at Calvin.
I’m not sure that anyone could honestly see this coming. With technology and the internet working hand in hand over the last ten years, we have websites all over the world that seem to increase dramatically in value with one good idea.
This is not similar to any type of company that makes any type of product. The product here is social networking, whatever that means. Simply by having users access their websites, companies that own the domain names for websites can make astounding amounts of money. The banner ads are obviously what brings in the cash, and of course Microsoft, Google and Yahoo thinkers are all on board with the idea. Low maintinence costs and an almost infinite amount of room for expansion make sites like Facebook and Myspace very attractive for almost anyone to invest in. I suppose my only actual point is to identify what we ignore every day. Think about how many times per week you access Facebook. If you’re typical, and I’m stretching it here; you’ll probably be around 10 times a week. For Facebook, then, its as if you’re shopping at their store every day. Most of the world’s businesses have converted to internet and websites, and dot-com businesses are popping up everywhere. I guess I’m just amazed at such a great idea that, in Facebook’s case, was created by a college dropout.
Golf Team searches for Funds
It seems that the construction on Calvin’s campus has turned into an obstruction for the Calvin Men’s Golf Team.
In previous years, the team, coached by Brian Bolt, raised money for their spring break trip through being paid to direct traffic and parking at Calvin home basketball games.
“Basically, we just tell the people where to go if they have a season tickets pass,” notes sophomore player Jon Kuiper.
With the parking lots now non-existent, the golf team has been left with a new task of finding funding.
“With the parking job, we would only have to pay around $100-200 for the trip. If we can’t figure out another way, it will probably be double that number for this year,” Kuiper added.
Calvin’s coach, Brian Bolt, hopes that there will be some initiative from the team to find other sources of funding.
“There are many other means of fundraising for a team to focus on. Candy bar sales, concessions and other activities could all be sources,” said Bolt.
Although it doesn’t appear to be a desperate situation, it is pressing, as the golf team’s trip will be this March. Bolt will have to decided whether or not to fly to Florida, where the team will play.
“Depending on how much we think we can raise, we will have to make a decision,” he said.
The golf team has 9 members, 7 of which will be going on the trip this spring. Calvin already has a budget set aside for the team, but the extra costs are what the players pay for. Bolt will make a decision within the next month.
The team finished 6th in the MIAA this year, and hopes to improve as a young team with vast potential.
“We’ve only got one player older than 19, so I think we’ll be alright,” said a positive Kuiper. “I know we’ll improve.”
The construction will be over by 2008, but the golf team isn’t sure if they will return to their original fundraising activities as parkers. They hope to find another source by the time the trip arrives.
Saturday, October 20, 2007
The Pursuit of Happyness-A Success Story
The Multicultural Student Development Office of Calvin College concluded its annual Unlearn Week with a complimentary viewing of “The Pursuit of Happyness.” On Friday, October 12, 2007, many students showed up to watch the movie that followed with a discussion about the struggles minorities face when aiming to achieve success.
During the second week of October, the MSDO plans many events, activities, discussions, lectures and chapels all focused on unlearning the false ideas and beliefs of the different cultures within our society, helping to promote anti-racism and diversity.
Unlike most movies, the lights, makeup, and pretend didn’t make “The Pursuit of Happyness” a triumph. Instead, it was the portrayal of a real life story that left a permanent mark on the way people view the struggle and success of minorities. After watching the movie for a first time and for some even a second time, students admitted that the movie did indeed release them from believing some stereotypes. Amanda Marcotte, a sophomore at Calvin College, said “I came to watch the movie with a mindset ready to unlearn. So often we watch movies never realizing the underlining point. It’s so easy for us to not recognize the problems that we face within our society because we don’t pay close attention, but it’s definitely there when you look for it. It’s there when you look close enough.”
Although Calvin College promotes diversity, its Unlearn Week definitely helps students to understand the importance of anti-racism. However, stereotypes are still relevant no matter what school a person attends or what job a person obtains. Marcus Burgin, a senior at Calvin College said that “stereotypes differ from case to case. A lot of times, minorities won’t get hired because of appearance. As in the movie, some people don’t have good suits. They don’t have cars and they often take part in ‘get rich quick’ schemes. Some companies don’t hire qualified minorities because they think that they’re selfish or lazy, while other companies will hire a qualified or even less qualified minority because they want their company to be diversified.” Many people believe that racism doesn’t exist anymore. They believe that it’s more or less a thing of the past. “Some people are disadvantaged because the people of power have the authority to base decisions on race if they so choose,” said Burgin. “The Pursuit of Happyness,” made in 2006, shows people that even today racism still influences success.
CVN goes global
YouTube gives CVN global audience
By COURTNEY HEXHAM
Chimes Assistant News Editor
GRAND RAPIDS--Last week, the new Calvin Video Network (CVN) talk show Calvin Tonight, which debuted Monday, October 8th at 10:00 p.m., went global on YouTube the next morning.
Having just broadcast its second run of the 60-minute show, Tonight’s YouTube site has attracted 488 hits and 13 subscribers (as of press time) since it first appeared on October 6th.
“I wanted to see if we could just do it first,” said junior Mike Rohlfing, the show’s creator and director, in an interview this Tuesday morning. “Make an episode and see how it goes and go from there.”
The media production major continued to say that CVN wants Calvin Tonight “to shine lights on parts of Calvin people don’t know about.”
Junior Charles Breiner, who worked on sound for Tonight’s second show, agreed.
The show does this in the form of a late-night talk show complete with a live band, live audience, witty host, short sketches, and special guests such as Knollcrest Music Corner’s own Ron Trapp and Chaplain Andy DeJong.
When asked whether or not they have seen any of CVN’s new show, many on-campus students replied with that they only saw a minute or two, if any at all. Those who had seen it, however, said that the show is funny and has potential.
“I’ve gotten mostly positive feedback,” said Rohlfing. “I mean, it’s going to take a while to get people in the groove and fired up.”
Junior Aaron Cole-Rouser, an RA on second VanderWerp, mentioned that a few guys on his floor watched the show. He too found some of the show to be funny, but he said that some of it was “a little dry” as “the humor can only go so far.”
The larger-scale production is still in its infancy.
“[We] showed [the] second episode last night and it went better than the first,” Rohlfing said. “We’re still in the preliminary stages of the next show.”
Both Rohlfing and Breiner have high hopes for the show, which they plan to broadcast on a three week cycle—once a week for two week and then skipping a week—on CVN channel 4. The show can also be seen anytime thanks to CVN’s new YouTube page.
“It would be great if it is something that could go on for a while even after I graduate,” said Rohlfing. “But right now, we’ll see if its something we can do for the rest of the semester.”
Criminal Activity of Campus
Campus Safety released a report Tuesday that a criminally charged student would be transferred from protective custody to the custody of the Grand Rapids Police Department.
A first-year Calvin Theological Seminary student, Fredy Chen, has been suspended from Seminary and issued a no-trespassing order from Calvin after violating Calvin student conduct policy and Michigan state law.
24 year-old Chen has been charged with possession of marijuana, possession of methamphetamine, and purchase of a firearm without a license.
In the 61st District Court yesterday, a pre-adjudication hearing was held under Judge Micheal Christensen with appointed public attorney John Pyriski defending. Chen pleaded not guilty to charges of purchase of a firearm without a license. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for October 26.
Campus Safety has an Emergency Response Plan in place for when such incidents happen. It indicates that students are encouraged to assist in keeping the campus safe by contacting Campus Safety by 3-3333 on any on campus phone or 616-526-3333.
Information such as what is happening, location, description of parties involved, license numbers and vehicle descriptions, and type of weapon involved is requested and witnesses are asked to stay on the line until an officer arrives.
For further protection, Campus Safety advises not to physically confront a suspicious person and not let anyone into a locked or card-accessed building or room.
Chen resided in Calvin Seminary’s Batchawana apartments located near 28th Street and Kalamazoo Avenue where his illegal activity was observed. Police arrested Chen there on October 3 where Chen was placed on $230 bond. Residents of the Batchawana apartments are asked to call 911 if any suspicious activity related to the incident occurs.
Campus Safety, in its alert bulletin, viewed the presence of Chen on either campus as “unlikely” as his custody changes.
Urban Beat Comes to Loft
The heady pulse of the city stems from a distinctive urban heartbeat: hip-hop.
Sunday night this beat came to LOFT paired with a message of Spirit-driven exchange that calls for a full smackdown restoration originating from the heart of the city.
Trevor Rubingh, pastor of New City Kids’ Church of Jersey City, New Jersey, invigorated worshippers with a message of “great exchange,” proclaiming the “year of the Lord’s favor” described in Isaiah 61 and calling students to “Rebuild the ancient ruins / and restore the places long devastated,” to “renew the ruined cities / that have been devastated for generations.”
This “year of the Lord’s favor” that both Isaiah and later Jesus proclaim involves the people exchanging their sorrow, pain, and despair for “a crown of beauty,” “the oil of gladness,” and “a garment of praise.” It reverses the destructive throb of the city by turning it into a life-giving rhythm.
Rubingh’s passionate message was accompanied by the raw, high-impact medium of hip-hop dance; the dance, choreographed by Calvin students Eunbee Cho and Erika Faasen, was intended to connect Calvin students to the heart of the city.
But did Calvin students receive the message--or were they hesitant because of an unconventional worship medium?
Since its beginning in New York City in the 1970s, hip-hop culture has absorbed many negative traits; the air surrounding this culture is thick with gang violence, joblessness and poverty, drug running, crime, rape and rage, sexism, and racism.
New City Kids’ Church, a performance arts-based after school program, aims to get Jersey City kids off the streets and out of this destructive environment--without taking away the cultural flavor they know and love.
Cho says that though the hip-hop culture is riddled with destruction, the dance and music can be used in a positive, worshipful way. But because of its negative reputation, many students, professors, pastors, and church members may be skeptical about using the medium of hip-hop in a worship setting.
Freshman student Bethany Sanders enjoyed the LOFT performance, but thought it didn’t necessarily belong in a church service setting; instead, it could be used among urban youth as a possible “catalyst for conversation” about faith.
Sophomore Corrine Junga was intrigued by the dance’s message of pain, suffering, and ultimate renewal, but also agreed hip-hop would be difficult to integrate in congregational worship.
Some Calvin students said that the powerful impact of hip-hop dance communicated the message effectively, realistically, and passionately in a way other worship media could never have done.
With its intimate tie to urban youth, Christians can’t ignore its rich possibility for drawing in a church population whose leadership is imperative for the restoration of our cities--the kind of restoration described in Isaiah 61.
Rubingh’s New City Kids’ Church operates on a principle of empowering kids as leaders of Jersey City; as city dwellers, they best know how the city needs to be restored. In the same way, Cho, Faasen, and the dance group pointed the Calvin community to what hip-hop can accomplish as an integral part of the urban community, passionately renewing the city from its core.
Calvin’s worship theology says that we intend to make creative use of many forms of worship “from many times, places, peoples, and cultures to enlarge our vision of God’s kingdom, and situate ourselves properly within it.” Calvin students come from many backgrounds, and worship at college “[aims] to reflect that diversity in our worship too.”
By engaging the urban youth and their distinctive flavor, Calvin can sketch a new dimension for worship and actively pursue the year of the Lord’s favor in the city.
Friday, October 19, 2007
Family Weekend-Sponsored by Parent Relations
Family Weekend is coming to Calvin on October 18-20. The Parent Relations office is sponsoring this event. This is a weekend designed for families to visit their student, who have now settled into life on campus. Numerous events will be happening to build community between families and give them the opportunity to meet the other students on campus in their son or daughter’s lives.
“Meet your student’s roommate and friends, visit classes, enjoy concerts and shows and wander through the lovely 90-acre nature preserve. Talk with other Calvin parents, your student’s RA and RD, and Calvin faculty members.”(Calvin’s Parent Website)
The Parent Relations department on campus dedicated to keeping them informed throughout the semester. The office is under the direction of Mr. Jim Van Wingerden. It’s this office that communicates the most to our parents. Parents receive a newsletter, the Parent Connection, twice a year, along with a guide entitled “Ten Ways to Participate in the Calvin Experience”. “On Mondays, a weekly newsletter is emailed by me to about 4,000 parents. And all get the information on Family Weekend,” said Van Wingerden.
Family weekend is all about parents experiencing Calvin through the eyes of their students. It’s about showing them favorite places on campus, introducing them to friends and allowing them to see what students do daily.
The first event for parents and siblings is the opportunity to sit in on Friday’s classes- a complete schedule of all Friday classes has been listed alphabetically by course department and name on the parent website. Parents can meet professors, experience a college class and younger siblings see the lectures and homework given in college.
There are also special lectures being held for parents to attend. One of them is about Facebook, an online site students use to communicate and stay connected with friends both on campus and off campus. Rick Zomer, associate dean of Residence Life and Kyle Sandison, a Calvin senior, will lead this discussion. “The discussion was done at the faculty and staff conference. Parents know about Facebook from their sons and daughters, but don’t know what it really is,” said Van Wingerden.
On Friday evening, at 5:00p.m. there is the traditional family banquet in the Great Room of the Prince Conference Center. This event does require tickets and its popularity makes it a sold out event. “This year we added 120 seats by extending the venue to include the Willow Room, yet I still have parents wanting tickets,” said Van Wingerden. This year’s meal will be served to guests, an upgrade from last years buffet. Tables are assigned but requests to sit with another family are allowed. A total of nine prizes, either blankets or bleacher cushions will be raffled off, via table numbers.
One of the largest crowds gathers for the Calvin Improv show. “The event draws a lot of people, about 320 attended last year,” said Van Wingerden. This is very amusing and perfect for families who enjoy laughing and live entertainment. It involves the performance art of short scenes that are completely improvised. The members have no scripts or memorized lines, yet it’s pure comedy. Everything is made up on the spot; the audience gives suggestions like locations, objects, occupations, or lines of dialog, which are used to generate the scenes. This event is also popular enough to sell out both its shows. The fun will start on Friday and Saturday at 9:00p.m.
Another event happening on campus will be the Fall Music Festival. The proceeds from this event provide scholarships for music students. The concert, performed on Friday and Saturday, includes three parts. In part one, the Campus Choir will perform, along with the Handbell Ensemble, and the Lyric Singers. Tiffany Engle will direct the Calvin Band’s in Yasuhide Ito’s Festal Scenes at the conclusion of the section. In part two, Debussy’s Quartet in G minor will be performed by a string quartet. Also scheduled to perform is Calvin’s Knollcrest Band, the Jazz Band and the Calvin Women’s Chorale. In part three, Gospel Choir, with the Calvin Orchestra will start the finale. The Men’s Chorale, Flute Choir, the Capella and the Calvin Orchestra, will follow with performances.
The fun won’t be over until desert is served. Friday evening there is the fabulous ice cream social hosted by Residence Life staff in Johnny’s Café. Saturday’s special desert will be Root Beer Floats.
To the Student Body, brace yourselves for families wandering campus, get ready to meet your roommate’s parents and be prepared for a weekend of fun with your families.
Godspell Returns to the Calvin Stage
Twenty five years after its first appearance at Calvin College, Godspell returns to the stage. The musical by Stephen Schwartz follows the life of Jesus Christ according to the Gospel of Matthew, beginning with his baptism and ending with his crucifixion.
In a storytelling fashion, the audience follows Christ’s story and parables through music and pantomime somewhat similarly to Jesus Christ Superstar, another religiously based musical from the early 1970s.
However, Godspell is significantly different from Jesus Christ Superstar say cast and crew members. The dialogue is directly quoted from Matthew and each song comes from the Episcopal Hymnal, making it seem more true to Christianity than many people take from the other production.
Cast and crew members have their opinions about the controversy in the play. “Twenty five years ago, they [audiences] thought it was sacrilegious,” said Assistant Stage Manager Rita Feikema.
She and cast members Laura Cooke, Ashley Mulder and Chris Rozenboom went on to explain that among other questionable things, followers of Jesus donned clown make-up when choosing to be his disciples which was an unclear and offensive interpretation for some Christian audiences.
In Calvin’s production, cast members will not dress as clowns, a change easily accepted with the lack of direction in the original script. “Directors have a lot of freedom with this musical. There is no definite cast, no designed set,” said Mulder.
“Any controversy is in the interpretation” replied Cooke. Even though the words come from the Bible, the director’s and actors’ physical interpretation are where theological debate enters the scene.
There were difficulties among cast and crew on how to act out scenes from 1st century Palestine in a modern Grand Rapids setting. Particularly Jesus’ physical actions when explaining his parables and the Lord’s Supper were difficult to organize, mentioned Feikema.
The crucifixion was another tough scene to set. The finale of the show will not take place on an electric fence as it was in the original production, but with a fresh interpretation, one that will be kept a secret by cast and crew until the actual performance.
“There are hints to the resurrection… but the main theme is the community formed around Jesus, and the love, hope and compassion for one another that continues on among that community even after Jesus is gone,” Mulder emphasized.
Despite arguments on theological soundness, Calvin’s rendition of Godspell should be an exciting one. The set is the largest that current Calvin Theatre Company members have ever seen, taking up the entire stage in order to accommodate the 14 member cast and the live band that joins them.
As previously mentioned, the play takes place in modern Grand Rapids which is shown on stage by including actual photographs of the city as the backdrops and characters that are recognizable stereotypes from the G.R. area, some based on actual people seen at the Farmers Market.
Debra Freeberg, professor of Theatre and Communication, is directing the production. Professor Freeberg has directed many plays at Calvin including most recently The Lady’s Not for Burning, American Musical Theatre History Review, As You Like It and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.
Godspell will be performed in the Gezon Auditorium November 1-3 and November 7-10 at 8pm. Tickets will also be available for the October 31 dress rehearsal for a reduced price. Tickets may be purchased at the box office or at the door, but buying early is the best way to ensure saving your place for this much anticipated performance.
Oct 31 Dress Rehearsal $10 & $5 (students) General Admission
$14.00 Weds – Thurs
$15.00 Fri – Sat
$7.00 Students
Images of Ghana
“An opportunity to experience the country, culture and communities of this West African nation” is a restricting description because the “Family and Forest: Images of Contemporary Ghana” art exhibit at the 106 South Division gallery offers so much more.
David A. Hoekema, a professor of Philosophy at Calvin College, has chosen to display a collection of photographs he took while leading students in Ghana. “In these images, taken during two extended periods of residence as Director of the Calvin College Study in Ghana program, I hope to convey something of the strength and resourcefulness of a society that honors its past even while living intensely in the present,” said Hoekema.
The assortments of photos give us a taste of the differences between the Ghanaian people and Americans. “In the faces, the festivals and even the fabrics of contemporary Ghana, I found a spirit of mutuality and interdependence far removed from the individualist patterns of North American life,” said Hoekema.
The photos contain a wide variety, including pictures of the people, festivals and the cities which offer a preview of this beautiful society. “Each picture has a symbolic meaning whether it reflects their religion, society, music or rituals,” said Lisa Ahrendt, an art history major at Calvin, in response to viewing the gallery.
One particular photo that stuck out was the “Door of No Return,” a gate that the slaves exited through before they were shipped to various countries. The picture was of a pale stone bridge that created a “door” between two buildings and the background was of beautiful blue waters. “It looks too pure to be something so evil,” observed Emily Thomas, an art student at Calvin.
In response to a photograph of a young student laughing, Ahrendt commented “This photograph is one of my favorites because it shows you that there is still a sense of hope in Africa. Africa hasn’t been mentioned in the news enough and this is a reason it should be.”
Although these photographs cannot convey all of the sounds that accompany the scenes, they allow us to capture something so wonderful and exciting that is happening across the globe.
“My photographer’s eye was drawn to the people and the events that embody this dance in which all – even visitors – are invited to participate,” said Hoekema, “The people are so welcoming and genuine and they have a very strong sense of what ties communities together.”
The gallery will be hosting “Family and Forest: Images of Contemporary Ghana” until Oct. 19 at the 106 South Division gallery. If you are interested in purchasing a photograph, contact Professor
Multi-sensory French class reaches out to students in a different way
Core classes are the backbone of any liberal arts education, so what happens when those core classes cause anxiety, fear and worry in students who struggle in class?
For most students the core classes are just that: core classes. They don’t have to think or really worry about what they pick because “it doesn’t really matter anyway.”
Professor Irene Konyndyke of the French department offers a foreign language core class for students who struggle to learn a language in a traditional way. The Multi-sensory French class works in much the same way as a regular language class, with a few notable exceptions.
For class eligibility students have to go through a series of interviews and a referral form from a previous language professor or from the SAS office. Students then take a Modern Language Aptitude Test (MLAT) which measures their aptitude at learning foreign languages.
Students who took the MLAT felt that it wasn’t applicable to them or show them how easily they can learn another language, most felt it was a waste of time.
The class is a full year program with class in the fall, during Interim and in spring semester. Students are taught through repetition, high structure and a multi-sensory approach at learning words and grammar; the pace and content of the class is measured carefully with students’ other classes and course load.
This multi-sensory approach involves both written, visual and aural senses as well as the occasional full body motion—“I’ll sometimes have students write a word out very big, and then with their non-dominant hand trace the word out and saying it aloud. In this way students get the aural, visual and tactile sensory input and associate it with that word.”
Professor Konyndyke explains that she uses a traditional grading method as for other classes, but students have the option to correct their homework and hand it in again.
This French class is very similar to regular language courses because students learn the language’s culture and the nature of the language, much like any other class in the foreign language department.
The only noticeable difference is the pace of the class; students earn culture points, do projects and write journals describing their progress over the course of the semester.
Writing weekly journal entries is something that most students of foreign language do not do, but Professor Konyndyke feels it is key to the students’ learning – “The journal entries really let the professor know how we were doing every week,” said senior Tim Graff, “If a lot of us were struggling we would go over it again in class in a different way.”
Multi-sensory French, says Konyndyke, is important for self-esteem and for the whole person; choral response is used in lieu of a single student answering a question.
Professor Konyndyke said that her goal is to teach students who struggle because she knows the importance of succeeding and doing well in school.