Writing
RECOMMENDED PROGRAM ELIMINATIONS SHOCK STUDENTS AND ALUMNI, CALVIN NOW UNDER SCRUTINY
Following an email announcement on Friday, September 25, of recommendations to eliminate six academic programs and five faculty members in order to cut costs in the academic division, many students and alumni have challenged Calvin’s commitment to the liberal arts.
The programs included in the announcement are the architecture minor, the art history major, the German major, the Latin major, the Greek major and the theater major. Except for architecture, minors in all these fields, as well as the Calvin Theatre Company, will be retained. Click to read more...
CRC JOINS WITH MICHIGAN FARMERS TO FIGHT FOR IMMIGRANTS
On Thursday, Oct. 10, representatives of Michigan farmers and growers gathered for a press conference to advocate new laws on immigration reform. The meeting took place at the headquarters of the Christian Reformed Church, the denomination that owns Calvin College.
The CRC itself has been fighting for immigration reform since around 2007, so its Office of Social Justice (OSJ) was happy to host the meeting. Click to read more...
EDITORIAL: THE ART OF ARGUING WELL
My family used to eat out a lot.
Or at least, part of me remembers that. I know that at some point, a long time ago in a state far, far away, we were living in a time of plenty.
But I remember the day when my dad told us that we wouldn’t be able to eat out as much anymore because we couldn’t afford it. To sixth-grade me, that didn’t really matter very much. To senior college student me, it still doesn’t matter very much. What did matter was what came afterwards. Click to read more...
NEW INTERIM CLASS GOES TO THE "HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH"
This year, Calvin political science professor Becca McBride took Interim to a whole new level.
She and 16 students spent six days this January in sunny Orlando, Fla., enjoying one of the greatest theme parks on earth: Walt Disney World. For three credit hours.
Like many who saw the promotional posters, senior Manabu Taketani applied, thinking it was too good to be true. “To be honest, at first, I was just expecting this to simply be a second winter vacation. I thought that I would just hang out with friends and enjoy my time in Disney World, which I did.”
“But,” he said, “the trip was much more than that.” Click to read more...
EDITORIAL: HOW TO FIND HAPPINESS IN COLLEGE
When I left for college I was told a lot of stories.
My parents said that I would experience the best years of my life and make friendships that would last forever. My siblings told me about their college days and all of the goofy antics they got up to with their friends. I watched the movies and drank in the stories of close-knit groups of college teens having adventures and bonding and getting straight A’s even though they never studied (Aka-scuse me?).
I got all of the pamphlets in the mail covered in photos of smiling, beautiful 20-somethings all having a great time at this fabulous school and telling me I was going to “thrive” and “find my calling”. Click to read more...
NEW GRAPHIC DESIGN MAJOR CHANGES THE NAME OF THE GAME FOR ART MAJORS
Historically, Calvin’s Art Department has not necessarily been the harbinger of academic innovation. But this year professor Franklin Speyers is moving to change that trend. Now in his 27th year of teaching at Calvin, Speyers is expanding the department by offering a major in graphic design.
Speyers said graphic design is changing the name of the game for the arts and art majors.
“[These are] students who want to study art and design as a vocation rather than as an avocation … who want to shape culture rather than to be shaped by culture.” Click to read more...