Categories
Opinions

A Farewell To Stars

With 16 (!!!) days until graduation, I’ve found myself reflecting on the amazing and sometimes comically frustrating experience I’ve called undergrad.

After a horrible first semester at a state school, I found myself lost and in search of something new.  A friend recommended Houghton and within the week I was on campus for a tour. My love of this place was immediate, and continues to this day. As my years here passed, though, the cynicism toward Houghton I heard from peers clouded my view of the place that had pulled me from one of the darkest times of my life. Exclamations of horrible professors, a mishandled administration, and threats of transferring came from all around. The more Houghton’s flaws were brought to my attention, the more I began searching for them without even realizing it. Soon I’d forgotten the childlike love I’d had of this place, and criticized everything Houghton offered me.

Senior year rolled around and the nostalgia, that everyone promised would come, appeared. This nostalgia took me back to the first time I’d first come to Houghton as a naive teenager excited for life. This was the Houghton I loved, one that had stoked the flames of passions and taught me to be who I am. This year I truly came to grasp how unique Houghton truly is, and how important it is to appreciate it it’s flaws instead of simply complaining about them.

Now, before you grab your picket signs and prepare to tell me how easy that is to say, and how working for the Star makes me biased, hear me out.

One of the most common complaints I’ve heard about Houghton is in regards to its grading scales. We all moan about the professors who don’t curve their grades, leaving you just shy of that A you’ll never let anyone forget you deserve. Yes, Houghton’s academics are difficult and it’s frustrating, but I’ve never had professors that want me to succeed more than the ones here. I’ve been given grace, generous extensions, knowledgeable explanations, and more compassion than one can measure. My professors have pushed me to the limit of my academic ability, but have never let me fall over the edge.

We complain about mandatory chapels, but how else would we achieve the feeling of community (cue eye roll) Houghton continues to foster? We complain about how often we say and emphasize community, but where else will professors pray with and for you as you struggle through a difficult semester? We complain the administration won’t tell us more, but who else will adamantly protect their students and employees?

We complain, and complain, and complain. Professors, Sodexo, Safety and Security, parking tickets, broken dryers, lengthy papers, other majors, etc. There’s always something we’re complaining about, and that’s not going to change, not as new students replace the seniors each year, and not as you leave Houghton and enter the real world.

One thing my time at the Star has taught me, is that in order order to truly appreciate the beauty and wonder Houghton has to offer, you have to learn to love the bad. I don’t mean love in the sense that you become enamoured with every flaw Houghton has. You don’t need to overlook that there are, indeed, problems with the institution. Anything good it life will have flaws, that’s a fact. But enjoy the fact that Houghton has flaws. Despite seeing themselves as serving God’s kingdom, they don’t claim to be perfect, and there’s something to be said for that. They’re humble enough to admit when they’ve done wrong, but continue to try to do the right thing in everything they do.

Revel in Houghton’s problems, let them challenge you, and help you grow. Don’t just appreciate the good that Houghton has to offer, appreciate the challenges it presents and the struggles it faces. Without challenge and obstacles, there is no way to measure growth. Let the obstacles stand before you, but don’t let them stop you from getting everything you can out of this place. Be the one to use those obstacles to help you mature physically, spiritually, and mentally instead of someone who simply complains about the roadblocks.

Dani is a senior majoring in writing and communication.

Categories
International News

Plane Crashes Into Melbourne Mall

Several people were killed in Melbourne, Australia on Monday morning when a plane crashed into a shopping mall.

The chartered flight had taken off from Melbourne’s Essendon airport Tuesday morning and was headed to King Island, an island located between the south shore of Australia and the island of Tasmania. According to the New York Times, a pilot aboard the plane reported a “catastrophic engine failure” moments before the crash. However, Victoria Minister for Victoria Police, Lisa Neville said the details surrounding the crash are still “being confirmed by police and fire services.” Reuters, a London based news agency, reported that the Australian Transport Safety Bureau will investigate the crash.

All five individuals aboard the aircraft were killed in the crash. The names and nationalities of the deceased were not released as of Monday night. However, in response to a report that the individuals were U.S. citizens, the U.S. Embassy in Canberra, while declining to comment, said it was working with local authorities.

A statement released by the Embassy said, “We are unable to confirm any details about the nationality or identity of any of the victims. The U.S. Embassy in Canberra and the consulate in Melbourne are working closely with local authorities to assist in any way possible.” The statement also extended their “…deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of all those who died in today’s tragic crash.”

The plane, described by the New York Times as a “twin-engine Beechcraft Super King Air” crashed into a storage area in the back of the Direct Factory Outlet Mall. According to Reuters, witnesses at the scene stated the plane exploded upon impact. Firefighters, paramedics, and police were rushed to the scene of the crash, where the flames were extinguished. Both the roof and infrastructure of the mall were damaged.

The connects to the airport where the plane crashed near the end of the runway. The mall was set to open about an hour before the crash occurred. This was somewhat fortunate as no one on the ground sustained any injuries, according to assistant commissioner of Victoria police, Stephen Leane. He stated,  “…certainly if we look at the circumstances, we’ve been very lucky…” based on “…the time of day and who was around.” Leane also said, “it was a catastrophic plane crash…”

While flights in and out of Australia’s main airport were unaffected, the Essendon airport, where the crash occurred, remained closed as of Monday night. Additionally, parts of the Tullamarine Freeway remained closed for part of the day Monday as there was a significant amount of scattered debris as a result of the crash.

In a CNN article, Neville said she expects authorities to have updates on the personal identities of the deceased shortly.  

Categories
International News

Trump Suspends Refugee Entry

On Friday, January 28, President, Donald Trump signed an executive order that suspended refugee entry into the United States indefinitely.

According to the New York Times the ban, which is planned to last 120 days, blocked Syrian refugees indefinitely. The order stated, “…I hereby proclaim that the entry of nationals of Syria as refugees is detrimental to the interests of the United States and thus suspend any such entry until such time as I have determined that sufficient changes have been made to the USRAP [United States Refugee Admissions Program] to ensure that admission of Syrian refugees is consistent with the national interest.”

The order also stated when the USRAP resumed admitting refugees into the U.S., “…the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, is further directed to make changes, to the extent permitted by law, to prioritize refugee claims made by individuals on the basis of religious-based persecution, provided that the religion of the individual is a minority religion in the individual’s country of nationality.” According to the New York Times, this will give Christian refugees priority entrance into the United States over Muslim refugees.

The New York Times reported the order also cut the U.S. cap on refugee in half. The order stated, “…he entry of more than 50,000 refugees in fiscal year 2017 would be detrimental to the interests of the United States…”

Additionally, it also blocked the entry of citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen into the U.S. for 90 days, countries known for being predominantly Muslim. The order then went on bar green card holders said countries from re-entering the U.S. The order, however, did make exceptions for “…those foreign nationals traveling on diplomatic visas, North Atlantic Treaty Organization visas, C-2 visas for travel to the United Nations, and G-1, G-2, G-3, and G-4 visas.” According to the New York Times, “These exemptions are mostly for diplomats, people traveling to the United Nations in New York, and others involved in international organizations.”

However, despite the order Reuters reported the U.S. government granted 872 this week waivers to let refugees into the country. According to an anonymous homeland security official quoted in a Reuters article, the waivers were granted for refugees who were in transit and had already been cleared for resettlement in the U.S. before the ban went into effect.

The order has been a source of controversy, spurring protests and scrutiny from world leaders. Leaders from nations such as Britain, France, Germany, and Turkey all spoke out against the order. German Chancellor, Angela Merkel said, “The necessary and decisive fight against terrorism in no way justifies a general suspicion against people of certain beliefs, in this case people of the Muslim faith or from a certain origin. These actions, according to my beliefs, are against the core idea of international aid for refugees and international cooperation.”

Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, didn’t explicitly mention Trump’s order, but tweeted a statement of support “To those fleeing persecution, terror & war…” and vowed that they’d be welcomed in Canada “…regardless of your faith.”

However, Australian Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, became one of the few to show support for the order and stated, “it is vital that every nation is able to control who comes across its borders.” Dutch far-right Party for Freedom founder and leader, Geert Wilders also showed support for the executive order and tweeted, “No more immigration from any Islamic country is exactly what we need. Also in The Netherlands For Islam and freedom are incompatible.”

 

Categories
Opinions

The Sum of An Identity

A few days before Christmas, I sat in my apartment scrolling through my Facebook newsfeed as status’ were updated and GPAs were posted. Friends and family boasted of 4.0’s and 3.87’s. My sister even posted her own GPA in our family chat. When I finally summed up the courage to  check my grades, I was disappointed. I’d only managed to pull off a 3.489, only .011 short of The Dean’s List goal I’d set for myself at the beginning of the academic year. I felt inferior and inadequate.

My self-esteem plummeted, and despite having one of the best semesters of my academic career, I started questioning my intelligence. “You could have gotten higher grades. Why didn’t you work harder? How have you survived at Houghton? Everyone here is so smart. If I can’t do well in school, how can I survive after college?” I moped around for a few days, throwing myself a pity party, before self-reflection brought me to my senses.

No, I hadn’t made The Dean’s List. However, I’d worked three on-campus jobs, managed the newspaper, never missed a homework deadline, and showed up for nearly every class period. In addition to working harder than I ever had before, I’d finally mastered organization, formed a great work ethic, and grown as an individual. Looking back, the fall semester not only began preparing me for life after graduation, but for the person God wants me to be for the rest of my life. This semester was invaluable, despite my grades not being as great as some of my peers.

As students, it’s easy to wrap our identity and our GPA into one amorphous blob. We spend most of our lives striving to earn a letter on a piece of paper, so it makes sense that if that letter is less than perfect we feel inadequate. We’re told these letters are our golden ticket into life, without them you absolutely cannot succeed. The problem with this, however, is that schools are geared towards a linear way of thinking that only caters to a specific audience of students.

We reflected on this recently in my senior seminar for communication while discussing Daniel Pink’s book A Whole New Mind. In the book Pink discusses the societal shift from a very linear, logical way of thinking (left brained thinking) to a broader, more emotional way of thinking (right brained thinking). Reading this book helped me refine my previous self-reflection, gain insight to who I was at my very core, and aided in my understanding of the people who surround me on a daily basis. If you can’t tell by now, I’m incredibly right brained.

So no, my GPA wasn’t a 4.0. No, I can’t always follow a train of logic until it reaches the station and departs. But I’m passionate about what I believe in, I can look at a project in the beginning phases and see how I want it to look at the end, and I feel so deeply that I sobbed the first time I ran over an animal.

Having a great GPA isn’t a bad thing, in fact I admire people that excel easily in academics. However, we need to learn to value ourselves beyond our GPA, even if that’s what we’re great at. Even if you’re logical and linear in your thinking, you probably have activities you excel in beyond your school work. I have incredibly intelligent, left-brained friends who are compassionate teachers, loyal friends, talented artists, and even wonderful activists. So go on, get that A, but remember: the sum of your grades does not equal your identity.

Categories
Stories In Focus

Like Son, Like Father

Three International Students’ Fathers Give Talks on Houghton Campus

Three international students recently had a taste of home as their fathers visited campus to deliver lectures.

Senior Travis Trotman’s father, Livingston Trotman, is scheduled to speak in chapel today. Livingston is a Wesleyan pastor in Barbados. According to Travis, he always knew he wanted his father to speak in chapel. Living so far away from Houghton, however, this was no easy feat. He said, “I didn’t want it to be like, ‘Hey dad, they want you to speak in chapel.’ Then they’d have to pay him to come, and all this. I didn’t want it to be a big process.”

flickr.com
flickr.com

Travis explained that his parents had already made plans to visit Houghton to attend his last Prism performance. Once he knew the dates, he told Dean of the Chapel, Michael Jordan, who put the plans into motion. While he is unsure what topic Livingston will speak about, Travis said, “I think he can bring a different view and a different insight on whatever he speaks about.” When asked what he was most excited, he replied, “For my dad to see campus [for the first time] since they dropped me off four years ago, and so he can see my growth on campus, and what I do”

Travis is also excited at the prospect of snow, not for himself, but for his parents. He laughed and added, “My parents don’t really like snow, so I’m hoping it snows.”

John Khalaf ‘19 is an Egypt native. His father, Atef Khalaf, was also invited to speak in an evening lecture on November 3. John explained Atef, a general superintendent for the Wesleyan Church in Egypt, spoke “about what’s happening, is it really completely dark, what positives [exist], the good things happening, and how can we pray for that.” Much like Travis, after finding out his father would be visiting, John spoke with Jordan, and an opportunity for Atef to speak was presented.

Overall, he thought the lecture was a success and students were able to relate more to his dad because he is a student, himself. “If I know the person whose parent’s coming, I can relate to his life, and his parent’s life too. I can understand where he comes from. I can relate more to someone I might know,” John said.

Sophomore Shehan Rodrigo’s father also gave a chapel talk, sharing his faith journey on November 4. Unlike Travis and John, however, Shehan played no part in his father’s chapel attendance. Shehan shared, “I’m not 100% sure about how that happened. I wanted him to speak in chapel, but I couldn’t give the dates.” He continued, “I think Josh Mason, who’s a theology student here, he heard that my dad was coming, because I told him, he spoke to Dean Jordan to try and fit him in, and then one day I got an email from Dean Jordan asking if my dad would like to speak.”

Shehan echoed John, saying, “It’s not just some speaker from another country, it’s a speaker from another country whose son is in the school. People have known me here for about a year now, and they can relate what my dad is saying through me, I guess. Especially me and my dad, we have any similarities. It was funny. People get to see more of me, but not through me.”

Shehan’s favorite part of his father being on campus, though, was being able to speak his language again. He chuckled, “There’s so much humor that no one will get because no one speaks my language and nobody knows my culture here. There’s so many things I keep to myself because I can’t share with anyone. It was nice to have my dad here to actually share it with someone who understood.”

Shehan described the ability to have his dad on campus as an “great way to show off my dad a bit.” He said, “I’m glad it happened. It was one of those proud son kind of things.”

Categories
Opinions

Married To My Maiden Name

In May, I got married. It was cold, chaotic, and it snowed. It was everything I imagined and more. Months leading up to the ceremony were filled with so many decisions it made my head spin. One of the biggest decisions I had to make, though, was if I wanted to change my last name following the wedding. It was the normal thing to do, so normal I found myself changing my Facebook name and Instagram handle the day after the wedding. That’s just what you do, right?

Photo by: Anthony Burdo
Photo by: Nate Moore

It should have seemed like a natural thing to do, so I was confused when I found myself struggling to go through with the legal process. It was so permanent. I thought about it for months, and the more I thought about it, I couldn’t make myself go through with the process, at least not at this point in time.

When it comes down to it, people, whether adopting a nickname, naming a child, or taking a spouse’s last name after marriage, should spend more than a moment deciding to make the switch. Names are important and should reflect the unique identity God created in each of us. However, with cultural expectations and unique names encouraged by a ‘hipster’ culture our making names are less meaningful and more practical. Celebrities are calling their children Satchel, Sistine, Sunday, Casper, Apple, Suri, North, Reign, Blue Ivy, and Elula. This speaks volumes about how little we value names, and their potential to foster the identities of future generations.

To me, my name is so much more than letters placed on a legal document. My name is years of family loyalty and memories. My name is, and always has been my identity. My name grew with me, as I shed the formality of Danielle Eaton, and matured into Dani Eaton. To give that up felt like giving up part of myself.

daniquoteNames, once a source of identifying profession, have evolved over the years with their importance being overlooked more and more. Names have become more labels and cultures than anything. Think, for example, of the Kardashians. This is a name so many people recognize around the world, but, instead of fostering a unique identity, has fostered a culture around their name, making it a material item. Children born into the Kardashian family will be forced to follow into their footsteps of producing an image and being known for their iconic looks. This is (hopefully) not what people think of when they think of Eaton.

Additionally, today’s society spoon feeds the idea of uniqueness to people, but not the identities that come with a name, and the identity that God wishes us to have. In the Bible it says God knows us by name. In John 10:3 it says, “To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.” He calls his sheep by name, not by “the one in the red shirt,” “the unique one that has the cool hobbies,” or even “the one with the purple hair.” If our name was nothing more than letters on paper, then why would God make a point to call us by it?

Right now, I don’t know who Danielle Bullard is. She seems foreign and unfamiliar to me, and maybe in time that will change. I’m sure as Danielle turned into Dani, if Eaton turns into Bullard, my identity will then, once again, change. But that’s okay with me, as God didn’t intend for me to stay one person for the rest of my life. He intended for me to grow, and for my identity to change, as he intends for all of us. Value your name as God values you, and please don’t name your children after fruit.

Dani is a senior majoring in communication and writing

Categories
International News

World // French President Plans to Dismantle Migrant Camp

French president, Francios Hollande, announced his plans to dismantle the migrant camp in Calais by the end of the calendar year.

The camp, more commonly known as “the Jungle,” has been a source of controversy for Hollande, as he looks toward re-election for the first time since 2012. The purpose of the visit, according to CNN, was for him to tell “the desperate immigrants” they would not be able to stay in the camp because “their place is not here.” Hollande did, however, emphasized that France would “protect them as much as necessary.” Additionally, he was credited in a Reuters article as stating he wanted “…the closure of the camp as quickly as possible.”

Hollande, according to the New York Times, visited the camp on Monday, September 26 for the first time this year, has faced criticism from conservative and far-right rivals, “who say the camp is a symbol of his failure to deal with Europe’s migrant crisis.”

The camp is said to be home to seven thousand people, according to authorities. However, humanitarians estimate as many as ten thousand people actually live in the camp, with nine hundred unaccompanied minors the last time aid organization France Terre d’Asile counted.

French authorities have stated alternative housing will be offered in centers across France to one of France’s 164 migrant reception centers largely located in the city of Tours. There, the migrants will, according to the French government, will be able to apply for asylum. France will be attempting to find nine thousand new places at welcome centers to receive migrants before winter.

According to the New York Times, the government’s plan after relocation, will be for reception centers to hold forty to fifty people for up to 4 months while “…authorities study their cases.” After that, migrants who choose to not purse applying for asylum will then be deported. Despite the announcement of the plans, no firm timeline has been given.

Hollande, however, has continued to face criticism from nonprofit organizations. Eight unnamed organizations specifically, wrote a letter to Hollande, in which they “…called for a long-term policy of hospitality and integration in France,” referring to the camp in Calais as “a short-term view” that will solve nothing for current and future migrants.

Hollande, in a speech to police who will be securing the area, has said he will shut down the camp “with method and determination.” His goal, according to a New York Times article, is to prevent new camps from appearing near Calais, or anywhere else in France. He also stated police forces will remain in and around the camp “as long as needed” after the camp is shut down.

Categories
Campus News

Professor Hosts Constitution Day Presentation

On Tuesday, September 20, professor of political science, Peter Meilander, hosted a presentation with Christen Price entitled “Transgender Rights, Religious Liberty, and Higher Education: The Story of California Senate Bill 1146” in honor of Constitution Day, which happened on September 17.

Price, an attorney with Alliance Defending Freedom, first, explained The California Senate Bill 1146, and then provided an opportunity for questions from those who attended the presentation.

Constitution Day, according to constitutionday.com, “…commemorates the formation and signing of the U.S. Constitution by thirty-nine brave men on September 17, 1787, recognizing all who, are born in the U.S. or by naturalization, have become citizens.” All educational institutions that receive federal funding are required to observe Constitution Day.

The presentation, hosted via Skype, largely discussed religious freedom in regards to California Senate Bill 1146 (SB 1146). The bill was introduced by California senator, Ricardo Lara, on February 18, 2016 and was passed in Senate on August 30, 2016. Once passing the Senate, it went on to the Assembly of Higher Education Committee where it was also passed.

According to Price, “…in its worst form, SB 1146 amended the education code to add the disclosure provisions…” Some of these disclosures, described by Price early on in the discussion and included, “…requiring students to sign a statement of faith, maintaining sex segregated dorms or shower facilities that are based on biological sex rather than gender identity, or expecting community members to comply with Christian standards for sexual morality…”

The bill, which can be accessed at https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, reads, “This bill would require an institution that has an exemption from either the Equity in Higher Education Act or Title IX to make specified disclosures to the institution’s current and prospective students, faculty members, and employees, and to the Student Aid Commission, concerning the institution’s basis for having the exemption.”

In attendance were individuals such as president of the college, Shirley Mullen; vice president of student life, Rob Pool; counselor, Nancy Murphy; director of the counseling center, Bill Burter; residence director of Rothenbehler  Jon Craton; former director or counseling services, Michael Lasatoria; and dean of the college, Samuel “Jack” Connell.

In addition to the vast amount of faculty and staff in attendance, there were also students present. Joshua Bergart ’19 said he went to educate himself, “It’s one of those areas that is kind of a blind spot for me, not that I don’t have certain opinions about it, but I’m kind of ignorant about what the rest of the church believes and why, so I’m curious about that.”

 

Categories
National News

Louisiana Begins Rebuilding

In August, parts of Louisiana were hit with heavy rain that caused severe flooding, the death of thirteen people, and millions of dollars in damage. The storm brought more than two and a half feet of rain to part of the Livingston Parish, and left members of the Coast Guard and the National Guard to help more than 20,000 residents and 1,000 pets to safety.

img_3297In a New York Times article, John Nielsen-Gammon, the state climatologist in Texas, attributed the large amount of rain to climate change. “There’s definitely an increase in heavy rainfall due to climate change. The actual increase from place to place is going to be variable because of the randomness of the weather. Some places will see a dramatic change,” he said.

According to CNN, the storm caused at least $8.7 million in damages, leaving 134,000 homes registering for aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). However, FEMA has reported so far, only 115,000 homes have had inspections completed.

Despite efforts to set up temporary shelters and mobile homes, a CNN article reported as many as 2,600 citizens are still living in homes that have not been treated for mold and are still unfit to live in. FEMA committed $300 million for emergency home repair and rental housing and assigned 400 volunteers, but has been slow with assistance.

With the lack of immediate federal response, citizens and nonprofit organizations have attempted to step in and aid in the clean up. Broderick Bagert, lead organizer of Together Baton Rouge, a community group, built an online intake system and database for the homeowner’s requests for assistance in gutting homes. The group also had volunteers knock on doors of homes that didn’t appear to have been gutted already. Lastly, after the volunteers then sent out additional volunteers to gut homes themselves, taking out muddy and moldy floors and walls.

As more homes are inspected and gutted, the cost of cleanup soars. The Guardian reported the cost of cleanup could potentially reach $15 billion by the end of the project. With only 20% of homes affected having held flood insurance Louisiana Governor, John Bel Edwards, requested a $2 billion bailout package on Friday, September 9, in addition to the money the government has already pledged. Edwards, who requested the money while on a trip to Washington, stressed Louisiana would not be able to move forward without the cash. “Simply put, we cannot recover without it,” he said.

While no decision on the bailout has been made, President Obama, in a letter to Edwards, wrote due to the expensive nature of the flood that the government would cover 90% of the costs, leaving the state to only pay back 10% of the funds. This is atypical, as states typically pay back 20% of costs.

 

Categories
Opinions

From the Editor’s Desk: Stirring the Pot

img_3297We scroll through our Facebook feed, sighing at our racist uncle that’s sharing an opinion written by one of his friends, riddled with inaccurate facts and stereotypes. On the flip side, we shake our head at an article we read, although accurate and factual, because it clashes with our view of the world, irritating us. We make one crucial mistake when we continue to scroll though, we encourage a lack of dialogue and discussion that has the potential to help us grow and educate ourselves.

I could go into a rant about how we need to listen to one another with love and compassion, but we’ve all heard that before, and more than once. Once we’ve made the decision to listen, we need to take the next step and make the decision to respond. Response is a crucial part of educating ourselves and playing our part in bettering society, both as people and as Christians.

We should take every opportunity for discourse presented to us as a chance to grow and challenge our views. Challenging your views solidifies that you not only, are firmly grounded in your beliefs, but also that you have a rounded, educated opinion. If we are privileged enough to have opportunities and sources to grow our knowledge, then we shouldn’t waste them.

webquoteThis, fellow students, is my challenge to you from myself as editor-in-chief of The Star. I would ask that you use The Star as a platform to educate yourself and others through educated discourse. If an opinion published in The Star challenges your personal convictions, ask to write an opinion, comment on the article online, or, better yet, write a letter to the editor.

While The Star may not have an opinion written by your racist uncle, it is just as easy to ignore. Stars practically litter the campus, you don’t give it a second thought as you toss the version you got after chapel in the garbage or leave it on your table at lunch. It’s easy to vent to your friends, or complain via Yik Yak about how ridiculous someone’s opinion is. Instead of forgetting about it, leaving it behind, or letting your voice be lost in the anonymity of an app, use the paper to remind yourself to develop your opinions and strengthen your beliefs.

Don’t be afraid to be challenged and grow. The Star serves as a place for voices of students, staff, and community members to be heard. My hope is that The Star to be a vehicle for a variety of opinions and perspectives, whether they be similar or contrasting. Don’t be afraid to stir the pot, ruffle some feathers, and most importantly, promote discussion. So go ahead; comment on that racist uncle’s Facebook post, just make sure it is educated, thoughtful, and compassionate.