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Campus News

SPOT Returns!

By Joey Schunemann ('23)

In the Fall of 2021, SPOT was teetering on the edge. On a post-COVID campus that had grown weary of the campus wide spectacle even before the bi-annual variety show went remote, the chance of SPOT’s permanent cancellation was high. During the host auditions, AC Taylor told stories of previous acts gone awry and hosts who butted heads with the Campus Activities Board (CAB) at every turn. The list of auditionees to host a significant opportunity was low; one duo and one individual. The duo came in with a constrictive theme and a loose set of goals. The individual was Steve Harper. 

Harper, recent graduate with the Class of ‘22 had a vision of a renewed SPOT where the host was not awkward glue between the main event, but an act in and of itself with monologues, songs and games all driven by the charisma of a natural performer. In retrospect, Harper said that when he is an audience member, he wants to laugh more than once, like the host and feel that “when the show is over… to be surprised that two hours just passed.” Harper also said that hosting was not without its challenges, and that if he could have found a partner that would have fit his high expectations he would have rather not work alone. 

Harper said that he “had big plans that didn’t happen and [he] had to be OK with that because [he] was a solo host.” 

This was not the experience of this year’s SPOT 2024 hosts, Levi Webb (‘24) and Sam Carpenter (‘25).

Harper’s extremely high standards of excellence set the standard for spots to come, and the immediately following duo had big shoes to fill and an idea to make it happen. “Blockbuster movies, like the rental store not the concept” was what Luc Pereira (‘23) and Ansley Green (‘22) pitched to the same CAB staff as before, but with a new idea of what to be looking for. 

Pereira and Green brought the chemistry of a pre-existing friendship, not only key for stage dynamics but also the natural expectation for an event where hours of work are needed in preparation. Pereira and Green were on top of logistics and advertising in a way that showed the failings of a single host. While Harper poured all his effort into excellent skits and shaping the evening in a way that ensured highs and lows that would keep people on the edge of their seats, Pereira and Green could split up their manpower enough to start with the goal of getting people in the door. 

“I worked on silly skits and host dialogue while she took on a lot of the overarching logistical issues,” Pereira said. 

Recreations of old movie posters with photoshopped energetic hosts were plastered on walls all across campus. In addition to the advertising, SPOT band candidates were reached out to well in advance, and auditions ran smoothly. When the actual night came, the dual host power showed its merit, and cemented the formula that the last five shows have followed. They did not have to sacrifice quality for logistical mastery, they did not have to sacrifice as many great sketch ideas as Harper did. The night was tight, well planned, and well executed. 

This year so far has largely been a mystery. With a slew of duos auditioning with different plans, Webb and Carpenter had a theme that was creative, interesting and put lots of focus on live entertainment. This felt like an exciting change of pace, but was followed by a bit of radio silence. 

When auditions came, a kindly smiling Carpenter sat casually on the stage and gave encouragement to the groups there that “we believe that if you want to be in [SPOT], you can be in [SPOT], and we will just talk through what that might look like.” 

This was an inclusive change from the careful planning of Harper’s crafted narrative but one that could certainly yield more positive than negative. Without much more from them in terms of follow-up communications to the CAB team, there has been a sense of mysterious anticipation across campus. Will the show follow strongly in Harper’s footsteps of crafted skits with less of an emphasis on Pereira and Green’s advertisement skills? Have other commitments delayed planning for both impacting quality? Or are we on the verge of another revolution in the variety show on the ravines edge? The answer will be on stage Saturday, March 16 at 10 p.m. in the Wesley Chapel. ★

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Campus News

The 35th Annual Juried Student Show

By Rebecca Dailey ('25)

The 35th Annual Juried Student Show Exhibition will open on March 8, 2024 in the Ortlip Gallery, housed in the Center for the Arts. The gallery reception opens at 6:30 p.m. and continues until 8:30 p.m.. Students of both art and non-art majors may participate in the exhibition, and have leeway in both the subject and art form of their works. However, they are limited to the number of works they can enter. The art featured in the exhibition will be a range of ceramics, sculptures, photos, drawings, and oil and watercolor paintings, among others. The exhibition judges will be accompanied by a guest juror, who decides the pieces that will appear in the show, as well as the pieces that will receive awards.

“The Student Juried Show provides a really neat opportunity for students to demonstrate their artistic abilities to their friends, family, and all of us in the Houghton Community,” Professor Linda Knapp, the Ortlip Gallery Director & University Art Collection Manager, stated. “My role as gallery director falls under the leadership of the Art Department. I work alongside our art faculty and help them to make the gallery function smoothly. It’s so much fun to see the different works that get submitted and then solve the puzzle of figuring out how to display them in a way that’s aesthetically and visually pleasing.” 

The Ortlip Gallery has previously featured works from professors of Houghton University and outside artists. 

“The Ortlip Gallery serves to further educate our art major students by exposing them to outside artists, as well allowing our students to have the hands-on experience of displaying their own work in a professional gallery,” Professor Knapp added.

Some of the students entered in the Juried Student Show are Savannah Stitt (‘24), Hannah Smith (‘24), Aubree Niles (‘24) and Aubrey Armes (‘25). 

This is the third year Stitt has displayed her work in the Gallery. She predominantly works with photography, but has submitted oil paintings in the past. 

“In my experience as an artist, I have come to realize two things. I am creative in ways I didn’t realize for a long time, and inspiration comes and goes in waves,” Stitt explained. “It’s important to grab hold of those ideas when they come because they’re not guaranteed to stay.”

Niles is also participating for the third year. Her main art form is oils, but she also works in watercolor, ceramics and photography. 

“Art has been a way for me to process difficult emotions and complex life events,” Niles stated. “My current body of work is especially evident of that. I focus the most on my use of color and brushstrokes to convey emotion.”

Professor Knapp would like to express her gratitude towards being able to open the Juried Student Show and playing a role in the Gallery’s exhibitions. “I love how the Gallery brings us all together into these sacred spaces and moments,” Professor Knapp said, “granting us pause to reflect on our lives and to understand each other better. It has been a real honor for me to be a part of such a successful Art Program here at Houghton, and I just want to send out a big thanks to all the students who have submitted their work for this upcoming show!” ★

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Campus News

Hall Brawl 2024

By Juliana Schmidt ('25)

Another year…another Hall Brawl! The week-long, Olympic-style friendly competition between Gillette, Lambein, Roth and the Townhouses will begin on March 11. There will be daily events for each hall to complete as well as Spirit Days. 

Monday, March 11 is the first day of Spirit Week and the theme is Pajama Day. Come out ready to support your hall in this fun and easy way to show some school spirit. Additionally, prizes will be offered to the first fifty winners of Monday’s first event called the Opening Ceremony Splosion. Look forward to tasting some yummy food on Wednesday for the Bake Off!

The Hunt takes place every day where each team will have to solve a clue, and the team who solves it first will win points for their team. 

“RA and CAB and other student leaders have been working really hard to put this event together. I worked on the Just Dance event happening on Thursday and it will be taking place in the CFA recital hall. It will be super fun!” Jenna Strahan (‘24) an Resident Assistant (RA) of Gillette shared. “Hall Brawl is a time for all of us to come together in the spring semester and compete against each other and have a bunch of fun!”

Alexa Binney (‘24) a member of the Campus Activities Board (CAB) said that although it is her first year involved in the planning process, it has been very cool to get a look at what goes into making the Hall Brawl 2024 happen. 

“All members of CAB and reslife teams get split into randomized teams, each gets assigned to one day of the week, and it’s been a fun experience getting to work with people outside my usual team,” Binney revealed. 

Unfortunately, the Townhouses have been going through a streak of bad luck with previous Hall Brawls and have not won in quite a while. To help prompt their residents into a more competitive spirit, Esther Tse (‘25) an RA of the Townhouses revealed a shocking surprise if they win. 

“I’m excited to see what Hall Brawl will look like,” Tse said, “and if the townhouses win Josh Bailey [Resident Director of the Townhouses] will shave his head.” 

The winner of Hall Brawl 2024 will be announced on Saturday, March 16, during SPOT! 

May the best hall win…and the odds be ever in your favor. ★

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Campus News

Lambein’s Got Talent

By Isabella Bratton ('26)

Lambein’s Got Talent will take place on Saturday, Feb. 17, from 8-9 p.m. in the CFA Recital Hall.

11 Lambein Hall residents will be showcasing their unique talents with the potential to win up to $100. At the end of the show, the audience will have the opportunity to choose a winner to receive the prize. 

Senior Nuri Park (‘24), the Assistant Resident Director, explained that they took the name “Lambein’s Got Talent” from both the famous show “America’s Got Talent” and “Britain’s Got Talent.” The talent show was started last 2022-2023 school year by the male Resident Assistants (RA) of Lambein.

All of Lambein’s RAs have been involved in the preparation process in different ways; advertising, emailing, hosting and judging.

Park said that, although the audience will be choosing the winner, the RAs have a part in making sure it’s a fair competition. 

“The RA’s,” Park stated, “mediate the votes to make sure there is no audience bias, but the audience ultimately decides the winner.”

The performers will provide a wide variety of entertainments for the audience, such as singing, poetry recitation, dancing, playing instruments, a weather forecast and more. Park mentioned an exciting act called “Master of balance,” although he wouldn’t divulge the details about it. At last year’s show, Junior Ethan McCarthy (‘25) remarked that groups played kazoos, the piano and danced.

“Guys are excited to show off to the school,” McCarthy, a judge for the event, said, “we have put a lot of work into this, and it will be a fun night.”

It won’t just be one person walking away with $100. There is a second place award of $50 and third place will receive $25.

Students are highly encouraged to attend, and the hosts are sure audience members will walk away entertained. 

“I think the campus needs an event where people can just have fun and relax,” Park stated. ★

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Campus News

Houghton Baseball Team’s Double Header

By Caleb Welker ('26)

Houghton University’s baseball team is scheduled to open the season with a Double Header in the Kerr-Pegula Athletic Complex on Saturday, Feb. 17 at 12 p.m. and then at 3 p.m. against the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. The team will then travel to Florida for the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational Tournament over Winter Break.

Last season the baseball team finished in third place with a record of 19 wins and 20 losses (11 wins and 7 losses in conference play) and clinched a spot in the Empire 8 Conference Playoffs. Although the Highlanders fell short in the double-elimination tournament, they look to bounce back and work their way into the playoffs again this semester. 

After ten seniors graduated last Spring 2023—including the leader in batting average (Zach Parr), the team’s ERA Leader (Hunter Kendall) and the program’s all-time stolen base leader (Jason Kauffeldt)—the Highlanders welcomed in twelve new players: ten freshmen and two transfer students.  

Another addition to the team includes the new Graduate Assistant Pitching Coach Nick Pettit. Coach Pettit graduated in the Class of 2023 after four years at Covenant College in Georgia, and joined the team in Aug. of 2023. His wife, Riley Pettit is the Graduate Assistant Coach of the women’s volleyball team.

Freshman pitcher, Marshall Cummings (‘27) commented, “Coach Pettit, has brought a new sense of life and rejuvenation to the pitching staff and has helped us tap into our full potential, both mentally and physically.”

Senior Captain Chris VanCheri (‘24) noted that many upperclassmen, and even sophomores, have been stepping up into leadership roles after pivotal players graduated from the team. VanCheri pointed out that this highlights the Highlander baseball team’s ideals.

“We always say in our program that as you progress through your four years, each year you have to start putting others before yourself,” VanCheri stated.

“Nothing excites me more than taking the field with my brothers,” VanCheri expressed. “At the end of the day, we truly are a family. We have a tight-knit group that I see only getting closer as the season progresses. I’m excited for the younger guys to get their first taste of college ball, and I’m excited to see the challenges we will face and how we will overcome them.” 

“Pitt-Bradford is returning off of a decent season, and we know they’re going to be competitive,” noted Senior Captain and pitcher, Ethan Cetton (‘24). “This game is going to be our first stepping stone to finding success as a team with lots of raw talent.” 

Houghton lost to Pitt-Bradford (8-3) at the beginning of last season, so they look to push back and take two wins against the Panthers on Saturday. ★

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Campus News

Senior Composition Recitals

By Jiana Martin ('26)

Two senior composition recitals are coming up with Citlali Sanchez-Acosta’s (‘24) occurring on Monday Feb. 19 and Kaitlin Kleinau’s (‘24) recital on Wednesday Feb. 21. Both will be in the Center for the Arts Recital Hall at 6:30 p.m., and each hour-long performance will feature the artists’ original works.

Sanchez-Acosta is a music composition major who transferred to Houghton University from her local community college and has enjoyed her time in the Greatbatch School of Music program.

“It’s a really good program. It’s pretty close-knit, which is really nice and everyone supports each other,” Sanchez-Acosta reflected.  

Her recital will include eight to nine pieces, most of which she has written while at Houghton, which will be performed by around 20 performers. It will be a mix and match of solo instruments, smaller ensemble pieces and vocal songs.

Inspiration for her music comes partly from need-based occasions and partly from pure inspiration. 

“Inspiration comes and goes and sometimes I just start messing around. This recital is a little bit of both necessity and inspiration,” Sanchez-Acosta commented. 

Although there is no overarching theme, identifiers for the pieces are developing skills and time passing. The recital is a culmination of everything she has written.

“The pieces themselves are not a series of anything,” Sanchez-Acosta explained, “there are a bunch of different themes and motifs. I’m bringing back a lot of my old works. One thing I know I’m definitely going for in this recital is seeing the progression.”

She likes keeping the original versions of her old works and then later refine them to see how she’s progressed and improved. During her time at Houghton, the community and her professors have greatly influenced her.

“My professors have definitely been a part of [influencing me]. Dr. Magin and Professor Ashbaugh have been super helpful in guiding,” Sanchez-Acosta thoughtfully said, “and community has definitely helped motivate.”

Kleinau is also a transfer student pursuing a music composition major with an additional vocal performance minor. The theme for her recital is “Woman Becoming: Love Letters” which deals with the idea of love in different forms, especially grief and love. Her inspiration for this theme came from an interest in different types of love such as familial and agape love, and wanting to explore more of it. 

“I usually come up with a cool title and see how that works out,” Kleinau explained.   

One of the pieces, “Echo” talks about a lost love and begging him to return while another piece, “Daffodils Never Die” is about her grandmother who passed away.  

Kleinau’s recital will include eight pieces that are both vocal and instrumental ranging from choral pieces to a piano solo to a flute piece, and more. She will be performing in “Daffodils Never Die” and many classmates will help bring her music to life. 

“Most of them have been so gracious and willing,” Kleinau gratefully said. 

Reflecting on her time at Houghton, Kleinau considers it being a sort of rebirth as she has grown so much since she started. Kleinau attributes inspiration for her music to classes, professors and music she has listened to. Helpful advice she received from Dr. Carrie Magin was to listen to a hundred pieces before writing an original. 

“Theory classes and music history are helpful. A lot of times it [composing] comes from listening and from what you want to write and hear. It is creativity paired with prior knowledge,” Kleinau noted. 

For Kleinau, a valuable part of being in the Greatbatch School of Music program is that she is seen as a person first and a musician second. She’s experienced grace and care as a person and has been encouraged to become the best musician she can be. 

“I see music as an expression of one’s soul; therefore, you want to do it in a way that honors God,” Kleinau expressed. “You want God to be a part of that. It’s not for my own glory, but for God’s glory.”

Dr. Magin, Associate Professor of Music Composition and Theory, has enjoyed working with both Sanchez-Acosta and Kleinau, and watching their growth. As a professor, she loves hearing how audiences react to her students’ compositions.

“I look forward to the final product as their work is shared with our community,” Dr. Magin commented. “It’s a unique gift to be able to create something that moves people, and even more special to help bring that ability out in student composers. These students have worked very hard to put on their recitals, and it’s a great joy seeing and hearing it all come together.” ★

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Houghton Chamber Choir

By Josey Ikker ('24)

On Friday Feb. 9, the Houghton Chamber Choir will present their concert titled “Christ With Me” at 6:30 p.m. for Greatbatch School of Music’s upcoming Preview Day. 

Every semester, Houghton hosts a School of Music Preview Day for prospective students who are looking to either major, minor or have a concentration in music. This preview day consists of a tour around the Center for the Arts, sitting in on a classroom setting, such as Music Theory, observations of Houghton Choir, interacting with current students and faculty, a student recital and a featured ensemble performance.

The Chamber Choir is a fourteen-member select ensemble. In order to audition, students must be at least a sophomore who is also in the Houghton Choir. 

The Chamber Choir was started in Dec. 2022 by Dr. Kevin Dibble, conductor of the Chamber Choir, Men’s Choir and Women’s Choir, and the Associate Director of Choral Activities. 

The Chamber Choir as Dr. Dibble described, “is a unique organization. It’s small, it can fit in different spaces. It can take advantage of different things.”

Recently, the ensemble participated in a Choir retreat before the first day of classes in which they learned a list of repertoire in less than a week and had the opportunity to perform for a Senior’s Luncheon at Family Life Ministries on Jan. 11.  

The ensemble’s repertoire consists of Renaissance music and traditional hymns, and the works featured for the upcoming Preview Day performance are by composers such as Gjelio, Flummerfelt, Paulus, Fleming and Stroope. 

Dr. Dibble explained the theme of the concert as “a representation of different stages in life in which these songs are used to inspire and remind us that Christ is with us.” 

One of Dr. Dibble’s favorite pieces in the concert is “The Deer’s Cry” by Arvo Pärt because, “that’s where the title of the concert [Christ with Me] comes from. Musically, seems to not do a lot but textually is very powerful.” He also shared that, “the simplicity of the music drives the listener and the singer to the significance of the text.”

Another factor for this concert is the location which will not be in the Recital Hall but in the atrium. 

“Visually the atrium presents a different aesthetic than a typical concert hall,” Dr. Dibble stated, “and this is the Chamber Choir’s first stand-alone concert…let’s do a little something out of the ordinary.” 

Dr. Dibble has expressed his enjoyment of working with the Chamber Choir, because they are a group of high-level, talented singers who “move quickly and make really great music.” 

Rachael McVeigh (‘23), a first-year graduate student, will be featured as another conductor for the concert. She will be conducting “O Radiant Dawn” by James MacMillan and “Estoy Les Digo” by Kinley Lange. 

“I like doing these two pieces together because they’re so different that I can work on two different skillsets,” McVeigh explained. “Estoy les Digo has a lot of slow and legato versus O Radiant Dawn which has a lot of sharp dynamic contrasts with similar interesting chord progressions.”

McVeigh has been singing with many of the Chamber Choir members for the past four years.

“It’s fun to get to conduct with my friends,” McVeigh said, “and have that support as I step into this new role.” 

All are welcome to attend and listen to the Chamber Choir in “Christ With Me” in the Center for the Arts Atrium. ★

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Voice Recitals

By Juliana Schmidt ('25)

On Monday Feb. 12 in the Center for the Arts Recital Hall, Sophia Pantea (‘24) will perform her Senior Recital at 6:30 p.m. and Evelyn Simanowski’s (‘25) Junior Recital will begin at 8 p.m., respectively. 

Professor Kimberly Prins Moeller, the Associate Professor of Voice, disclosed that Pantea’s recital will be full of beautiful and romantic music. It will involve a lot of “soaring melodies” and “heartfelt moments.” 

The title Pantea chose for her recital is “Fill My Heart.” She chose this partly because it is from her favorite musical “The Sound of Music”, but also because of the people at Houghton who have inspired her. 

“I am so blessed to be at Houghton and I have grown so much thanks to my loving teachers,” Pantea said. “This recital is a thank you to my friends and professors for helping me through [these] past few years.” 

As this is Pantea’s senior year at Houghton, she has worked very hard to get to this particular recital. While she is nervous, Pantea expressed that she is also super excited. 

Simanowski chose a French title for her recital called, “Scenes de Nuit” (translated as “Night Scenes”). She shared that the overall feelings for her recital are ones of excitement. 

Professor Prins Moeller revealed that there will be some unexpected twists and a few laughs to look forward to in Simanowski’s recital. 

“I’ve been present for many of her countless hours she’s put into practicing her French and it’s been quite a journey to get here,” Hannah Sturdivant (‘25) commented. “Getting to see her vision come to life in her recital hearing, photos, and poster has been uplifting to experience.” 

Simanowski confessed that it was very personal picking her own program, rehearsing and then presenting. She shared that her recital is her “passion project” and that sharing it with an audience will give her a feeling of satisfaction. 

“I’m expecting it to be a pretty vulnerable experience,” Simanowski admitted, “but I’m hoping in that vulnerability I can share the joy and meaning I found and this music with whoever comes.”

Professor Prins Moeller said that recitals are her favorite part of being an applied voice instructor. 

“I get to know these wonderful singers over several years of working together, then walk with them through the recital preparation process and witness their determination and growth, and finally get to see them bring all of the elements together into a cohesive evening that celebrates their talent, skill, and artistry,” Professor Prins Moeller commented. “It’s incredible!”

With both Pantea and Simanowski performing on the same night, it will prove to be an evening full of ups and downs, heartfelt lyrics and perhaps a few laughs. Overall, not a recital to be missed! ★

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Houghton’s New Men’s Volleyball Team

By Abigail Bates ('26)

Houghton’s new men’s volleyball program began playing in 2023-2024, under its Head Coach Lindsay Seddon and Assistant Coach Dave Bourne.

“When I decided to attend Houghton,” Elijah Sproull (‘26), a setter and rightside hitter, commented,  “I had accepted that I was leaving Volleyball behind, it was hard but I felt that this was where the Lord wanted me to be. I know now he has many reasons for having me here and being a part of this team is one of those.”

Lindsay Seddon, a volleyball alumna of Houghton University, returned in May of 2023 to serve as the program’s first Head Coach, with Coach Bourne later joining her in August. While women’s volleyball has strong roots at Houghton, men’s volleyball was only an active club sport during the 1990s and early 2000s. The current team consists of 14 players—Jerry Buno, Devin Burns, Luke George, Caleb Holscher, Gabriel Lucena, Thomas McGlynn, Anthony Panboon, Jonah Sissel, Elijah Sproull, Jase Stone, Elijah Studt, Devin Tullar, Jared Wright and Luke Yelle—who all entered the program with different levels of experience.

“Coach [Lindsay],” outside hitter Caleb Holscher (‘26) stated, “has done an incredible job of getting our program off the ground. She was tasked with taking a team of competitive volleyball players, athletes who had only played pick-up and Athletes who had never played the game and she made a team out of us.”

Due to the program being new, the coaches have been developing its foundations during the current season.

“Our focus this season is to cultivate who Houghton Men’s Volleyball is: and that’s representing Jesus by doing good work in all that we do, together,” Coach Seddon emphasized. 

Holscher put it as a motto of “More of Him,” which he explained as focusing on more of Jesus and less of themselves. He has expressed pride in how his teammates have embodied this attitude through honoring Christ first, building one another up, working hard to improve, preparing the program for future athletes and their brotherhood that encourages one another to be better men of God.

“The team has been amazing,” Sproull declared, “it has been awesome to see the exponential improvement from every player. We are the fastest improving team and that is so cool to be a part of.”

The team’s daily practices begin by warming up and stretching, and then they do partner control drills that focus on refining technique. Coach Seddon explained that when she and Coach Bourne spot weak points during their review of matches from the day prior, they will implement drills during practice to help the team perform better in those areas.

“Our guys are the best!” Coach Bourne expressed. “There is a great deal of cohesiveness and respect amongst all players. They value their relationship with God first and foremost. They work very hard and we can also share some laughs and lighter moments, too. We have many first time volleyball players that have taken learning the game very seriously. This is evidenced by the amazing improvement we have seen by all. All this has been nourished by Lindsay’s coaching and leadership.”

Holscher and Sproull both commented on how amazing their coaches have been this season, with Coach Seddon starting the program and Coach Bourne bringing his vast knowledge and experience to the team. Holscher added that a quote of Coach Bourne’s is “the ball doesn’t hit the floor without a body hitting the floor with it,” exemplifying how Coach Bourne keeps the atmosphere of the team light, while never being afraid to push Holscher and his teammates to give their best, no matter the circumstances.

“When the team [is] dialled in and focused, they are a force to be reckoned with and can keep up with teams who are more established,” Coach Seddon remarked.

The men’s volleyball team had their first match win against Maranatha Baptist this last Saturday Jan. 27 and will be up against Roberts Wesleyan on Saturday Feb. 3. While the team has played Roberts Wesleyan twice without winning yet, Holscher explained that they are excited to get “another shot at it” this weekend.

“So be at Nielsen at 2:00 this Saturday,” Holscher stated, “cause if we beat Roberts you’re gonna wish you had been in the building.” ★

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Gillette Hosts Disney Channel Throwbacks

By Anna Catherman ('24)

If you walk through Gillette Hall on a Monday night, you’re more than likely to hear laughs on at least one floor. Second New is no exception. Laughter and eyerolls both abound on Mondays starting at 9:30 p.m., when the floor has its weekly event: Disney Channel Throwbacks.

Every floor in Gillette has its own events, tailored by each foor’s Resident Assistant (RA) to the residents. When Emily Fausnaught (‘24) became the RA of Second New, she turned to a bulletin board in one of Gillette’s corners for inspiration. A musical themed board featuring Troy Bolton stirred up her nostalgia for Disney Channel originals. 

“There’s something a little cringey…and also wonderful about them,” Fausnaught said. “I wanted to share that with everyone else.” 

The first week of the movie nights began with the classic Disney Original, “High School Musical.” A few dedicated watchers joined Fausnaught in the floor’s lounge. Week two featured the “Princess Protection Program.” It was met by an even larger crowd, with couches and floor space filled. Attendees munched on popcorn and pretzels. 

One of the enthusiastic attendees was Gabby Wiltse (‘27). She scoured the internet for lists of Disney Channel originals, so she could suggest what the floor should watch next. 

“I kind of love Second New,” Wiltse said.

Others were less thrilled, but still supportive. Adelaide Sullivan (‘24) noted that she is an avid anime watcher. Watching Japanese-style animation, such as Demon Slayer, One Piece and My Hero Academia, taught her to analyze things closely. She finds the drama in the Disney Channel Original Movies to be a little over-the-top. 

“It’s hard not to overanalyze High School Musical,” Sullivan said. “It was not a terrible movie, but I think it could have been a more complex [storyline] instead of having drama just for drama . . . it was easy to tell what the bullies were going to do because their actions were predictable, as were the actions of others.”

Disney Channel Throwbacks will continue every Monday throughout the rest of the semester, with selections announced weekly prior to the event. The next gathering is on Feb. 5. ★