Tag: Houghton University

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News

Coffee, Chocolate, Conservation

By Amelia Brown

Everyone knows Eli Knapp loves birds, but at the Coppa Conservation event at 7 p.m. on September 23, Knapp will share about his love of wolves, which began as a child and led him to Yellowstone National Park as an adult.

“Some of us outgrow our childhood interests and some don’t,” he said.

Knapp is a part of the group that did not outgrow their childhood interests but rather he turned them into his career. Today he is a professor, birder, field botanist, and animal expert. As Knapp studies the interactions between the environment and humans as he did in East Africa, the importance of conservation has never left his mind.

“To diminish the world to just us, or just a few species, diminishes us and the expression of God’s glory,” he said.

Human’s ever-increasing impact on the environment has led to habitat destruction and loss of biodiversity, thus leading to less opportunities to encounter God’s creation.

Brian Webb, the director for the Center for Sustainability, describes the purpose of the Coppa Co and Center for Sustainability event. 

“We are hoping to bring awareness to conservation issues, such as biodiversity and animal protection, and how our purchasing of items like coffee and chocolate can have a positive or negative effect on biodiversity” Webb explains. 

Students that follow the Center for Sustainability on Instagram can receive a free flight tray of Fair Trade coffee. Other drinks from Coppa Co are also available for purchase. All other community members can purchase coffee flights for four dollars. Endangered Species Chocolate, a brand that prioritizes conservation through donations and sustainably sourced ingredients, will be available for tasting.

Elijah Studt, a freshman, explained he will be attending the event because “I want to know what difference I can make” to conserve natural resources. 

After an hour of live music from Selah Kurtz and Linette Taylor, Knapp will share stories about the animal encounters he has experienced around the firepit at Coppa Co.  If you are still on the fence of whether to attend, Knapp has already considered this possibility

“Even if the stories fail, we still have hot chocolate and fire.”★

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News

Changes to Residence Hall Life

By Jax Johnson

Fall semester has come to Houghton University and students have settled into their respective housing locations. While every year brings new beginnings, this year provided more than previous years with the dorm changes for the ‘22 -’23 academic year. Due to the renovations in Shenawana, Lambein has been temporarily converted into a men’s dorm, which, in turn, has made Gillette the only women’s dorm this year.  

  Students like sophomore Jacob Holmberg are happy with these changes, saying, “Lambien is an upgrade to Roth. The rooms are bigger, there’s more storage, and the showers are twice as big. It’s also nice not having to walk up Roth hill every day. It makes me understand why girls outweigh the guys here at Houghton.”

 Others like junior Sarah Rider, a previous Lambein resident, are embracing their new home. Rider discussed that she has enjoyed events such as the Great Gillette Race and the overall liveliness that comes with the new combined women’s dorm. 

“I have been so grateful to have been invited into the Gillette community and really like having all the girls living in one dorm,” she said “It feels more full in there and there are more people around and opportunities to do things with others.”

Senior Izzy Murch, who was previously a resident assistant in Lambein and is now a Gillette RA, has bittersweet feelings toward the transition.

“While I was initially pretty sad about moving to Gillette my senior year after living in Lambein for the last three, I’ve found that the ability to connect with all on-campus women in the same residence hall has been incredibly rewarding and fun,” she said. “Living in a new place has kept the RA position fresh for me and has given me the opportunity to work with 13 amazing women, which would have never happened if I still lived in Lambein. I still miss my creekside view, though!”

Senior Kathryn Groff, another Gillette RA who has moved over from Lambein, has shared her thoughts on her new experiences.“It definitely is a learning experience having lived in Lambein the past three years, but it’s wonderful to have previous Gillette RAs lead the way and with such patience,” Groff said “Additionally, it is an exciting opportunity as an RA to have all the women in one residence hall and focus in on what brings us together women at Houghton, and cultivating a unique culture for future generations of women who come to campus.” 

Resident Director of Gillette Hall Reagan Zelaya also expressed her excitement for Gillette’s changes by saying that she is loving the opportunity to experience the unique culture of all of the women on campus, and is hoping that this experience can display a sense of unity without the division between Lambein and Gillette. 

While the change in dorms has been an adjustment, it is also an opportunity for students to experience something new. Along with those new experiences are new dynamics created through different people living in a community.★

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Opinions

Unfamiliar Atmospheres

By Aaron Hinton

When I moved back to Houghton University, there were two things that I was excited to do once more: fiddle around with my PC and return to work at Java 101. While one allows me to be distracted and remain in my room, the latter enables me to interact and have conversations with fellow students and provide them fuel for the day. Unfortunately, one of these anticipations became a fantasy.

On the 28th of August, the day before the semester started, I checked my email and noticed there was one concerning Java. In this email, it was explained that there were changes to scheduling and operations in Java. The following sentence caused my heart to stop for a split second: “Based on those changes, we have unfortunately made the difficult decision to remove you from your scheduled shifts.”  

  I understand that this is how things go with businesses; things change, and sometimes the staff must change along with it by adapting or being released. However, if these changes were made over the summer break, shouldn’t there have been some emails sent to the workers mentioning the change that could occur? Ideally, yes. Did that happen? No. Looking through my email, there were no emails sent to Java student workers mentioning anything about a chopping block, let alone possible changes. Additionally, the email notifying me of being let go was sent the day before the semester began. Again, something that would have been nice to know in advance. 

Now, I could go on about being let go, but that is not the point of this article. The point is that my letting go was a small part of  Metz’s ultimatum.

Two days after receiving the disappointing email, I ran into a friend in the dining hall who also worked at Java. He asked if I was let go, to which I responded with a mournful yes. Sorrowfully, he replied that his employment at Java was also terminated in the same fashion. My friend then followed it up with a statement that rocked me to my core.  

The number of student workers at Java is being greatly diminished.   

Upon hearing this, I became filled with a mixture of worry and displeasure. While the latter seems straightforward since I was let go from what I saw as an excellent job opportunity for any Houghton student, the former may need some explanation. I became worried not only for the other student workers who were let go from Java this semester but also for the student workers at Sizzle & Swirl and the campus dining hall. I’m worried that Metz may be trying to do away with student workers.

Another point I would like to bring is what this change could mean for the atmosphere of Java once all student workers are gone. When you enter Java and see a student behind the counter ready to take your order, you feel like you are walking into a classroom: it is familiar, students know that they are welcome, and we can group up with our friends if they are there. As a bonus, we know Java will not assign stressful homework and you can get a latte how you’d like it. While removing student workers from Java will not affect the quality of the lattes and chances of a student leaving with an essay on coffee due by next Friday, the familiarity would change. This change in Java’s mood could go on to affect whether someone would want to stay in the coffeehouse as they chat with friends or work on an assignment. 

Some readers may see my statement about the change in atmosphere and think I am exaggerating and incorrect about how it would change your experience. Well, think of it like this: if someone were to go into an Irish-themed restaurant and notice that the servers are dressed in American pop band shirts, khaki shorts, and Crocs, would they still think that the establishment is trying to give off an Irish-like atmosphere? While I understand the improbability of this happening to someone, don’t you think removing student workers from behind the counter will put a dent in an atmosphere made for college students? 

Now, I am not one that is completely against change. I even embrace it if there is a great benefit to gain from it. However, if something is to change, there should be a legitimate reason, and to me, there doesn’t appear to be a definitive motive to displace student workers from Java. While we don’t know why Metz is making these changes, I worry about the effect it can have on Java’s atmosphere.

Yet, the question still stands: why, Metz? Why change Java like this? ★

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News

Metz Changes Confuse and Concern

By Sarah Burton

The new school year of 2022-2023 at Houghton has brought in many changes, most notably the change from college to university. However, the title is not the only thing that has undergone change – Metz’s dining options for students have as well. 

Dinner hours on weekdays have been extended on Mondays through Thursdays from 8:00pm to 9:30pm. Poblano’s and Big Als have been replaced by Sizzle and Swirl with Poblano’s reappearing in the Dining Hall as a taco/burrito bar. Big Als was not as fortunate to make a return.

In an interview, sophomore Alliah Fluent remarked on the changes Metz has made this year, saying how she appreciates the smoothie bar and waffle maker but misses the pasta station. The change Fluent feels the most is the removal of meal exchange.

“Athletes are most affected by these changes,” she said. “The extended hours don’t have a lot of good options for us. I haven’t been able to visit Sizzle and Swirl yet because I haven’t had time.” 

She also mentioned the use of flex dollars, saying, “Other meal plans at other schools allow for multiple flex options; we already have a limited amount of flex dollars to spend at Java, having another place only makes it harder.” 

Sophomore Tony Agueci Jr.  discussed the changes to Metz as well. 

“I do have a problem with having to use flex dollars for the “Swirl” half,” he said. “I feel like a big part of Houghton culture is the ice cream being always available in the Dining Hall.”

He also mentioned that Houghton was the number one consumer of ice cream from the company from which it used to buy.

“Houghton ate the most ice cream of all. I feel like that’s a name we should try to live up to, as unhealthy as it sounds,” he said.

To be able to do this, Agueci believes it would be a good idea to move the soft-serve back upstairs at least, while keeping the special flavors downstairs.

In terms of the Poblano’s burrito bar, he really only has one fear. 

“What I know is that the Poblano’s station is where they used to serve Buffalo chicken nuggets, so I hope the burritos don’t replace the ‘buff nuggs!’” he said.

Change is always difficult, and the Houghton student body is facing a lot of it this year. In response to Metz’s new dining options, the majority of students seem concerned not only about the use of flex dollars, or the accommodations for various student groups, but also how it impacts the culture of the campus as a whole.★