Tag: purple and gold week

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Campus News

Excitement Builds for Houghton’s Sixth Presidential Inauguration

On October 1, 2021, Dr. Wayne D. Lewis Jr. will be inaugurated as the 6th president of Houghton College. Photo Courtesy of Michael Blankenship.

By Anna Catherman (’24)

Purple and Gold Week will come to a climax on Friday, Oct. 1 with the inauguration of Houghton College’s sixth president, Dr. Wayne D. Lewis, Jr. Dr. Lewis has been serving in the role since June, but traditionally Houghton’s presidential inaugurations have taken place the first weekend of October, usually alongside the numerous annual Homecoming activities. While Homecoming has been scaled back this year, the Inauguration is set to provide a unique experience for students currently on-campus, as well as faculty, staff, and a handful of invited guests.

The main event of Inauguration weekend will be the ceremony itself, which is set to take place in the Wesley Chapel on Friday from 10-11:30 a.m. With concerns around COVID-19 still plaguing much of the country, the crowd will be smaller than previous inaugurations, but there will be some distinguished guests. 

Inside the chapel will be President Lewis’s family and friends, along with some Houghton faculty, staff, and students. Dr. Shirley Hoogstra, president of the Coalition of Christian Colleges and Universities, will be in attendance along with delegates from a handful of colleges, including John Schneider from Harvard University. Schneider is a Houghton alumnus and a great-great-great grandson of Willard J. Houghton. Alumni, community members, and others are being invited to watch the Inauguration via a live stream.

The ceremony will have a strong worship element, as requested by President Lewis and his family, and will feature many members of the Houghton community in responsive readings, prayers, and speeches. Student Body President Malachi Yeager (‘22) will be representing the Main Campus students in the ceremony. He will be participating in a charge to the President, given alongside Patricia Davis, who will be representing Buffalo East Side, and Aaron Salomon, who will be representing Buffalo West.

Yeager told the STAR “I am honored to be a part of such a historic event. This was not something I had anticipated being a part of when I was in the running for Student Body President. It’s not often Presidential Inaugurations take place and thus I hope the Lord blesses the ceremony and President Lewis’s future service to the college.”
Many other events will take place throughout the weekend, according to Dr. Cathy Freytag, one of the Inauguration Committee members. “It’s been a long, detailed process with many, many stakeholders.”

There will be a gala on Thursday evening, an art gallery presentation and a meet-and-greet on the quad Friday afternoon, and a celebratory concert and fireworks on Friday evening. 

Thursday evening’s gala on the Quad will feature New Orleans jazz, snack stations, and dancing. Faculty, staff, and students are all invited to attend, and formal attire is encouraged.

Dr. Carrie Magin was commissioned to compose an original song, entitled Into Twilight, in honor of the Inauguration. “I’ve been commissioned by ensembles and professionals from across the U.S., but it’s been such a special honor and privilege to compose this new work for our very own Houghton College Wind Ensemble. The students are hard at work on bringing this piece to life, and we’re all hopeful that it will be impactful in celebrating and commemorating the significant event of President Lewis’s inauguration.” Into Twilight will debut at 7 p.m. at the Greatbatch School of Music’s Inauguration Concert.

Dr. Ted Murphy will be presenting on Houghton’s artwork collection at 3 o’clock p.m. in the Ortlip Art Gallery. “Strangely Warmed”, a piece made specifically for the Inauguration, will be the highlight of the event. It is a colorful, post-impressionist style oil and mixed medium painting. Dr. Murphy talked to President Lewis personally before embarking on the project, and planned it according to his taste. The piece will be shown alongside a number of other works in an exhibition entitled  “Archive: A History of Art at Houghton College.”

Campus is buzzing with excitement for the rare and historic event. “I think it is going to be a very special time, not just for the institution, but for President Lewis.” noted Phyllis Gaerte, an Inauguration committee member. She, along with Greg Bish, are the only members of the committee who have served on an Inauguration committee before; they both played roles in planning President Shirley Mullen’s inauguration.

Numerous students also were eager to share their thoughts on the events. Grace Deitrick (‘23) said she is “deeply excited.” Kathryn Groff (‘23) expressed surprise and enthusiasm at the fact that such an important event was taking place during her four short years here.

President Lewis himself took a few minutes out of his busy schedule to talk to the STAR. When asked what he was most excited about, he explained he’s excited for the college to come together and mark such an important event in Houghton’s history. “We’re a college that’s been there for 140 years, almost, and only the sixth college president, that’s pretty remarkable. Thankfully, this is not something that the college does very often, due to stability in leadership, and so I think it’s a great opportunity for us to come together…and to thank God for how far he’s brought us and to prepare for the next chapter in the college’s history.” ★

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Campus News

Homecoming Looking “Virtually” the Same Despite Pandemic Restrictions

Article written by Hannah Fraser (‘23).

Legacies are built over time. The Houghton legacy continues to grow as students, alumni, and faculty create changes and celebrate victories. This year’s Homecoming weekend gives another opportunity for Houghton to gather and connect. The Houghton Homecoming weekend is an opportunity for alumni and current students to build a legacy and celebrate the direction of our movement as a community. 

This year, despite the given circumstances of COVID-19 restrictions, Homecoming maintains the same goal. Phyllis Gaerte, the Director of Alumni and Community Engagement, said that even though the delivery and platforms are different, the goal is still “to bring together the Houghton College community – alumni, students, families, and friends – to celebrate our rich heritage, discover what is new and current, and to envision the future together.”

The main difference between this year and former years is the virtual aspect. The decision to move to a fully virtual Homecoming weekend was made early in the summer after the guidelines for reopening came from New York State and the Houghton PREP team. Most events will not be in person, but the schedule remains similar. “We will have the Greatbatch School of Music Concert, our Homecoming Legacy Chapel that features our annual alumni awards, class reunions that will be held via Zoom, an art exhibition, equestrian open house, the Highlander 5K, and more,” said Gaerte. She encouraged students to go to the Houghton website where links to the programs will be posted. 

 Programs like “Hands on Houghton” and the Legacy Chapel display aspects of the community outside the student body. “Hands on Houghton” is a way for Houghton to showcase their academic departments, and these virtual activities include art, ornithology, and outdoor recreation. 

Students’ reactions to this year’s schedule display the optimism and hopefulness of the student body, as well as some caution about the virtual aspect. Mallory Horn (‘23) said, “I think it’s awesome to see how even in the midst of such a unique season, Houghton has still found so many ways for the community to safely celebrate Homecoming and to connect with one another. I’m most looking forward to the homecoming concert!” 

Timothy Lund (‘23) responded, “I have never been to Homecoming before but the thought of doing it virtually seems a bit bizarre. I think given the COVID situation, a virtual Homecoming is the only way to go about things without creating a health risk… but still it’s going to be quite odd, to say the least.” 

Purple and Gold Week leads to Homecoming weekend, and the week’s events also look different because of the current guidelines. Like Homecoming, the events are mostly virtual, and CAB has planned ways to engage students wherever they are. AC Taylor, the Director of Student Engagement, said “The ultimate goal of Purple & Gold Week is to help foster school spirit and a sense of belonging for students at Houghton.” He said that the goal is the same this year, but it needs to play out differently. Links are posted for virtual events throughout the week. 

One of the events that presented the greatest challenge to translate into a world with COVID-19 restrictions was the Homecoming dance. CAB is hosting a Houghton Photo Stroll instead, which AC Taylor said allows for us to “maintain the dressing up with friends and making memories aspect of the dance while addressing student health and safety concerns of crowd size, social distancing, and time constraints.” 

To finish off the week, SPOT will be hosted virtually on Saturday at 10:00 PM. SPOT is a long-standing Houghton College talent show that features any Houghton student. The hosts for this year, Jakob and Ingrid Knudsen, decided on the theme “Masquerade” before the pandemic, and Ingrid said, “When the pandemic came our idea seemed even more applicable and we just kept going with it!”

Ever since he was a first-year student, Jakob wanted to host SPOT. “SPOT was something that felt quintessentially Houghton,” he said, “Students working together to show off their awesome talents and/or goofy sides,” he said. When his sister came to Houghton, they decided they wanted to host together. 

Challenges due to COVID-19 restrictions meant that Jakob and Ingrid had to get creative with advertising, so they used Instagram as a way to let people know SPOT is still happening and to promote student involvement. They were afraid that because of COVID-19 they wouldn’t receive many submissions, but according to Jakob, “Houghton has more than exceeded our expectations,” and they’re excited about the submissions students and faculty have submitted. 

Students can’t gather in the chapel for SPOT like before, but Ingrid encourages watching while it’s streaming on YouTube with roommates or other friends in a socially distanced way. “It is happening, and we want you there!” She said, “This is going to be the most unique SPOT, at least we think, in Houghton’s history! You will always remember the show that happened amidst the pandemic in 2020, and this will be the only one!” 

The goals of all these events include celebrating Houghton’s community and uniting the student body and the faculty. While the format of these programs will look different, students can still participate in meaningful ways.

What are your thoughts on Homecoming, Purple & Gold Week, and SPOT this year? Excited? Not as interested? Comment below or get in touch with us via Instagram, Twitter, or email (editor@houghtonstar.com)!

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Campus News

Purple And Gold Week 2016

Houghton’s annual Purple and Gold week will occur alongside Homecoming Week, October 3 through October 8. This year, first year students and transfers were assigned to either the Purple or Gold teams, while in previous years students could choose their teams. As per tradition, the two teams will compete in various events throughout the week.

puple-and-goldThe origin of Purple and Gold stems from Houghton’s early history. Before participating in intercollegiate athletics, Houghton students competed against each other for Team Purple or Team Gold. The Campus Activities Board (CAB) intents to bring back Purple and Gold Week’s competitive spirit with a host of new and time-honored activities. Laura Cunningham, Resident director of Gillette, stated “I think Purple and Gold Week has expanded since I started working at Houghton. Powderpuff football was a main event a few years ago, but I like that there are other events that happen throughout the week.  I think there is greater momentum leading up to Homecoming Weekend.”

CAB member, Kasey Cannister ‘17, stated “Our main goal is to keep making the rivalry between Purple and Gold Strong. The past few years the rivalry has went away. Purple and Gold existed but it was not as strong of a competition as it was in the past. Last year we tried to emphasize Purple vs. Gold and ensure that there was a competition every single day. This year we are trying to do that again.”

Some of the events that are planned are a lip sync battle, trivia night, pudding tug of war, a flag football game,and capture the flag. In addition to those events, throughout the week there will be “pop-up” Minute To Win It games during lunch, and a sidewalk chalk competition. Saturday will host  relay races in which alumni are  encouraged to participate. The culmination of Purple and Gold week will be on Saturday night with Purple and Gold SPOT.

SPOT is the variety show that occurs once a semester. The fall semester hosts, Travis Trotman ‘17 and Sarah Duttweiler ‘17, chose to focus SPOT on Purple and Gold week. Duttweiler stated, “I think as the SPOT Hosts this year, we really wanted to build on that historic competition and have people really create this dedication to their teams.” She continued, “We have been working hard to make sure it is a good show, that it will be interactive, and exciting. We have seen a lot of great acts try out so we are really positive about the show. Everyone should make sure they come out for the show, sporting their team colors.”

An event unique to Fall 2016 will be the Tree of Life celebration. The Tree of Life, the tree at the center of the Field of Dreams, was struck by lightning during a severe storm this summer. CAB has planned a bonfire at the stump of the Tree of Life. According to CAB Townhouse representative, Tess Taggart ‘18, the bonfire will be a kick-off event for the homecoming and Purple and Gold festivities.

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News

Campus Celebrates Purple and Gold Week

Purple and Gold Week is a well-known tradition at Houghton. The week’s events include free t-shirts for students to show their loyalty for either purple or gold and participate in the “Houghton Out” at the basketball games, and campus-wide entertainment such as the Pyramid Game Show and SPOT.

CAB is in the organization most involved in Purple and Gold week, organizing and overseeing most of the week’s events. Other groups such as the athletics department and the Class of 2015 co-sponsor some of the events as well. Due to its extended run, CAB devotes a significant amount of time toward planning and running the week’s events. Events such as SPOT and the Pyramid Game especially require advanced planning. For example, the selection of SPOT hosts Luke Ogden and John Carpenter took place at the end of last semester. Alongside planning for these larger-scale events is what CAB member Joshua Duttweiler said were the “usual steps in planning a party; decorations, food, etc.”

P&GfrontpagerThe planning for this year’s events was similar to last year’s, said Duttweiler, “with the exception of changing the game show to Pyramid which is a better known game “than last year’s ‘Match Game.’” Zina Teague, a Houghton alumna who has been selected to be a contestant on the Pyramid Game, said that she loves participating in Purple and Gold week events as an alumna, even if it is just to “simply share her goofiness with others” on campus. Additionally, the “Just Dance” Tournament, which was new to last year, was brought back due to its popularity and Duttweiler said CAB expects it be a success again. Most of the events are chosen “based on tradition,” said Duttweiler; “the shirts, CAB Couch during the basketball game, the game show, SPOT, and the dodgeball tournament have been going on for many years now and are looked forward to every year.”

Vice President for Student Life Robert Pool added that he had been working with SGA to help them think of “ways to relight the fire” encouraging student involvement, and to “make Purple and Gold week better, stronger, and more institutionally adopted.” Pool said that the purpose of Purple and Gold week is to not only “have fun” but to “boost school spirit” and “encourage a common experience among all students.”

Pool said that student response has “met and even exceeded expectations.” This week is rooted in Houghton tradition that goes back even to its “heyday” in the mid to late 1960s when “freshmen were divided into purple and gold, [it] was their identity…they bled purple and gold,” said Pool, who added that some Houghton alums, such as Paul Mills, “really remember those times.” Pool said of Mills that he remains “very loyal to his Gold team,” continuing tradition instilled over 50 years ago.

“These [will be] some of the cherished memories that all of us want to have to tell your children and grandchildren what college is like. [Purple and Gold week] has a lot of cherished value that will help students connect with their alma mater,” said Pool.

 

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Purple and Gold Basketball Spirit

Courtesy of Kathryn Hornibrook
Courtesy of Kathryn Hornibrook

If you weren’t among the dual colored throng of fans crowding the Nielsen bleachers last Tuesday night for the women’s and men’s Purple and Gold week games, you missed out on a night of collective school spirit, CAB prizes, a chance to show off a snazzy gold shirt, and some pretty entertaining basketball.

Although the men ultimately lost to St John Fisher with a final score of 75-62, head coach Drew Hannan said that “the game came down to the last minute” and that he’s optimistic for the success of the team’s near future, despite setbacks.

“We have struggled all year to put together a forty minute team effort, but of late we have begun doing that and putting ourselves in position to beat some of the best teams in the conference (Nazareth, Ithaca, St. John Fisher, etc.),” said Hannan. “The last five games have been by far our best games all year and, as a coach, all I can ask is that our guys continue to work and continue to get better.”

Although Hannan said the team needs to hone their ability to “make plays late in a game, whether it be executing on offense or getting stops on defense,” he’s exceedingly proud of their “resilience and perseverance.”

“The sheer amount and types of adversity we have faced this year would cause most people to lose their edge, their motivation,” said Hannan, “but not these guys, which is our biggest asset.”  Hannan attributes the team’s positivity and determination not only to the character of individual players and the moral of the group but also to the enthusiasm of fans.

“The fans of late have been the best, most supportive group since my time here,” said Hannan. “Their support during games and encouragement away from them is what is helping to keep these guys going through this tough stretch.”

Hannan added that the fans were particularly uplifting. They were “amazing and into the game,”

Courtesy of Kathryn Hornibrook
Courtesy of Kathryn Hornibrook

said Hannan. “The effect is obvious if you just read some of the posts our players made after the game. They were all about how great the fans were and how much the guys love, appreciate, and need it.”

Team member Seth Shay agreed with Hannan’s appraisal of the spectators. “Our fans were extremely involved and supportive. This kind of home court support is crucial in close games and I truly believed it affected the way we played,” said Shay. He added “ The school spirit here at Houghton College is as good as I have ever seen it in my 4 years. I’m proud to be a Highlander when I look to the stands and see a mass crowd of purple and gold. As a team, we want to thank all of you for your support!”

The women also lost their game to St. John Fisher with a final score of 70-80, but senior team-member Michelle Persons said that the Houghton team rallied during the second half. “The second half was much better offensively and defensively,” said Persons. “We talked at half-time about communicating better on defense, which in turn would help our offense flow better as we made it a team effort.”

Persons said that the accuracy of the Fisher player’s foul shots hurt the Houghton team and that if the women “had played a better first half, the outcome definitely would have been different… The team stepped up the intensity the second half immensely, we just couldn’t close the gap.”
Several players are currently recovering from injuries which have created additional obstacles for the team, and Persons said, “They bring a lot to the team and we would be very glad to have them back.”

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New Semester, New Opportunities

Here we are; a new semester is upon us! I present you with a question: What are you going to make of your time at Houghton for spring 2013? Our new Vice President for Student Life, Dr. Rob Pool, recently challenged the Senate to reach our “Big Hairy Audacious Goals” (BHAGs), and he explained that the Office of Student Life exists to facilitate students’ working toward their goals. In the words of Dr. Pool, I encourage you as students to attain your “BHAGs” this semester! (You don’t have to call them BHAGs though.)

Courtesy of www.houghton.edu
Courtesy of www.houghton.edu

How can SGA help you attain your goals as a student? Already this semester, the Senate has approved requests from clubs and student groups for over $1500 in student funds. If you are part of a Christian life club or a general student club on campus, we still have funds available. While I’m discussing clubs, I should point out that our student clubs have been very successful this semester—with a variety of activities hosted by Black Heritage Club, MercySeat, Global Christian Fellowship and Runnymede Pre-Law Society—just to name a few.

This spring offers you a great opportunity for community service, just as Make a Difference Day did last fall. Each year the college sponsors MLK Service Day in the spring, and this year’s event will take place on Saturday, April 13. Keep this event in mind, and look for ways to get involved in service to our surrounding communities.

On the topic of service, the SGA is working to expand opportunities to reach out to international students at Houghton Academy. One way you can start right now is by taking time to sit with Academy students who come to our dining hall on the weekends. And have you heard of the Highlander Commission? This is a student group working to promote school spirit by instating traditions including the Scottish Highlander mascot and our school colors of Purple and Gold. SGA Vice President Benjamin Hardy is heading up this effort, so ask him how the SGA is working to bolster our common identity as Highlanders in the next few months.
Speaking of purple and gold, be sure to thank the Campus Activities Board for their hard work on Purple and Gold Week!

As a fellow Highlander and member of the Student Government, I pose another set of questions for you. What do you think of SGA? How can SGA better represent the whole student body? How can SGA be a group in which you want to participate? The Senate wants to know what you think about these questions, as we are looking at our current structure to find what would be the best way to encourage student involvement and representation through SGA.

Also concerning participation, SGA election plans for next year are already underway, and Wynn Horton will be spearheading these efforts as Election Commissioner. Contact Wynn if you want to run for an SGA position for next year.

Moving through this semester, be assured that SGA wants to represent your concerns well. The Senate is working with the Office of Student Life to improve communication regarding changes on campus. Thanks to the work of Senator Wynn Horton and others, there will soon be a page on the Current Students section of the college website for you to submit your feedback on any student issues to be reviewed by individuals from SGA and from Student Life.

What are you going to make of your time at Houghton for spring 2013? Let us know how we can help by contacting your senators or contacting sga@houghton.edu. Happy Purple and Gold Week, Highlanders!