houghtonsga – Houghton STAR

By Anna Catherman (‘24)

A few of Houghton’s most prominent student organizations will be playing musical chairs this spring. Soon after students move off-campus, remodeling efforts will begin on the current Student Government Association (SGA) and Campus Activity Board (CAB) offices. These spaces, located in the campus center’s basement, will now be home to the newly-formed Student Experience Council (SEC), CAB, the Houghton Star and the Boulder.

Talk of the renovations began in the fall, when the new Committee of Student Organizations (COSO) realized that there would be funds left over from the Student Activity Fees due to decreased in-person programming as a result of COVID-19 restrictions.

Mary Vandenbosch (‘23) of the SEC explained that COSO asked, “Ok, what can we envision that’s going to be a place that is welcoming for the student body and that can also act as a professional space for their meeting, and also just be a great place for students to plan ideas and come up with new ways to promote events and organizations?”

COSO’s vision for the project is apparent even in the initial drawings, which promise a bright, user-friendly space. AC Taylor shared an artist’s rendering with The Star which shows a bright future for the office. Gone will be the SGA office’s red walls, replaced by glass doors which will allow passersby a peek in at the office’s occupants. The doors will be open during office hours and allow students to wander in and talk with their representatives. The built in countertops are being removed, and some of the desks are being moved to other areas. The space will be equipped with a brand-new conference table which will seat 10-12 students, and allow for larger meetings to take place in the space.

The new space will be able to be rented by any student group or organization looking to host an event – just like the Van Dyk lounge. Vandenbosch hopes it becomes an important resource for the clubs in the future.

The former CAB office is being transformed into a student publication suite. There, writers and staff for the Houghton Star and the Boulder will have a space to meet and plan newspaper issues and yearbook publications, as well as design the printed copies of The Star.

“[The Star]’s been stuck in a very small, barely 15 foot across, office.” Josiah Wiedenheft, co-editor of The Star, explained. “Especially difficult during the time of COVID. We can only have like two people in there at the time.”

The new publication suite will allow for higher occupancy and promote collaboration between colleagues of each of the organizations.

Most of the work is set to be done in May, with a few finishing touches possibly occurring later in the summer. Students staying for Mayterm will doubtless get a glimpse of the construction being done. Those returning home for the summer will be able to check out the new space when they return in the fall. ★

On Monday evening the Student Government Association (SGA) held its second public forum about the proposed changes to the Community Covenant. The meeting was held in the Paine Science Building’s Schaller Lecture Hall, which was filled to capacity. Before discussion began, Jiwan Dhaliwal ‘17 provided a devotion and prayer. She admonished the crowd to “allow the Christian story and ethic of love to supercede your personal theological beliefs,” and added further that “we will lose our Christian community if we don’t value love above all else.” This call for unity in love was echoed by several community members throughout the evening.

Photo courtesy of Lily Brunner

Following the devotion, Vice President for Student Life, Robert Pool, spoke about the intent behind the proposed changes to the Community Covenant. The new language is meant to “clarify” the current use of the phrase “homosexual behavior.”

The proposed revised language reads:

“We believe, consistent with scripture and Wesleyan Church doctrine, that certain acts are clearly prohibited including: drinking alcohol to excess, stealing, speaking or writing profanely or slanderously, acting dishonestly, cheating, and engaging in occult practice. We also believe that sexual expression should be confined to marriage between one man and one woman as legally assigned at birth. Therefore, we expect members of the Houghton College community to refrain from engaging in premarital sex, adultery, and same-sex sexual behavior or dating relationships. We also expect all community members to use discretion and modesty when displaying affection, especially such displays deemed inappropriate for public or commons spaces.”

The floor was then opened for general discussion, moderated by student body president, Joanna Friesen ‘17. Community members on both sides of the issue shared their views.

Photo courtesy of Lily Brunner

The final voice heard in the open discussion was that of Ron McEntire, a current graduate student in Organ Performance. He told the story of his life, admitting that he was a gay Christian who first attended Houghton in the 1960’s. Though he was always aware that his identity as a gay man stood in tension with Wesleyan Church doctrine, his commitment to the Christian faith transcended differences about sexual ethics, regardless of how painful they could be. On the topic of the proposed revision he said, “When I look at this language I don’t feel safe here.” This sentiment was shared by other members of the LGBTQ community on campus.

After open discussion ended the SGA voted on whether or not to reject and edit the proposed language. They chose to reject and edit, and will create an editing committee comprised of the Executive Council and class presidents. The purpose of this committee will be to find language that addresses the vagueness within the current covenant, while remaining sensitive to the needs of the entire community. As Pool said, “The intent is that the entire community agrees on the language. If not, then it’s not a community covenant.” Any questions, comments, or proposals for the Covenant language can be sent to the SGA at their email, sga@hougthon.edu