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Hydrofracking

The Basics of Hydraulic Fracturing: Two Students Give a Brief Report on the Energy Extraction Proces

by Bekah Hall and Andrea Pacheco

Hydraulic fracturing, or hydro-fracking, is a process used to extract natural gasses from the rock underground. Within parts of New York State, as well as Pennsylvania and several other states, lies the Marcellus Shale formation. While fracking has already begun in Pennsylvania, New York State officials are still in the process of deciding when and if fracking will be allowed within state borders. In order to understand the process of fracking, as well as how it is affecting residents who live near the process, Andrea Pacheco, junior, and Bekah Hall, senior, went to Wellsboro, Pennsylvania -- where fracking has already begun -- for a small journalism project. This short article is a very brief overview of the fracking process and what is involved. All photos were taking in Wellsboro. Full story

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Senior Show

Tomorrow: Senior Art Opening

by Hannah Jennings

The annual Senior Art Exhibition will have its opening reception in the Ortlip Gallery tomorrow. The exhibit, a culmination of four years’ worth of work for the graduating art majors, will be a variety of mediums, inspirations, and developed personal styles from each of the students. The reception, which will include refreshments, music, and faculty comments, will be held in the atrium of the Center for the Arts from 7 to 9 p.m. with comments at 7:30 p.m. Full story

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Houghton Star

Dialogue, Transparency, Integrity

by Kristen Palmer

Last spring, we invited Jo Kadelcek (senior communication writer and journalism professor at Gordon College, author of 14 books, and founder/editor of the Gordon College News Service) to Houghton to critique and evaluate the Star. We as a staff spent a couple of days with her. We explained to her what we do and then she offered us some suggestions on how we could do it better. A year has gone by, and we’ve evolved as a staff and as individual editors. I, myself, have learned a lot this past year. I’ve learned that if I have a homework assignment due Thursday morning, it won’t get done. I’ve learned that it’s never a good idea to carry a stack of 100 or so papers outside on a windy day, and I’ve learned that Java closes about four hours before I’d like it to. Full story

Columbine

Remembering the Tragedy at Columbine

by Andre Nelson

On Monday April 2, 2012, One Goh walked onto the campus of Oikos University, a small Christian university in Oakland, California, carrying a .45 caliber hand gun. At around 10:30 a.m., Goh, a Korean National, opened fire; five people died on site and two died of their wounds after being taken to the hospital. Police believe that Goh was targeting a specific administrator, but opened fire on his former classmates when he could not find his specific target. Goh had recently withdrawn from the school, and the police stated that he had requested to be reimbursed for part of the tuition that he had paid. Goh left the crime seen immediately after the shootings, but he turned himself in later the same day. Ellen Cervellon, the Oikos nursing program director, stated that “he showed no behavioral problems.”  Goh’s motives remain unclear at this point. Full story

Van Dyk

Van Dyk Gives Boost to Student Life

by Kristen Palmer

Last month, a few of us had the pleasure of meeting one of Houghton’s generous donors. He’s the guy who donated the money for the recent renovations of the Campus Center basement. Robert Van Dyk -- yes, the Campus Center lounge is named after him -- lives in a beautiful house just outside of New York City. He ushered us into his home, and we found him easy to talk to, genuine, and pretty funny, actually. Full story

Hunger Games

"Hunger Games" Offers Food For Thought

by Lindsey Houghton

On its opening day, “The Hunger Games” earned $68.3 million, the highest single-day earnings of any non-sequel movie. Fans of the book by Suzanne Collins had been eagerly waiting for the film’s release and flocked to the theaters. Full story

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Seniors

Commencement Nears, Seniors Bid Farewell

by Renee Roberts

Professor Ndunge Kiiti, intercultural studies, and theologian Richard Foster will be speaking at this year’s baccalaureate and commencement, respectively. Full story

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Houghtonpalooza

Fourth Annual Houghtonpalooza

by Ben Murphy

Tomorrow, Leadership Council will bring the fourth annual Houghtonpalooza to campus. Although considerably smaller and shorter than the famous event from which it takes its name, this outdoor show is an opportunity for students to kick back and enjoy spring weather and great music. Full story

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Future Plans

The Penultimate Word: Relinquishing Grandiose Plans

by Elisa Shearer

When I was in the first grade I wanted to be an archaeologist. I wasn’t too big on the actual dinosaurs – I couldn’t tell you whether Brachiosauruses lived in the Triassic or not – but I thought that finding things buried in sand sounded like the most fun anyone could ever have. I became addicted to those little toy blocks of hardened sand that have plastic tyrannosaurus skeletons in them. I drew pictures of myself wearing desert gear and a wide-brimmed hat. I watched Jurassic Park. I taught my 8-year-old self how to spell archaeologist.   Full story

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Laughter

Listening and the Things that Make Us Laugh

by Ben Clark

Listening and the things that make us laugh (or) . . . things we laugh at. “That’s why we watch soap operas.” (Wilfred McClay) “Can I get an ‘Amen’?...I promised my friend Zeke I would slip that into my speech.” (Stephen Corell ’12) “This is not an underhanded way to say that Jess is pregnant.” (Kyle Austin ’13) “Sex gets better with age.” (Barb Barnes)   Full story

Obamacare

Obamacare Heads to the Supreme Court

by Chris Hartline

On March 26, 27, and 28, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments concerning the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare.  The six hours of oral arguments spread over three days is unprecedented; by comparison, the 2000 case of Bush v. Gore, which stopped the Florida recount and handed the presidential election to George W. Bush, was given 90 minutes for oral arguments.  Full story

Equestrian Program

Equestrian Gains Positive Attention

by Annelise Hein

In the past few weeks, the equestrian program has received exciting and positive attention as students have participated in local horse shows and clinics. On March 10, junior Andrea Ypma and senior Erin Smith rode at the Lehman Farms Winter Horse Show Series. In the Suitable Hunter division, riding against professional trainers, Ypma won the hunter under saddle class and placed fifth in one over fences class. She rode a college-owned horse named HC For Love (“Elvis”). Smith rode her own horse “Bailey,” a small 15.1-hand Quarter Horse. She competed against a dozen large Thoroughbreds and Warmbloods, and became the division champion by winning all three of her classes in the Level 1 Jumpers Division. Full story

Anglican Communion

The Penultimate Word: On a Ticket-To-Heaven Mentality

by Elisa Shearer

About two years ago I started attending an Anglican church regularly. It was the first time I had ever attended multiple liturgical services — one of the most surprising things to me, after I got over the water the priest was flicking at us, was that Communion happened every Sunday (in any other church I had been to it was only once a month). What was more was the reverence with which Communion was taken. My previous churches weren't irreverent, but Communion wasn't really a big deal at all. This was one of the first discrepancies I noticed between the liturgical service and my own non-denominational upbringing. Full story

Brian Webb

International Student Transition Program to be Restructured

by Katherine Baker

After having grown up overseas, it can be a very difficult transition to come to the United States for college. Sophomore Steve McCord explained, “Most of us [MKs, TCKs, and international students] had just left a lifetime of friends, many of which we probably will never see again.” Full story