SPRING 2015 2012
THE MAGAZINE OF GORDON COLLEGE
STILLPOINT
A Place for Invention 14 Mark Sargent: On the “Living Ground” of Gordon College 17
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF GORDON COLLEGE The “School of Christ”— 125 Years Later
Also in Also This in Issue This Issue 28 Beyond 6 JudNarnia: Carlberg TheRemembered Staying Power of 22C.An S. Examined Lewis 30 Faith Good Friday 31 TheFaith Wittenberg 31 A Book Window Is Born
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A DAY IN THE LIFE OF GORDON COLLEGE
10 STILLPOINT | SPRING 2015
A DAY IN THE LIFE
The “School of Christ”— 125 Years Later “Following Jesus is a radical call to give everything to Jesus; it is a call to be ‘all in,’’’ says the Reverend Tom Haugen, Gordon’s chaplain, explaining the spring semester’s Chapel theme. “All in” is at the core of Gordon’s identity—its sine qua non every bit as much today in 2015 as it was in 1889, when 16 students attended the first classes in rented rooms behind the Bowdoin Square Tabernacle. Call it staying focused. Call it keeping the main thing the main thing. Call it a school of Christ. Gordon’s first instructor, Dr. F. L. Chapell, described the new school as a “gathering of earnest souls to get what preparation they can for whatever work the Lord may induct them into.” And 125 years (or 45,776 days) later, Gordon students still arrive on campus each year looking earnestly to the future. Mollie Enright ’15 is pursuing research to advance safer agricultural procedures. Dami Junaid ’14 is improving public health education in Nigeria. Schuyler Anderson ’14’s skateboard company, Salem Board Co., has become a job-creation program for inner-city youth in Nashville, Tennessee. At Gordon dreams like these are informed, tested and tried. Students emerge not just dreaming, but equipped. Call it holy boldness. Call it a focus on the common good. Call it a liberal arts education that works. Gordon’s accomplished faculty—then and now—live a paradoxical life. On the one hand, they are diligent scholars who make significant contributions, many of them out on the leading edges
of their respective fields. Physicist David Lee works on Big Cluster computing. Mindy Eichhorn of Gordon’s Education Department will revisit India this summer to continue her research on math disabilities. Andrew Logemann (English) is exploring the “digital humanities.” Musician Jamie Hillman dovetails music with social justice as he brings the Men’s Choir into Greater Boston prisons. These productive scholars also invest sacrificially in building up their students. Call it casting your bread upon the waters. Call it understanding where one’s treasure is. Call it faithful leadership. The photojournal that follows traces a typical day in the life of the Gordon College of the present. We’d like you to believe it all happened in one day, but these are scenes from several snowy weeks this winter. You may notice things that have changed since you graduated—but we hope that, much more, you recognize what has stayed the same. Call it a school of Christ for the 21st century. We have prefaced each part of the day with a brief prayer for the ongoing life of the College. These prayers are “collects” (accent on the first syllable) from the Book of Common Prayer. The word reflects the function of these prayers—to gather the people together for worship. At Gordon, our work—our teaching and learning, our going forth and serving—has always been an essential way we worship. May it always be so at Gordon College, to the greater glory of God.
Feature Photos Mark Spooner ’14 SPRING 2015 | STILLPOINT 11
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9 a.m.
MORNING Almighty God, our heavenly Father, you declare your glory and show forth your handiwork in the heavens and in the earth: Deliver us in our various occupations from the service of self alone, that we may do the work you give us to do in truth and beauty and for the common good; for the sake of him who came among us as one who serves, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. “For Vocation in Daily Work,” Book of Common Prayer
10 a.m. 8:30 a.m.
8:30 a.m.
9 a.m.
10 a.m.
Brainstorming over coffee at Bistro 255 (Gordon’s newest eatery), John Buckley ’15, Jacob Padilla ’17 and Drew Morgan ’15 plan the new late-night show Exit 17 Live—live music, sketches, an in-house band, and as John puts it, “a killer host.”
In Tavilla Hall, Moriah O’Neill ’15 reviews an assignment before class. In her senior practicum this spring at Beverly Hospital, she “shadows” social workers. At home, her apartment-mates Monica Wong ’15, Sophie Grace Nicles ’15 and Jordan Clare ’15 have voted her “best cook.”
“At Gordon College there are no nonsacred majors,” said Dr. Marvin Wilson, pictured here in his Prophetic Literature class. The course studies Old Testament prophecy and New Testament revelation, placing these writings in context with contemporary literature.
12 STILLPOINT | SPRING 2015
A DAY IN THE LIFE
10:40 a.m.
11:15 a.m.
11:30 a.m.
10:40 a.m.
11:15 a.m.
11:30 a.m.
As the Worship Band finishes, Chaplain Tom Haugen steps to the mic to introduce the Rev. Ken Shigematsu, keynote speaker for Gordon’s fourth annual DEEP FAITH week. Shigematsu is the senior pastor of Tenth Church in Vancouver, B.C., and the author of God in My Everything.
Graduate education student Amber Travers works on “u” with a beginning reader during a community education clinic held in nearby Lynn. Her practicum provides hands-on experience using the Orton-Gillingham phonics-based system to teach the basics of word formation.
Ruth Melkonian-Hoover, associate professor of political science, talks over internship possibilities with Hope Zigterman ’15. Hope aspires to work for an NGO or nonprofit and to fight injustices on behalf of people who cannot advocate for themselves.
Photo Melissa Zaldivar
SPRING 2015 | STILLPOINT 13
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AFTERNOON Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom: Enlighten by your Holy Spirit those who teach and those who learn, that, rejoicing in the knowledge of your truth, they may worship you and serve you from generation to generation. “For Education,” Book of Common Prayer
1:20 p.m.
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3 p.m.
Rachel Karner ’16 estimates that this oversized replica of a human skull (for her Clay Sculpture class) took her approximately 100 hours to finish. Here she is checking the final proportions before slicing it open to hollow it out. Her majors are art and secondary education.
Kristen Gandek ’15 and Sandev Handy ’16 leave class together in Ken Olsen Science Center. Both served as peer mentors for Gordon’s ELEVATE program—an annual week-long leadership institute for outstanding high school juniors and seniors—in the summer of 2014.
Nate Hausman ’11, Nathan Landis ’15 and Hannah Fisher ’16 enjoy a run in the woods before dusk. Nate directs La Vida’s Adirondack Program, and the three have worked together on various outdoor education offerings at Gordon, including the fall W.I.L.D. semester.
14 STILLPOINT | SPRING 2015
A DAY IN THE LIFE
3:40 p.m.
3 p.m.
4 p.m.
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4 p.m.
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Emily Williams ’18 (left) and Emily Clark ’18 cross the quad together often; they both live in Evans Hall. Sharing a major, too—education—is a bonus for these good friends who met at Orientation. Emily W. is on the swim team; Emily C. tutors kids in Lynn, and hopes to be an RA next year.
Music students and department chair Dr. Sarita Kwok (in foreground) applaud a student’s performance in Phillips Recital Hall during Musicianship class, a weekly master-class in which students develop their performance skills in a supportive peer environment.
In his Electrical and Magnetic Fields lab (taught by Dr. Dale Pleticha, left), Christian Wagner measures the force of repulsion between two charged objects. A junior in Gordon’s 3-2 engineering program, he’ll complete his degree with two years at an engineering school.
SPRING 2015 | STILLPOINT 15
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5:30 p.m.
EVENING Almighty God, bless Gordon College, that it may be a lively center for sound learning, new discovery, and the pursuit of wisdom; and grant that those who teach and those who learn may find you to be the source of all truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord. “For Schools and Colleges,” Book of Common Prayer
9:20 p.m. 8 p.m.
5:30 p.m.
6:15 p.m.
7 p.m.
Physics major Dan Fauber ’16 (in foreground) and international affairs major India Boland ’17 (background) at evening swim team practice. Boland has set nine new school records in under two seasons at Gordon—five of them since Christmas 2014.
In recently renovated Gillies Lounge, Jasmine O’Bryant ’17, Lourdes Rojo ’16, Kelly Lasater ’17 and Joy Kim ’15 place their dinner orders for wings and curly fries. Gillies now offers different menu options than the main servery upstairs.
Sam Mason ’15 introduces SPARK, a TEDstyle forum showcasing faculty research. “There is no better way to look like a dork than to be in the woods with a voice recorder saying ‘hop, hop, flight, hop, fall, flight,’” said Greg Keller (biology), one of three presenters at the first session. Photo Gianna Scavo ’16
16 STILLPOINT | SPRING 2015
A DAY IN THE LIFE
7 p.m.
6:15 p.m.
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8 p.m.
9:20 p.m.
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Since 2011 Scot Radio has livestreamed an intriguing brew of music, commentary and news, and just for fun, “GC Nerd HQ” and “Buckley & Hevenor—just a cliché sports show.” At the mic is computer science major—and Scot Radio technology director—Emerson Veenstra ’15.
In the wake of snowstorms Juno and Linus, 400 students packed Gregory Auditorium for the debut of Exit 17 Live, Gordon’s very own late-night variety show, performed on stage. Andrew Farley ’15 interviewed Executive Vice President Dan Tymann.
Lauren Norris ’15, an economics major and physics minor, has worked in Chester’s Place for the past three years. Her favorite drink is a triple-shot chocolate-English toffee latte; she also highly recommends you order a warmed Nutella croissant when you stop by.
Photo Gianna Scavo ’16
SPRING 2015 | STILLPOINT 17
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10 p.m.
NIGHT O Lord, support us all the day long, until the shadows lengthen, and the evening comes, and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life is over, and our work is done. Then in your mercy, grant us a safe lodging, and a holy rest, and peace at the last. “At Night,” Book of Common Prayer
10 p.m. Though Lily Greenberg ’16 cites her favorite study spots as “anywhere with windows,” on this night she found herself in Jenks Library’s stacks, well below ground level. Lily is an English language and literature major from Franklin, Tennessee.
10:30 p.m. Stars whirl above the A. J. Gordon Memorial Chapel steeple (in a time exposure). The steeple has been a landmark on Grapevine Road since 1992. It moonlights—as it were—as a cell tower.
MIDNIGHT Lane Student Center is a nighttime social hub, a spot for heart-to-heart talks, studying in a booth on the “dark side” of Lane (Easton; “sunny side” is the Chapel Dining Room visible through windows here), or grabbing a late-night snack. The studentrun coffee shop, Chester’s Place, is open until 2 a.m.
Mark Spooner ’14 is the Gordon College staff photographer. As a student at Gordon, he double-majored in psychology and communication arts. In addition to his work for the College, Mark has his own photography business. When he’s not working he enjoys backpacking, woodworking and eating great food. mark.spooner@gordon.edu www.markspoonerphoto.com
18 STILLPOINT | SPRING 2015
12 midnight
A DAY IN THE LIFE
10:30 p.m.