The VISTA - Fall 2015 by The VISTA

FALL 2015 | ISSUE 112 | NO. 1

EMBRACE THE UNKNOWN

Burgers & More 618-664-9002

ALL GREENVILLE COLLEGE STUDENTS GET 10% OFF THEIR MEAL (STUDENT ID REQUIRED)

www.kahunasburgers.com 104 W. Harris Ave. (Rte. 127) Greenville, IL 62246

TABLE OF CONTENTS 6-7 MOSAIC: Twisting the Kaleidoscope of GC

14-15 SOCIAL MEDIA’S WEIGHT

24-25 HOLTWICK INTERNATIonAL

40-41 “ACING” The TRANSFER

8-9 YOUNG BLOODS AT GC

16-17 TO WRITE LOVE ON HER ARMS

32 A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR THE BLACKROOM CAFE

46-47 RESIDENCE LIFE IS WORTH IT

All material published in The Vista reflects the views of the individual authors and artists and are not intended to reflect the position of Greenville College. This issue or any part thereof may not be reproduced in any form without written permission of the publisher. All rights in letters sent to The Vista will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication and copyright purposes and as such are subject to a right to edit comment editorially. Name and contents Copyright © 2015, The Vista. All rights reserved.

2015 VISTA STAFF KIRSTEN NORSWORTHY Content Editor

BEN WILTSE Writer

DUSTIN LOGAN HIGGINBOTHAM NELSON Visual Editor

RACHEL HESTON-DAVIS

Faculty Advisor - Content

Photographer

JESSA WILCOXEN

Faculty Advisor - Visuals

ANNA EVANS

LUKE COTTINGHAM

ABI HILLRICH

AMANDA KESSINGER

JACK DAWDY

MORGAN JOHNSON

Writer

Designer

NATE WIELAND

Writer

Designer

EDITOR’S NOTE:

Special thanks to GC Publications, The Marketing Department, Rebekah Dothager, Kat Kelley, and Escape Traveler for photography and support!

Dear Readers, Here in this little jewel in Southern Illinois, we are blessed with the full range of seasons. As I write this, I am sitting among orange and gold leaves while a crisp wind sweeps across Scott Field. I am in love with fall and all the things it brings — Beautiful colors, cooler weather, and the hint that everything new and exciting is just around the corner. Soon winter will come, with all the magic that snow and the holidays bring. I’ll never forget the time an all-campus snowball fight broke out in Ganton Circle the day of the first snow. The very air crackled with life. But eventually even winter grows old. Yet just when we believe the whole world has died under a sheet of ice, new life bursts out in all its glory amidst flowers and sunshine and fresh spring air. Around and around it goes, life to death, death to life. Everything changes, and yet some things will always be the same.

feel much the same, and yet altogether different? All we can do is embrace the gift that our college years give us, among such incredibly inspiring faculty and the beautiful fall leaves. This issue intends to speak to the everyday transitions that we go through, the good and the bad, in hopes that we look back to see how this place has uniquely shaped our becoming. Here’s to us, Greenville College. And here’s to the rest of the world, abundant in need, that we may only begin to touch.

At this point in our lives, we are facing some of our most formative years. Freshman year brings excitement and chance and stress and adjustment. Who knew that four years later our seniors would

Kirsten Norsworthy

Embrace the time you have. Embrace the change. Embrace the unknown. Your editor, Kirsten Norsworthy

Students new and old can recount with love, and possibly some contempt, the first few days spent on GC’s lovely campus. Let’s take a walk down memory lane and reminisce about our beloved New Student Orientation (NSO) through the inner thoughts of our friends the extrovert and introvert.*

Anna Evans

Move In Day Extrovert There are so many people here. Time to get my social butterfly on.

Community Meeting

NSO T-Shirt

Introvert I think I’ll just stay in my room for a while — so much to do, organize my books, find the best spot on my bed, start stressing about the unknown.

Extrovert WE ARE GREENVILLE. #pantherfan #makeitcount #bestdayever

Extrovert

I don’t even mind that this became a rule thing because I just high-fived someone dressed as a grandma! I love college.

Introvert

Extrovert

I’m matching 350 other people so how do I still feel like I stick out?! What is this reality??

Extrovert Oh I have a great story about this hilarious thing that happened once that everyone will relate to! HAHA Nice one me!

Introvert

Extrovert

Yes! This will be an epic picture! Let’s put this on all the social medias!!! 45 likes on the Insta already. NICE

De-stress time. Now I have a chance to cringe in solitude at anything and everything embarrassing I’ve done this week.

Introvert

I hope we don’t have to wear these shirts all day. People are staring.

Semester Starts

Extrovert

Hellooooo syllabus day!

*Disclaimer: These may not represent everyone.

Introvert Wait, what is my name? Shoot, I hesitated too long. Fun fact? I don’t have any fun facts...what constitutes a ‘fun fact?!’ Who thought this was a good idea?

GC Takes Saint Louis

I am dead to the world...too many people for too long. I will take this free mug and escape into the freedom of my bed cave.

Downtime

Mickey D’s for life!

Introvert

COR 101 Ice Breaker

How do people have so much energy? It’s 11:00 p.m. Sit down, no one loves Burritt that much.

Freshman Mugging

ROOT BEER, PEOPLE AND ICE CREAM!?

GC LIFE VIEW

Extrovert vs, Introvert: The NSO Experience.

Introvert

I remember this person but I’ll just pretend I don’t see them until they see me. Or I’ll just pretend I’m a bug...yep I’m just gonna become a bug. Yay college.

MOSAIC

TWISTING THE KALEIDOSCOPE OF GC

Different is difficult. We all know this principle. Whether it is starting a new semester, preparing to transition to a new place, or simply changing a major, we all understand that things we know are easier than things we don’t know. We call this sameness the “comfort zone” for a reason, and most of us avoid going outside of it at all costs. This applies to relationships and people as well. We want to be around people who are like us, who do not have differing opinions or do varying things from us because it is simply easier to communicate with them. This is not intentional, it’s just comfortable. That is why Malvin Hubbard, a senior business major, helped start Mosaic. Mosaic is a diversity club on campus that promotes people with differing worldviews and opinions to gather in community. Hubbard says, “What brought me

to become President was me seeing a need for change on campus. I wanted to see more diversity around campus and in the Greenville community.” The will to change the campus was manifested in Hubbard’s being elected president of the club, and subsequent launch of Mosaic. He says, “Once the group got moving, things took off pretty quickly, and it has become one of the more popular student-run organizations on campus.” Ever since the group started, they have made an impact on campus. Over the past semester, they have brought in John M. Perkins to speak in chapel, a Civil Rights activist who has been given twelve honorary doctorates for his work as a philanthropist and racial rights activist, and started a relationship with his foundation, the Spencer Perkins Foundation. While in Greenville, he spoke on the value of every individual’s worth

MOSAIC’s mission is to bring people together in service to one another building community in the midst of diversity.

in Jesus Christ. Since then, Mosaic has made it their mission for everyone on campus to realize this truth. Mosaic lives out these principles by hosting an annual Grill and Chill event at Patriot’s Park, where members serve Greenville College students food. This event helps raise awareness for the organization as well as what they stand for, which is bringing the community together through service. Along with their activity with current Greenville students, Mosaic is now beginning a scholarship program that will allow for more diversity on campus. Through the program, they are giving a $15,000 scholarship to those who best exemplify what Mosaic stands for, which is diversity, service, and equality amongst minority groups. The students that receive this scholarship will need to be representative of what the group stands for, and will need to maintain a 3.0 GPA, as well as reach out to the community.

This will not just affect those who receive the scholarship, but will affect the entire GC campus. With differing experiences come many new learning opportunities. By befriending people who are not like us, we will learn so much more about others and about ourselves! Hubbard says of this, “We realize that without God’s everlasting favor we wouldn’t be able to do what we do so well, and what we do well is bring others together in spite of our imperfections.” Perhaps Mosaic is on to something. Maybe they realize that by reaching out of our regular routines, we can find something different. By twisting the kaleidoscope of our lives to meet new people and perspectives, we find something more beautiful than before.

BEN WILTSE 7

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK

Everybody loves having somebody look up to them. Somebody they can mentor, give wisdom to, and pour into on a regular basis. For some resident chaplains, that’s part of why they took their job. But like all things in life, there needs to be a balance. A person who constantly gives will eventually run dry–that is, unless they are being given to as

well. So who is responsible for giving friendship, mentorship, and wisdom to resident chaplains? One rung higher on the res life ladder, you’ll find CREs! These coordinators of residence education are a veritable wealth of knowledge and selflessness. With this in mind, let’s meet the newest ones on campus!

BLAKE MUEHLICH

CRE, JOY HALL

First in the lineup, coming in at 6 foot 4 with a whole lot of knowledge to give: Blake Muehlich! Many of you dear readers may have met him already, as he can be found around some of the more frequented areas of campus. Before taking the position of CRE in Joy Hall, Blake studied psychology at Bradley University. He is currently studying at Southern Baptist Seminary to obtain his Masters of Divinity with a biblical and theological studies emphasis. Blake sees himself hopefully teaching Greek New Testament at a Bible college in the future. Blake’s hobbies are reading theology, Frisbee golf, and chess. So if you’re looking to get to know him, you’ve got the keys. Blake is an awesome guy, but he’s only one of the new staff that GC has in their pocket.

ROSE MARINUCCI

CRE, BURRITT HALL

You’ve heard the name, you’ve chanced upon whisperings of the legend, so now I present to you, Rose Marinucci! *air horn* As of this year, Rose is now the proud CRE of Burritt Hall. She hails from Kimbolton, Ohio, loves hamburgers and black coffee, and studied Spanish and educational ministries at Malone University. Rose is a woman of many talents. She enjoys singing, and has played the guitar for four years. She enjoys board games and her favorite show is Parks and Rec. If you ever get the opportunity to get coffee with her (the most common of Greenville pastimes), she likes Italian dark roast, so keep that in mind. Being the wealth of wisdom that she is, I couldn’t help but ask her some important Greenville-oriented questions. When asked what advice she would give to college students, she replied, “Find a balance that includes fun.” Very important in light of the rigorous schedules most students are expected to keep. Rose says the best thing about her job is that she feels like she is still in college, and she loves her staff. In ten years Rose hopes to be working in higher education somewhere.

ISAAC GILMORE

CRE, WEST OAK

He’s tall, his beard is a force to be reckoned with, and his favorite DC food is the buffalo meltdown—it’s Isaac Gilmore! Isaac is the new CRE of West Oak, and a good one at that. He graduated from Taylor University with a degree in art and a concentration in sculpture. Aside from buffalo meltdowns, Isaac’s favorite thing about Greenville is the welcoming community here. Unlike other colleges, he hasn’t observed any freshmen being ostracized. His favorite aspect of his job specifically is the opportunity to sit down and have meaningful conversations with people. That plays into his hopes for where he’ll be in ten years, as he hopes to be anywhere where he can invest in people, and in turn be invested in. When asked why he wanted to become an artist, Isaac replied, “I like creation and investigation. Being an artist, I get to engage with the world in a way that many people do not. I wanted to be able to come up with questions about the world and make things that investigate them.” Isaac enjoys reading, cycling, and good conversation.

Nate Wieland 9

Tips for Stress-Free Dorm Decorations Decorating your dorm room can be a daunting task. With little money and a limited amount of space, it is difficult to turn your temporary living area into a place that allows you to feel at home.

These things do not have to be expensive; it is easy to find art at a thrift store, while movie posters can normally be purchased for just a couple dollars from theaters in the area. Even postcards can be used as display. There are an abundance of ways to exhibit any sort of wall decoration. Washi tape can be used to hang pictures or prints. Decorative tape can also be placed around a picture in order to create a sort of frame. Clipboards, attached to the wall with Command strips, are a modern, appealing way to hang art prints. Corkboards are another option, large enough to hold several art pieces, photographs, or any other items on the walls of a dorm room.

Wall Decorations

Storage and Furniture

Decorating the walls of your new space is the best way to feel more comfortable during the transition from house to dorm. A simple tapestry, or even a yard of colorful printed fabric can really brighten up a small space. Putting art, posters, or photographs on the walls can also allow for a more pleasant atmosphere.

Today:

ADV ENT URE

COR Paper Due

Read for Econ Workout

ENJOY LIFE!

One of the best ways to stay organized in small spaces is vertical storage. Shelves, stacked bins, or carts can accomplish this; they keep things off the floor while not taking up much space. A thrift shop is a great place to find furniture that fits the criteria of what you may be looking for. Generally less expensive, thrift store furniture can oftentimes be easily improved with just a coat of paint or recovering of new fabric. IKEA is another common place to check for various items. This home furnishing store specializes in offering modern products that are also fairly inexpensive. Rugs are another item to check for at these places; they add a pop of color, and comfort to a floor. With the stress of preparing for college, bidding hometown friends goodbye, and entering (or re-entering) college in the fall, it is natural to feel overwhelmed. Decorating your dorm, however, does not need to be another task that provokes anxiety. By simplifying your room and reducing your costs, decorating your dorm can be more fun than stressful.

Abi Hillrich

The Beauty Of Bread Anna Evans

Ruth Huston, Adjunct in Philosophy and Religion, in her kitchen ready to bake one of her famous bread recipes.

Imagine walking into a room and being greeted by the familiar smell of delicious home-baked bread that envelops you with memories of home, a simpler time and delicious warm thoughts. These days, bread making has become an uncommon practice for most people. However, everyone (aside from our gluten intolerant friends) loves a good chunk of warm fresh bread. The beauty of bread is in the memories and stories attached to it. Whether it be the classic french bread you have made or enjoyed time and again for a family meal, or the special pumpkin bread that gets broken out every fall season, all bread is kneaded into our hearts and minds. Baking is a beautiful art, and bread is at the forefront of that. Ruth Huston, GC’s very own master bread baker, was happy to share her love of bread and gave The Vista some of her favorite recipes. Consider trying one out and making some memories of your own. Enjoy and happy baking!

Read more recipes on the next pages.

Pumpkin Tea Bread 3 cups sugar

½ tsp. baking powder

1 cup oil

1 tsp cloves

3 eggs

1 tsp nutmeg

2 cups pumpkin

1 tsp cinnamon

3 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

½ tsp. Salt Directions: Combine oil, sugar, eggs and pumpkin and beat together 1 minute. Add dry ingredients until combined. Pour (batter will be thick) into tube pan that’s been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Bake at 350 degrees for about 1 hour and 10 minutes--or more. Toothpick should come out pretty clean. Cool in pan for 15 minutes, then remove onto plate.

French Bread 2 T yeast

2 cups hot water

2 T sugar

5 ½ cups flour

1 T salt

1 egg

2 T oil Put 2 T yeast in ½ cup very warm water. In another bowl add 2 T sugar, 1 T salt, and 2 T oil. Add yeast with 2 cups hot water. Add 5 ½ cups flour. Knead for 5-6 minutes. Add in flour if necessary. Dough should be smooth and elastic. Let dough rise until double in size. Form into 2 French loaves and place on cookie sheet. Slit deeply with sharp knife several times. Let rise about 10-15 minutes. Brush with combo of 1 egg and milk, whipped. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Brush egg/milk mixture again and bake another 13-15 minutes. Cool on rack. *T = Tablespoon

Cranston-Zahniser Wedding Bread (Artisan) 1 ½ T yeast

3 cups warm water

1 T salt

6 ½ cups white flour

Directions: Add 1½ T yeast and 1 T salt to 3 C warm water. Stir. Add 6 ½ C white flour (if using wheat, lessen amount) and stir. Place in covered container (I use gallon ice-cream bucket because it rises in fridge) and store in fridge up to 1 week. When ready to bake, cut ½ chunk off and let rest 20 minutes. Place on cookie sheet sprinkled with either cornmeal or oats in a round shape (dough will not keep its shape—will be very soft—if you want firmer, add flour and knead a bit). Make a deep X shape in dough and bake about 30 minutes at 450 degrees. Note: this bread requires no kneading or rising time. Crust will be bumpy.

WEIGHT

Do you ever find yourself sitting around the dinner table and look up to see the rest of your friends looking at their phones? Do you post Instagram pictures at certain times to get more likes? How many times per day do you check Facebook? Do your conversations revolve around what’s displaying on your phone? How many minutes do you spend watching stories on Snapchat? Our generation grew up with social media at our fingertips, but have you taken the time to think about the toll it has placed on your personal life and friendships?

According to studies done by Pew Research Center in 2015, the average user checks their phone 150 times per day, which leads to once every 6.5 minutes that person is awake. These statistics evolve into 23 days a year, ending with a whopping 3.9 years of a person’s life spent on their phone. 89 percent of cellphone users say they used their phone at their last social gathering. Using a phone when individuals are together has a large impact on the atmosphere. The studies have shown when two people are talking, the simple presence of a phone on the table changes the connection they feel and the discussions they have. Even a phone on silent keeps the conversation relatively light, because people feel the ability to drop in and out of the discussion, and converse on topics where the individuals won’t mind interruptions. Light discussions help the individuals feel less invested in one another.

Do you feel connected? Young adults point out they are connected more than ever by having access to multiple social media sites and apps, but by having these connections, they get less face-to-face interaction. Seeing the latest post, relationship status, and videos keeps people “updated” about a friend without being updated by the friend himself. By being connected all of the time, they have found ways around conversation — direct messaging on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook have all led to less in person conversation, taking away from the eye contact, tones, and knowing how to comfort one another. This leads to the decline of empathy, according to Sherry Turkle, Professor of the Social Studies of Science and Technology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in 2015. Junior Meg Hout says, “I would say that technology has affected relationships because we’re not as intentional about them. Whereas before we had to call or talk in person, making a conscious effort to see them.”

FEATURES

Social Media’s

Have you compared yourself? Judgement occurs frequently on social media. Junior Claire Schmidt explains, “I don’t have social media because it’s time consuming, it can be a distraction, and it can bring about comparison. Social media can bring unnecessary judgement such as seeing others and commenting about them.” After observing pictures of others we tend to compare ourselves, or notice how great someone else’s life is, but is their life really that great? Do we really know by what they post? We judge how good a picture is by the amount of likes we get. If we don’t get enough likes or as many likes as the other person, we fear we’re not as pretty or good looking. Does the amount of likes we get really tell us how great we are? Social media provides a way for us to see what others are doing without talking to them in person, which leads to assumptions. Assuming we know how others feel, what they do, who they are dating, we assume we know them and have the ability to judge them.

Do you ever open social media because you are alone with nothing to do? Social media distracts us from solitude. Being in solitude is to be alone. The New York Times article, “Stop Googling Let’s Talk” from September 26, 2015, states, “If we don’t know how to be alone, we’ll only know how to be lonely.” Solitude gives us time to reflect and get to know ourselves, but we have turned solitude into something that needs to be answered with technology. We are never truly alone when we are always trying to be connected. Being alone helps us learn to concentrate, which is a valuable lesson in conversations with others. Every day tends to be busy, and free time seems to be something of the past, but slowing down and taking time for solitude assists in better understanding yourself and others. Social media usage is an important activity we need to keep track of. When on phones, time can go by much faster, but it is important to have time for solitude. Use social media to encourage and keep in touch, but don’t use it as an outlet. Be aware of the lives around you; engage in the time set aside with friends. Make an impact, because time will go by faster than you think.

Whitney Vitt 15

“

Jamie Tworkowski, the founder of

‘

TWLOHA, often says, People need

’

other people,

and I think that’s

”

really what we try to stress. Karli Widmer

Hope & Healing Kirsten Norsworthy

Depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide can drag you to some of the darkest places and make you feel completely alone. The most tragic consequence of these mental health issues is that they are debilitating. When you need help the most, you are the least able to reach out and get it. To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA), a national organization, is taking important steps in offering a community where people can join together in their search for hope and healing. TWLOHA maintains a presence on college campuses through university chapters. You may have heard of TWLOHA from National Suicide Prevention week, September 6-12. Greenville’s chapter of TWLOHA held events all week long under the theme, “We’ll see you tomorrow,” encouraging those who were struggling to fight for one more day until they find hope again. TWLOHA’s mission is “to present hope and find help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire, and also to invest directly in treatment and recovery.” In an interview, Karli Widmer, president of GC’s university chapter, emphasizes the last part of TWLOHA’s mission statement. “Our goal is to reduce judgement and shame. We can talk about it—it doesn’t have to be scary,” says Widmer. Typical TWLOHA meetings include an activity and a discussion on a relevant topic. The meetings provide a safe space to share, find support, and build community. Widmer emphasizes that hope comes out of community, and community comes from vulnerability. In this way, the mission of TWLOHA perfectly mirrors that of Greenville College. We are to encourage one another, to walk alongside one another in life. “That’s what I think community really is,” says Widmer. However, it is important to emphasize that TWLOHA is a club for all people on campus, not just those who have personally struggled with depression, addiction, self-injury, or suicide.

“

Everyone has a relative or friend who has experienced [depression, addiction, self-injury, or suicide]. It affects us all. The thing about TWLOHA is that we’re not focusing on the negatives; rather, we’re confronting them, and that’s the only way to bring about change and the positives. And it takes a community to do that, says Widmer.

”

TWLOHA was originally founded as a Christian organization, but it is no longer connected to the church. Unfortunately, many people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, or suicide have not had good experiences with the church. In fact, many point to the church as a trigger for their struggles. Because of this, Widmer says, “We try not to bring the church into TWLOHA, but we would love to bring TWLOHA into the church.” TWLOHA’s vision of hope and healing is an important message for the church today as we try to untangle centuries of misunderstandings and ignorance about emotional distress and mental illness. The church has the power to provide a space of unconditional, irrevocable love in the name of Christ. Jesus did not condemn those who were suffering. He challenged them. He loved them. He offered them hope. If the church is a community of Christ followers, we should be able to do this well. Welcoming those who are hurting is part of our mission. Healing takes time, hope, and patience. Some wounds will not be healed in this lifetime, but the church is called to open the doors to all who would enter and to offer them hope and a community of support. People who struggle with depression, addiction, self-injury, and suicide do not just need the church; the church needs them. People bring stories that can deepen our understanding of Christ and the power of redemption. Let us sit at the broken, beautiful feet of those who have walked a hard path. We have a lot to learn, but we also have a lot of hope to offer.

Changing stigma starts with ourselves. Reach out. Talk about it. Get involved. Spread hope. Proliferate healing. TWLOHA is a great place to start. Check out their story at twloha.com, and come to the next campus TWLOHA meeting.

GC MOMENTS: ALL COLLEGE HIKE

LIVING BEYOND

Putting The Green Back In Greenville Mason Tennel, a biology education major, shares his experiences founding a new club on campus with a unique mission: putting the “green” back in Greenville College.

The Green Team focuses on ways to make Greenville College’s campus more sustainable, as well as providing service activities and educating the students about environmental stewardship through different speakers. I was inspired to start The Green Team at my training retreat for being a leadership fellow for Young Evangelicals for Climate Action. I had many different ways that I wanted to advocate for climate action and creation care on campus and was curious if others were passionate about a similar mission. When I first got back to campus last fall, I asked a few of my friends if they would be interested in starting a club with me, and many of them were excited about being involved. We decided that we wanted The Green Team to be an environmental stewardship club that includes students from a variety of majors who are passionate about making Greenville “green,” as opposed to simply a club for environmental biology majors. After figuring out different fine details and developing a constitution, we presented The Green Team to the student senate, where we were accepted as an official club on campus. Last year, The Green Team was involved in transforming Greenville’s campus in many ways. We were able to set up a recycling system, and we received funding through GCSA to place larger bins in all the dorms. The Green Team also hosted a pizza colloquia featuring Dr. Mathias Zahniser and Dr. Eric Nord. We helped get Ben Lowe, an active speaker on climate change and conservation, to come to Greenville and speak in chapel and at a colloquium. Additionally, the Green Team helped with different service projects that took place at the Ayer’s Field Station. This year we are determined to continue to make a difference on campus. Our vision is to make our campus more sustainable, as well as providing service activities and educating the students. We look forward to the opportunities as well as the challenges that we will have this school year, and plan on continuing to challenge our campus to be better stewards of the Earth.

MASON TENNELL

Interning at

GC and Beyond

The main concern is the inhibition of succession – the natural process of a forest aging. The worry is that Wintercreeper stops this natural aging process, effectively killing native species in the area. As it competes with the sapling trees for sunlight and nutrients, it can blot them out entirely, killing the smaller trees and leaving large ones. This means that when the large trees eventually die, nothing will be there to replace them. With this in mind, Charlie spent his summer in the noble pursuit of researching this invasive species. He did so by examining soil samples and tree cores to search for these aforementioned negative effects. He fondly recalled his experience as,

... educating, and, at times, even entertaining. It was a nice entrance into what work with invasive species could look like. It’s nice after two years of college to have practical experience that I can take with me whenI graduate.

“

He went on to say that this has further cemented his desire to work with invasive species and become invested in that area of Environmental Biology.

I had the pleasure of getting a correspondence from Emily Kaiser, another GC student who had a summer that was anything but ordinary. “When asked about my summer internship I can simply sum it up by saying “surreal,” she eagerly responded. She had the amazing opportunity to intern with the band Anthem Lights. She had been a big fan of theirs for quite some time, and she went to a concert at SIUE’s family weekend, where her sister attended and Anthem Lights was performing. Emily, being a brave young woman with a can-do attitude, introduced herself and “went for it,” as she described it. Something as amazing as a summer internship with a rather largely known band all started with her next question: “Hey, do you guys need an intern?” Their response was laughter as they explained that their intern was leaving, and that they had just been talking about getting a new intern. In June, Emily moved to Nashville and began what she referred to as “one of the best summers of my life.” She mainly sat in with the band and did a lot of brainstorming and social media posts. She learned a lot about how bands market themselves through this experience. She pointed out,

“

Since Anthem Lights is now mostly an online based band, social media is crucial. I learned that posting funny and interactive images, along with random Instagram videos was all a part of their business. It’s all about building the brand and bringing more people in and engaging with their fans.

“

As some of you may know, Greenville College encourages its students to intern and provides amazing opportunities to do so. One student lucky enough to land an internship position here at Greenville in the Biology department is Charles Herrick. Charlie spent his summer conducting different experiments in order to test for the effects of “euonymus fortunei” or Wintercreeper. This invasive plant species has been known to spread quickly and kill existing plant life. It is also speculated that it can kill entire forests if left unchecked.

She is already applying her experiences to her classes and she is more assured that she is on a path to doing what she loves. The band members and their families became close friends, and she made memories that will last a lifetime. For all of you out there looking to take your next step, those of you looking to carve your own path, and those of you looking to make your own stories, don’t be afraid. You are each the authors of your own story: an epic adventure, a romance novel, the incoherent ramblings of a diary or journal, or is it a dream from a mind too unique to put into mere words on paper? That’s what you have to decide. These are examples of students doing what they love, learning more about the world they wish to be a part of. Your story is waiting. Make it your greatest masterpiece.

Luke Cottingham

Dominican Republic: Sprinting Toward the Goal

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize." 1 Corinthians 9:24 In an age of microwaves, McDonald’s, and Google, it is easy to allow ourselves to become apathetic to what surrounds us. We convince ourselves that because our time is short, we have to focus on the task at hand only. Homework is due. Money must be made. But in the midst of all of this, where is our intentionality? We bolt around as if on some sort of mission, only to lay awake at night thinking about the next day’s same tasks. Isn’t there a greater purpose that we are running toward? In the summer of 2015, a team of nine Greenville College students and staff members made their way to the Dominican Republic, to hold soccer clinics for children who did not have the resources to buy the equipment on their own. Among them was Melody Fenton, a senior sociology major. She was introduced to this mission by Jen Brakenhoff, who also participated on the trip. Fenton says, “After Jen introduced me to the mission, I couldn’t get it off of my mind. The opportunity was laid in front of me and I just went for it.” It was this type of reckless servanthood that landed her in the middle of the Dominican Republic evangelizing to children throughout the region. “Futbol, or soccer, has become very popular in the Dominican,” Fenton says, “but balls and cleats are really only available to those who can afford the equipment.” So the group held soccer clinics as a means to tell the Gospel to children and their families.

Of course, serving in this way may have its immediate rewards, such as seeing people respond to the Gospel, but it also can have its pitfalls and upsetting moments as well. Fenton remembers, “One neighborhood we went to had children that were less disciplined than a previous camp we held, and though we gave our all to them, they did not react in a way that any of us had really wanted.” Still, Fenton managed to find the good in the chaos, when she saw that a few kids stayed after the program to talk. She and the team were able to share the Gospel and build relationships with them, even though their time was short. “It was important to realize quickly that we couldn’t focus on our time limits. The beauty of missions, and living our day-to-day lives, is the opportunity to have interactions with people that will have an effect on them for the rest of their lives. Christ has called us to make disciples and build relationships with Him as the foundation, and I believe that process is done one day at a time.” So even though time may be quick, we can run our race as hard as possible, and be as intentional as possible to build relationships through Christ. This, in turn, is the ultimate goal.

Ben Wiltse Photo provided by Escape Traveler

Fireworks in Greenvilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s square during the Bicentennial celebration.

GREENVILLE’S

BICENTENNIAL ABI HILLRICH

Greenville, IL turned 200 years old this year, and the community celebrated this special event on the weekend of September 5-6. Streets were blocked off for festivities that included carnival rides, vendors’ tents, a beard contest, and a massive parade. Greenville was overwhelmed with the celebratory spirit of hundreds of people who had been impacted in some way by this small town. Two hundred years is quite a while. In 1815, Napolean Bonaparte was sent into exile, and Louis XVIII became King of France. Our country, the United States of America, was a mere 39 years old. It puts things in perspective a little, to think that this was the world in which our town of Greenville was founded. Purchased by George Davidson, the territory of Greenville and the surrounding areas didn’t actually become Bond County until 1817. Slowly, over time, Greenville developed into more and more of a town. The courthouse was built in 1821, and in 1905 the Public Library was constructed with a grant from Andrew Carnegie. Roads and a railroad were eventually constructed for transportation in the mid-1800s. In 1855, John Brown White entered Greenville, along with Stephen and Almira Morse. These three had a unique vision: a Christian liberal arts college and preparatory school for women. Named after Almira Morse, Almira College opened its doors in 1855 with John Brown White as the first president. Unfortunately, even after teaching nearly 2,000 students by 1878, Almira College was in too much financial trouble to continue. The college property was sold to James P. Slade, who became the institution’s second president. Slade invited young men to join Almira College, hoping this would help with financial issues. Unfortunately, even co-ed, Almira College continued to accumulate debt. B.T. Roberts purchased the land in 1891. Roberts had already founded a Wesleyan University in New York, and entered Illinois with experience that previous owners had lacked. He had a similar vision as the original founders, and was quoted as saying, “Education and religion should by no means be separated.” With Free Methodist values and a new name, Greenville College opened in 1892 with Wilson T. Hogue as acting president. A.L. Whitcomb followed in Hogue’s footsteps, and then Eldon G. Burritt, Leslie Marston, and H.J. Long. By the end of Long’s term, Greenville College was debtfree, and had a promising future ahead. There have been 12 total presidents over the years, each as dedicated to the college and the town as the last. Greenville, Illinois has been through a lot over the past two centuries. Greenville College has seen the town through much of this, drawing passionate students in a constantly growing world. Both the town and the school have worked together over the years to impact each person that chooses to call Greenville home.

1815 Territory purchased by George Davidson; town is named after the first merchant in the area: Green P. Rice.

1817 Bond County formed.

1821 First Greenville courthouse built.

1855 College first built – “Almira College” John Brown White, first president.

1870 Railroads were constructed in Greenville, IL.

1891 B.T. Roberts purchased the College.

1892 Wilson T. Hogue as first president of Greenville College.

1898 First student graduated from Greenville College.

1962 Greenville College is debt-free.

2013 Ivan Filby becomes Greenville College’s 12th president.

2015 Greenville, Illinois turns 200.

HOLTWICK

INTERNATIONAL Holtwick hall has been a presence on Greenville’s campus for many years. This year, Holtwick gained a new title and identity that sets it apart from the other dorms. Holtwick International Hall has been created as a purposeful community for international and American students. This was done to embrace Greenville’s love of building community and growing the students’ and campus’ worldview. Holtwick resident Marlene Saravia shares what is essentially the goal of the building: “It can be challenging, because it’s different, but it’s so worth it, meeting people from different parts of the world. It makes you grow as a person, and causes you to learn about the world. But first you have to be willing to learn.” One of the benefits to Holtwick Hall’s living situation is that it provides guidance for students in the transition process. While many of our international students come from varying countries, they are all experiencing similar sensations, challenges, and adventures while being in Greenville. (Ellen) Xuejun Lu mentioned that she can see this really helps the first year students who are a part of the University Pathways program. They have built-in help and someone to learn from. Also, it helps build lasting connections and plugs in students who may have been hesitant to participate. Other benefits of this program include actual class credit. This happens through the preparing and sharing of a meal together. The students in the class will research and create a meal as their project with others in the building. In completing this project, students will receive their cross-cultural credit while in an authentic learning situation. What better way to build community and learn about another culture than through their food? The residents at Holtwick had some great thoughts to share about this new lifestyle option. Second floor Resident Chaplain Gianna Paden said that the intention of the building is to provide a “kind of home base for the international students.” She went on to speak about it providing a bridge in a more comfortable setting to connect American students with International students. This takes some of the initial shyness and timidity new students experience away and makes room for personal connections. One of the interesting challenges the floor faces is the vast difference in beliefs and values, and how those differences can develop into great conversations. Billy (Yun Liang) said that he appreciates being able to come back and speak in his native language, and hear others speaking it as well, that it feels like you can relax more. This was more of

a struggle in the past when the students were not in a central location. The first floor RC of Holtwick, Code Power, spoke to the level of diversity of culture that is in this one building and has been impressed with the “happy community” that Holtwick has become. He has observed firsthand the comfort provided just by being around people in similar situations. One of the American students, Leroy Ruffin, commented that while it might be harder to break into the friend group of the international students, it gives a new perspective to the social strain they had experienced when they were spread around campus. They all have to be intentional in their relationships. Fellow Holtwick resident (DJ) DaJuan Johnson backs this up by remarking on word choice and how actions should be carefully thought through when interacting with students who do not have English as a first language. This new perspective is helpful when trying to see through the eyes of our international students. Yoshiko Tanimura had this to say when I asked what she enjoys about Holtwick in comparison to her previous years on GC’s campus: “I’m from Japan, she’s from China, we can exchange information, learn about culture, and teach each other about our own culture.” She has made great friends while on GC’s campus, whether from Illinois or China, and Holtwick helps to strengthen those relationships. The learning happens almost by accident when in this kind of living arrangement. The students get to grow and learn together in an organic setting. Emelia Ferrero said that living in Holtwick forces closeness, because you interact with these people every day. She described Holtwick as a more intense form of communal living, that their floor operates under an open door policy, and that everyone is always welcome, something easily observed when walking through the halls. While I was in Holtwick I heard amazingly positive statements from all the people that I interacted with and would say that everyone should stop by and experience the crazy yet wonderful diversity and fun that is Holtwick International. If for nothing else, go check out the kitchen, because it is one happening place and a learning experience all of its own. As (Bob) Zexin Han puts it, “It’s noisy sometimes, but fun, and there’s students from different countries which is cool.” Here’s to many more years for Holtwick International.

ANNA EVANS

CONNECT 4 MORE THAN A BOARD GAME Nate Wieland

One of the many attractions of Greenville College is the variety of organizations that it has. Being a Christian community, a good portion of those organizations are service centered. The idea of serving others is foundational to the Christian faith. Wanting to gain some insight into one of the more service oriented organizations on campus, I interviewed club sponsor Teresa Holden about Connect 4. For 10 years now, Connect 4 has enabled Greenville College students to go out and serve the community of East St. Louis. They serve at various locations, including the Jackie Joyner Kersie Center, Christian activity center, Mary Brown Center, and a variety of local schools. It is currently in the works to begin an afterschool tutoring program at the New Life Community Church. Having had the privilege of taking part in a few trips to East St. Louis, I can attest to the fact that the service done there is wonderful. I volunteered in a first to third grade classroom setting, helping with homework, and trying to be a positive role model for the kids. The teachers were so appreciative to have a helping hand— not to mention how loving the kids were. The volunteers really feel they are making a positive contribution to the community of

East St. Louis, takes me to my next point: why does Connect 4 do what it does? The common experience is that people fall in love with the kids they serve, and the positive things they see going on in the community. Everybody who goes is inspired by the people they meet there. With every community comes stigmas and stereotypes. For Greenville, it’s a ring by spring mentality and an overwhelming drive to follow the lifestyle statement. Yet nobody could make the argument that everybody wants to get hitched, and everybody follows the lifestyle statement. The same is true for East St. Louis. It just isn’t wise to group every person from a community into a group and say, “all of them are like this, or like this.” The community of East St. Louis is a community just like the rest, striving to make life better for themselves and for their children. Connect 4 taps into the vision and the work that is already going on there, and strives to help make the community a place where success is fostered and bred into the youth. As East St. Louis moves boldly into the future, Connect 4 hopes to be a part of the amazing things that God is doing over there.

GC MOMENTS: HOMECOMING

F us i o n E n s e m b l e

N e w L e a d e rs h i p : Sa m e Sta n da r d o f E xc e l l e n c e Dang, Greenville has some great musicians! Wouldn’t it be super cool if some of them collaborated for an awesome night of musical mastery? If that’s a question you’re asking, you must have missed the fusion band concert. Poor soul. The fusion band is a group of some of Greenville’s most talented musicians coming together to

cover some of modern music’s most well known songs. Some of which include “September” by Earth Wind & Fire, “Respect” by Aretha Franklin, and “Chameleon” by Dave Barnes. But who has enough vocal or instrumental talent to cover songs like this? Well the lineup for this year is:

N at e Wieland All of these wonderful artists have worked tirelessly to bring you the best musical experience they could muster. Perhaps the most significant thing going on with fusion band right now though is the change in directors. Last year George Cases was the director, but this year Marc Widenhofer took over the position. For freshmen and transfers fusion band is a new experience, but returners were able to see the effects of the new leadership. We are very excited

to see such an esteemed part of campus life in the very capable hands of Marc, and are anxious to see where he takes the program from here. With the bar set so high, improving the status quo is no easy task, but given the talent of everybody involved, there is no doubt fusion band will only continue to grow and thrive for years to come.

Finding the Groove

Imagine for a moment that you are a jazz musician. Your instrument has just been tuned, you have adjusted your stand, and you are ready to play. As the rest of the band is getting ready, the conductor says that he found a new chart and would like the band to play it. You’ve never heard of the song, so when you get the music, your eyes frantically hop all over the page to see the key, tempo, repeats, and the plethora of other things that go along with sight reading music. Nervous, you start to play your part. Most people can imagine how stressful it would be to suddenly learn a new tune, but we may not realize that adjusting to different band members can be just as intense for a tight-knit musical group. Logan Freitag, a junior audio engineer major and section leader for the Greenville Jazz Band, knows what this experience is all about. As a veteran of the ensemble, he has been through many instances where the group had to adjust to new tunes or fluctuated in members. Freitag reports, “Five out of fourteen members did not return this semester, among them being senior Quinn Johnston, so we had many places that needed to be filled.” In place of these losses, six newcomers joined. This means there is a large learning curve ahead for the ensemble. Freitag remembers his experience of adapting to jazz his freshman year.

ENTERTAINMENT

Jazz Band “I really had to listen and copy the style of the music and what other players were doing. Getting the feel of the big band was very important as well.” Learning a new song is not unlike Freitag’s experience. You have to learn the feel of the tune; it does not happen overnight. A lot of work goes into getting an ensemble ready for performance. Freitag says, “Once the band finds its groove, we will be really good. Everybody is a good player, but we just need to practice more together, and when we do, we will be able to play some impressive tunes.” While Freitag is focused on getting better musically, he is also focused on having fun. “One thing that I am personally focused on is letting others in the band know that we can have fun! Jazz isn’t something that you can be tense while playing, and we want to go out there and allow the audience to have fun with us.” Again, transition is like learning to read new jazz music. Mistakes will happen, and that is okay because we can learn from them. In the end, you have to keep loose and keep with the new groove.

Ben Wiltse

BE THOU MY VISION Mandy Pennington

The GC Choir took a 12-day tour of Ireland at the end of the 20142015 school year, touring with a program entitled “Be Thou My Vision.” The tour music focused primarily on God leading and guiding us as His people, and on His remarkable and unending love for us. The music was not only beautifully written and performed, but also contained meaningful lyrics that made it even more enjoyable to sing. Going to Ireland with the GC Choir was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Spending 12 days with the same group of people can be challenging. I was a little apprehensive , but instead of getting sick of my fellow choir members, I felt much closer to them by the end of the trip. As a freshman, I finally felt included and like I had a place in the choir. The sights were jaw-dropping. We got to see archaic castles in Blarney and Kilkenny. We hiked to the famous rope bridge at Carrick-a-Rede and endured the blustery winds to get to the other side. We climbed the salt-pillar rock formations at the Giant’s Causeway as the rain sprinkled down on us. We explored and learned at the Titanic Museum and the Peace Wall in Belfast. We experienced Irish city life by spending afternoons freely roaming Belfast, Londonderry, Killarney, and other Irish cities. We stayed at five-star hotels and enjoyed amazing Irish food. We sang in a 13th-century stone cathedral, among other incredible spaces. We had a brilliant and hilarious bus driver/tour guide named Dave. The main thing that impressed and surprised me about Dave was his depth of character. Not only did he tell us about where we were going, but he explained why we were going there. He impressed upon us the importance of each place to the Irish people and their history. His heart was fully invested in his country and in sharing it with us. I was in awe of the welcome we received from the Irish people. The choir had been warned before leaving that the Irish (and most other countries, for that matter) are easily annoyed with Americans. They sometimes see us as loud, pretentious, and “rich.” Mrs. Filby instructed us to be as quiet and respectful as possible when we were in public. I was anxious about our interactions with the people from this new place, but the welcome we received was overwhelming. Our first night in Ireland, we sang a concert at a tiny church called Mount Zion. Though we were all exhausted and suffering from major jet-lag, we were welcomed into the church with a home-cooked feast and words of immense encouragement. Many people came up to me and other choir members to tell us how touched they were by the

music and how we had helped bring the Lord’s presence into the room. That first concert established the mindset for the rest of the tour: we were there to show the Lord in everything we did, and to create a space for those around us to experience the Spirit. In Londonderry, we had a tour guide who really shared his heart with us as he told the story of his beloved city and the trials they’d gone through in the past 50 years. The city had been wrecked with bloodshed, revolution, and war. He told us how grateful he was that we could be there and help promote peace and experience a time where his children could play freely in the streets. Deeply touched by his testimony, the choir sang our song of blessing, “The Lord Bless You and Keep You,” to him as he wept in gratitude. This moment was the most memorable of the tour in my mind. It’s easy to be swept away in fun activities and time with friends and shopping and eating and new experiences. I think many of us almost dreaded the concerts at first because we would have to stop having fun to go practice for two hours and then sing for an hour and a half. At first I forgot that these concerts were the reason we were in Ireland in the first place. Soon, though, I began to see the impact that we were having on those around us, and within the choir, and I began to experience gratitude to God for blessing us with this opportunity to, as cheesy as it sounds, sing His praises for all of these people. We sang in so many beautiful spaces. These cathedrals were designed for beautiful music, and I think a lot of us felt unworthy to be singing in them. The stone walls and the Holy Spirit carried our voices further than we could have on our own. I think Christ used this tour to not only minister to those who attended our concerts, but also to those within the choir. I know that I came away from the Ireland tour feeling blessed and touched by God. There was something about being away from campus and in a new place that opened my eyes to the lyrics we were singing about. I was humbled by the spaces we sang in and the opportunities we were blessed with. I was humbled by the greatness of a God who allows us to sing His praise in both a public and personal way. As the tour went on and the choir grew closer, I think we all relaxed and could more easily use these sacred songs as a prayer to God, as vessels for sharing His glory. On this trip, we learned to love each other more freely, and we learned about the God who is the source of that love. As we left, I found myself personally revived. What a powerful experience it is to be in a new country and to experience Christ in a new way.

“Be Thou my vision, oh Lord of my heart. Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art. Thou my best thought, by day or by night. Waking or sleeping, my treasure Thou art.”

Photography by Kat Kelley.

A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR THE BLACKROOMCafe ABI HILLRICH

Every Tuesday of the school year for the past 5 years, students have crowded into the Blackroom for good coffee, great fellowship, and even better music. The Blackroom Café invites artists from all varieties of music to perform. Though most nights are set up with a tryout beforehand, there are also occasional open mic nights and special performances. Behind the scenes, there is much more than meets the eye. “People don’t realize how much time and energy goes into planning something like that,” Danara Moore, Greenville’s Music Business professor, says. Social media alone provides spots for 7 or 8 potential positions. There is a massive amount of graphic design, videography, and photography that is mandatory for the promotion of such an event. Occasional updates on the Facebook page leading up to the shows, online event invitations, and posters are a few necessary weekly projects. The Periscope app is another form of social media that the Blackroom team hopes to utilize soon to provide a live feed for those who are unable to make it to the event. Professor Moore is also excited about the direction she sees the Blackroom heading. She says her personal goal is to “represent every genre on campus.” She also adds: “The diverse nature of Blackroom… is something I’ve definitely tried to build and push hard for.” Spoken word, hip-hop, and country are becoming more prominent in that setting, which is something Danara Moore has been passionate about. With this being the most talent she’s seen on campus, Moore is confident that the Blackroom Café is going great places. If you’re interested in playing at the Blackroom Café, email booking@greenville.edu

Trey Brockman

Behind the scenes in the prop room the Factory Theatre

Upon a Stage Ah, theater! The great act of thesbianism itself is as entertaining as it is beautiful. It’s as deep as you like it, and as moving as something out of a midsummer night’s dream. Some may argue that it’s all much ado about nothing. However, once you are tossed into the tempest, enthralled in the movements of the actors, it’s hard to think of all the love put into such a production as labours lost. From the misanthrope to the playboy of the western world, who doesn’t enjoy a good play now and then?

Quinton Hughes, Taylor Myers, and Brittain Monroe, were able to convince the movers and shakers of the college that it was still a worthwhile program. Now funded in part by the college but mainly by donors, the Factory Theater has taken on a life of its own, going as far as to put on four plays in one year: a feat that never happened while it was part of the theater major. Jes Adam also pointed out that the quality comes from the dedicated actors that have been a part of these recent productions.

If you consider yourself somewhat of a connoisseur of the arts or theater, you’ll find acting and direction of quite a high caliber not too far from our own college. The Factory Theater here in our town of Greenville – just across the street from CVS – can put on some really amazing work. From costuming to set design to acting, the factory theater allows both community members and college students alike to participate in their shows.

As you read this, perhaps you have already had the pleasure of seeing the first play this semester put on at the Greenville Factory Theater, and if you are anything like me, you are already eagerly awaiting this winter’s tale that is the upcoming play. This play is entitled Creation to the Nativity, and it will be showing the first two weekends of December. If you haven’t picked up a ticket yet, I have good news. There is still time to catch a truly one-of-a-kind community event. And we can all look forward to two great plays next semester as well. So I suppose all’s well that ends well...

I had the pleasure of speaking with Jes Adam, the director of these plays, and he gave me a bit of background on the theater. As there used to be a theater major here in Greenville, the Factory Theater has seen many years of plays. However, after the program was cut, the community was in danger of losing something unique and special. A select few students, including Parker Wray,

Luke Cottingham 33

Joy in times of Chaos Anna Evans

Austin Simmons, Roman Butler, Justin Langley, Treyvon Manning.

The improv team â&#x20AC;&#x201D; one of everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favorite pastimes. Why is that so? What does this group have that keeps people coming back and filling the seats? Some of it might have to do with the current faces behind the chaos, which include Nate Bjorge, Rachel Walton, Rachel Rousseau, Mikhaela Romoser, Roman Butler, Eddie Allison, Treyvon Manning, Justin Langley, and Austin Simmons. The team puts on improvised skits/games often with input from the audience to give the act some direction. However, the fun comes when the planning ends. Laughter can be heard throughout their venues, uniting everyone through the joy of humor. This sense of humor is the glue that holds everything together and helps it remain one of the most popular student run activities. People from all walks of life can latch onto the performances and connect with them. The laughter breaks down the walls of social conduct and evokes a feeling of unity from the audience. The humor can be anything from playful jabs at GC to a reference to popular culture; either way, it gets the crowd laughing, and they can enjoy a hour or two. Time to enjoy life and simply relax is often forgotten in the chaos of the school year. However, Joyous Chaos reminds us of the beauty in the midst of crazy times. The crazy might even be something to embrace.

The Laughter Breaks Down the Walls of Social Conduct and Evokes a Feeling of Unity from the Audience.

GC MOMENTS: CAMPUS LIFE

pursuit of excellence: Student Leadership Council

Philippians 2:3-4 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

O-O-O-Offense! D-D-D-Defense! Impassioned yelling can be heard all along the sidelines at GC’s football games. However, just as much cheering comes from the team as comes from the fans. The GC football team fosters a unique spirit of family and support that surpasses that of most collegiate athletic programs. But how do you create that bond on a team of over 100 players? This environment is fostered in particular by the Student-Leadership Council (SLC), a panel of approximately 12 players selected by the team to lead and guide the season. The SLC serves as a team-based support system, communicating concerns with the coaches, looking out for one another, planning community service opportunities, and working through issues of unity and integrity on the team. Junior Cory Snyder, in his third year as a safety on GC’s varsity football team, serves as a member of SLC. “SLC is a diverse group of players from all different position groups on the team,” Snyder says. “Bringing together many great and different minds is essential for the success of our team. We bring guys to GC from all around the country; they need to be represented. That’s our job on SLC—to be the voice of the team.” This season, SLC went on a retreat to Shawnee National Park, where they spent the weekend bonding as teammates through hiking, cliffjumping, and daily times of devotion and prayer. When they returned from the retreat, they were ready to begin pouring into the team as servants who lead by example on a daily basis. The results are obvious. GC’s football team flourishes on and off the field, refining players to be men of character who pursue God in every endeavor.

kirsten norsworthy

SPorTS

SQUAD GOALS Having undergone significant changes since last year, the cheerleading team is more prepared than ever to support and encourage Greenville College’s teams. To start, Coach Washington joined staff at Greenville College this year to coach the cheer students. He is an experienced cheer coach; Washington is the Curriculum Director and Senior Staff member with the organization “Christian Cheerleaders of America.” He has travelled around the globe, advocating for the spread of the Gospel through cheerleading. This year, his goal for the team is to “establish a strong foundation and cornerstone for the program to grow upon for years to come.” Washington has already begun diversifying the program by extending the tryouts to men, adding consistent weight lifting, and ordering new uniforms and pom poms. These new features are mainly to bring the team up to date, in order to “create and develop a more collegiate and competitive program.” The newly established rigor is evident in the team’s performances as they

“The new and improved cheerleading team is a group that rallies the crowd and reminds us all why we are proud to be panthers.”

prepare to begin competing. However, the heart of the cheer team remains the same, with the year’s theme being service. Coach Washington encourages the athletes to see themselves as a supporting act to whatever players they cheer on. The direct motto of the year is: “All that we are, and all that we have, we give to Christ and to His Service.” Although the cheer team is faced with the daunting task of uniting the campus in school spirit, the team’s incredible performances this year demand the crowd sits up and pays attention. Though this may seem difficult, Coach Sean Washington and the team are doing their part to create bonds among team members and throughout the rest of the student body. The new and improved cheerleading team is a group that rallies the crowd and reminds us all why we are proud to be panthers.

ABI HILLRICH 37

As the first half of the game came to a close, the Greenville College Women’s Soccer team had their heads held high. The game was against Elmhurst, an opponent they have historically had difficulties with. The team, knowing full well what they had to do, had their work cut out for them. Despite the initial 2-0 deficit, the girls fought back and tied 3-3 in double overtime. Nearly twelve hours later, the team was already waking up to prepare for their next game against Rockford. It was Sunday, so the team congregated in the hotel lobby for worship. As the worship leaders started to play, the hotel employees wandered around the strange girls singing in the lobby, and began to smile. After the time of worship, the girls were informed that they would be participating in the amazing race. Rebecca Munshaw, a junior pastoral ministry and art major, remembers, “We were put into groups of three or four, and then given tasks to do as quickly as possible. Some of these activities included jumping in the pool (with our regular clothes on), choreographing dances, and giving people (myself included) ugly makeovers.” A few hours later, the girls made their way into Rockford, IL, to play a match against the team there, and Greenville was firing on all cylinders. They whipped their opponents 10-1. Munshaw says, “This year we are pretty cohesive and focused as a group. Nobody has gotten mad about small things, and when we get along better, we play better.” Even though the amazing race may have produced many shenanigans, it actually did serve a purpose. The games, even though they may be annoying to hotel staff, helped the team play much better, and have a more positive outlook overall.

PLAYING TO WIN Ben Wiltse

ON AND OFF THE FIELD Nate Wieland

What makes a team great? Is it their record? Their legacy? While those may play into it, what makes a team great is more than that. While pinning down an exact definition might be tough, we can look at the Greenville men’s soccer team to find qualities that put a team a notch above the rest. In order to get more information about the soccer team, I interviewed a senior soccer player, Justin Mulholland. I asked him about some of the most important factors that go into the team’s success. He replied with faith and brotherhood, as well as the amount of talent that the people on the team have. In his words, “Faith definitely does [play into our success]. We play to glorify God who has given us the talents and skills we have. Faith allows us to have a more in-depth relationship with each other on the soccer field and off of the soccer field because ultimately, God is glorified in the way we play and in the way we handle ourselves off the field.” Wise words from a wise veteran of the game. On brotherhood, Mulholland says, “We are a very close team, and that helps us because we encourage one another and care about one another on and off the field. Being a brotherhood allows us to be mentally tough when things are not going our way.” Something Mulholland emphasizes in both his responses is this idea of “on and off the field.” That may be the biggest factor in what allows Greenville Men’s Soccer to have their success. Whereas a team just shows up to play with each other, a brotherhood is so much more than that. This notion is exemplified in our soccer team, who have the honor and privilege of calling each other not just teammates, but family.

ACING

THE TRANSFER ANNA EVANS Every semester new faces appear on campus. While returning students enjoy the chance to meet new people, being one of those new people can feel like a difficult transition. Junior volleyball player Hannah Baker has challenged the traditional struggles of transfer students by making a name for herself on and off the court. She is loved by her teammates and has made the transition to Greenville College look seamless. When asked how she felt during the early weeks here at GC, she said, “The volleyball team made me feel like I had a family on campus. I had a group of girls that were there to support me, and I got some of the early confusion out of the way when no one was around.” Hannah is a prime example of how being involved can help a transfer student’s adjustment period. The volleyball team is a close -knit group of girls who work hard to reach their goals. Hard work and passion for the sport helps players succeed. Hannah has worked hard to get floor time, and can be seen playing as an intense outside hitter or defensive specialist. Volleyball coach Tom Ackerman says of Hannah, “She is a great player and can contribute on the court in a variety of positions, but what she brings to the team off the court is her real value.” Hannah advises those who are new to campus, or come in at an unusual time, to get involved and find a group. Whether this be academic clubs, athletic teams, or otherwise, it makes GC feel like home sooner and plugs you into campus life. Transferring can be an added challenge, but with a group of like-minded people that hold you to a high standard of excellence and guide you through college life, you may be able to “ace” your transfer.

Keeping the Pace Luke Cottingham

Andrew Sharp

Running... Running... Still running – maybe a light jog now... and then – you guessed it – more running! That’s right, ladies and gentlemen,

I am talking, of course, about cross country, the college sport equivalent of a marathon with, arguably, some of the most inshape people you will find on a college campus. In other words, these are the dedicated few who aren’t eating ramen noodles for every meal, and who are running further in one day than the average American will walk over the course of an entire week. You might be thinking, “I can’t imagine doing that” or “Wow, these are some very devoted athletes!” and you couldn’t be more right. This is a truly intense sport that demands the utmost of devotion and passion in order to compete. As you read this, imagine the team running through courses and tracks that would put anyone eating a bag of chips to shame. If you happen to be the one eating chips, that’s okay. We all need comfort food, especially with the idea of running anywhere from two and a half to seven and a half miles every race. That’s right! They do that every race, and that is cake for most of them. Rethinking your life yet? Me too.

An average practice consists of – get this – around three to six miles for an easy practice. Excuse me while I catch my breath from that statement. Yes, I didn’t stutter – and not just because that’s impossible via typed article. I really did mean “easy.” At least that is how Austin Brinkman of the Greenville Men’s’ Cross Country team described it. On more difficult practice days, the team may run between seven and fourteen miles. Yeah, I know, that’s further than some cars get on a gallon of gas. The human body is simply amazing, and it really shows through in these highly trained athletes. If your heat-rate is going up at the mere thought of running such distances, well, keep in mind that they are training to compete. These courses they have set up are around five to six miles of pure heart pumping, adrenaline rushing, thigh burning running fun. Don’t worry, though, like mother always said, “It’s not a race” – oh, wait, it is most certainly a race, and some of these men are amazing at it. Some are able to complete these courses in under 26 minutes. That’s right. You did read that correctly. Wow… and it’s even more impressive when you realize the last time you ran was to get closer to food. You know who you are.

THE

ULTIMATE EXPERIENCE TAYLOR GERMAN

After each Ultimate Frisbee game, players pray together.

What better way to spend a sunny afternoon in Greenville than by playing a game of Ultimate Frisbee, right? Well, maybe for you it’s different, but for about 20 people there’s no other way we want to spend our afternoon. At 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday on Scott Field, you’ll probably see at least ten of us playing the game we enjoy so deeply. When you watch ultimate Frisbee it may seem chaotic, but it’s a simple game to play and understand. Two teams start at opposite sides of the field. Team one throws the disc to team two. Once team two receives the disc they begin their offense. The player holding the disc must remain stationary, but his teammates can run around trying to get open for a pass. To score a point, a player on team two has to catch the disc in team one’s end zone. While team two is on offense, team one plays defense, trying to intercept the disc or to force team two to make a mistake. Once team two loses possession of the disc, team one starts their offense. This goes back and forth until one team scores seven points. I remember playing for the first time during NSO my freshman year. When I went out to play I was happily included by the older students and we had a great time. After that I was hooked, and I’ve been playing every available afternoon since. Even though it’s been three years since I started playing, the same camaraderie and openness to new players remains. We love new players. There’s no need to be intimidated, and you don’t need to know the rules beforehand. You don’t need to be good either; just bring a good attitude and a willingness to try something new, and you’ll do great!

GC MOMENTS: SPORTS

RESIDENCE HALL LIFE IS WORTH IT KAylee SUMMERS

Claire Sattler, Heather Henderson, Kirstin Knudsen, Jessica Ulrich, Katie Westbrook.

Freshman Deeria Honorable describes life in Burritt, saying, “I love it here! Everyone is so friendly. Every time you see someone in the hall they talk to you. You can randomly talk to anyone and then you are friends and you end up leaving each other sticky notes on your doors. Leaving your door open is a great way to meet people. Life in Burritt is a different environment than anything you are used to and residence hall life pushes you to get out of your comfort zone.” Truly, residence hall life is worth it!

EDITORIALS

Life in Burritt Hall consists of late-night movies, root-beer float parties and Bible studies. Every day in Burritt holds a new challenge or joy, but you wouldn’t want to trade the experience for the world.

Community in Action Residence Hall community is like none other. When in your life are you surrounded by individuals in the same season of life as you? When in life do you have 180 built-in friends living within just a few feet to ask advice and share joys? College is the prime time to build friendships that will last a lifetime. The Burritt Hall mission statement encompasses the idea of community well when it says, “In Burritt Hall as a sisterhood of women of faith, we strive to reflect Christ’s love for us on each other by fostering a community of belonging.” Community is about sisterhood and belonging. Life in Burritt provides the opportunity to reach out to new girls and form deep friendships. According to a Burritt resident Shelby Ghast, “Residence life is worth it because of the community. In Burritt, there really is something special about the community, and we have an awesome Resident Chaplain.”

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Not only this, life in Burritt Hall is fun. Last year alone, more than 100 events went on in the halls of Burritt. Every year, Greenville College hires a Resident Chaplain for every floor to plan events, Bible studies, and love on every single girl on the floor. Considering there are ten different RCs required to plan a minimum of six events per semester, Burritt has, at minimum, 60 events per semester. These events range from mattress surfing down the Dallas staircase to going to the St. Louis Zoo, and nine times out of ten, they are free to attend. Overall, if you live in a residence hall and you don’t have fun, you must be living under a rock.

Discipleship and Friendship Of all the reasons residence life is worth it, discipleship may be the most important. Jesus calls us to make disciples and reach out to the hurting and lost. Every year, students who are lost and lonely move into the halls of Burritt, and as a resident, you get the opportunity to be the hand that reaches out and shows love and support. Wherever you are in life, you can be a blessing to those around you, but living in Burritt makes it so easy. All you have to do is walk outside your door and knock on the door next to yours. Every floor has a unique opportunity to grow together in Christ through weekly Bible studies. The studies offer the chance to support one another and pour into each other’s life. Life in Burritt Hall provides a spiritual support system to grow and find out who you are supposed to be.

Home Sweet Home Although living with hundreds of other college girls can be loud and crazy, it is something that will change your life. Residence Hall life will help you grow in a community that is walking through some of the same things you are. Burritt Hall, despite its quirks, is a wonderful home to many amazing Greenville College ladies. Burritt Hall has seen thousands of women walk in and out of its doors and it has become a home to them all. Residence life in Burritt Hall is worth it because Burritt is truly a home with a community of belonging.

GC MOMENTS: CHAPEL

GALLERY

THE

Jeana Kay Ceramics Untitled Works

Michael Korinek Painting (7’11” x 3’11”) Color Disorder (Work In Process)

Michael Korinek Painting (4’ x 4’) Artificial Descent

Kyle Anderson Painting (5’ x 7’8”) Aggressive Passivity

Bryson Buehrer Photography Untitled

Angela Winkeler Poetry Truth is knocking

Rhiannon Callahan Photography Haras

I sat very still, rooted in shock, My mind spun round My stomach churned and twisted, A rush of emotion flooding my being, Thundering down on me in a hail storm of grief. My ears must be lying, I wildly thought, They must be hearing what had never been said, My ears heard my mother’s voice, Telling me grandma had died, That beloved lady of kisses, hugs and unending love, That grandma who’d always called me her angel, Making the name so sweet. Babies and animal’s she’d especially loved, Pictures of family covered her walls, She was loving and gentle to all the world, Grandma, Grandma, gone. It couldn’t be true, shouldn’t be true. “No!” I cried, ready to defy, “Yes,” I was told, sadly, but firm, My heart still refused, it couldn’t be so, But truth was knocking, Softly, than louder,

Knocking on the door to my mind, Telling me it was true, It was totally true. My screaming mind had to let it in. Yes, yes, it’s true, The truth came at me viciously, Like a knife falling inside a dark cave, Hitting a hard unforgiving rock with a clatter, Leaving a painful bruise behind, Through the dark cave of my mind, The horrid truth echoed, Grandma has died, died, died, Breaking through all my defiance, Shattering my hope that it was all false. Denial couldn’t last as the weight of conviction came, Hope was crushed like a paper doll, When a brick had fallen on it. Pain, tears and trembling followed the truth, Grandma, grandma, was gone.

GC MOMENTS: NIGHTMARE ON THE SQUARE

ONLINE EDITION

The new logo for the Greenville College Gaming Club.

GREENVILLE COLLEGE GAMING CLUB “What a waste of time!” our parents would scoff as we played yet another hour of PlayStation 2. Over the years, many of us have immersed ourselves in the art of video gaming. However, this has been disconcerting to the older generations, who have bought the games for us. Maybe they don’t understand because all they had was Atari; still, the younger generation knows how much fun it is to use new technology as a way of entertainment. That is why this past October, sophomore Randy Mueller and junior Jason “Skippy” Borntrager decided to start a video game club. The Greenville College Gaming Club (GCGC) will host a variety of gaming events around campus, but especially at the Digital Media Center. The team would also make membership available to of the group, and would like to do things such as host events, vote on games to play, and run committees. “Committees are basically sub groups of the club that would be specialized in different games or formats of gaming,” Borntrager notes. “Some possible options are nostalgia gaming, speed running, and shooting games.”

Though gaming in itself is fun, we have to ask ourselves, why are we so attracted to this new form of games? Is it because of the sleek graphics, or the playability of each game? Or is it because we enjoy the people that we play them with? That is why GCGC is not only attempting to play video games, but play them with each other. Borntrager says of this, “Video games are the common ground between many of us. It is the medium that we use to hang out with each other. Also, we hope that this club will be a way to build friendships with international students. We may not speak a certain language, but we all know how to play a certain game.” This is what our parents don’t necessarily understand. By meeting and enjoying video games together, we can build amazing friendships that we wouldn’t have had otherwise. By enjoying the technology that we have together, we can enjoy each other.

Ben Wiltse 53

VESPERS

That Thing That Happens On Thursday Nights

I had the distinct pleasure of speaking with a friend of mine, Tyler Kohrs, on the subject of Vespers this year. Vespers, in case you are new to Greenville or simply aren’t involved in the Thursday night fun, is a worship chapel held at 9:30 PM every Thursday. It typically hosts speakers as well, with the focus this year being the Beatitudes found in Matthew. According to Tyler, this year’s Vespers cabinet consists of nine students with leadership roles placed on Tyler Kohrs himself, Josh Thomas, and Jessica LaPage. The position of welcoming coordinator is held by junior Liz Johnson, prayer coordinator is Josh Statler, the after hours coordinator is Jessie George, the administrative coordinator is Erin Lawinger, and, finally, there are two cooutreach and missions coordinators, Nate Wieland and Josh Woods. Did you keep all of that straight? Wonderful!

Tyler describes this semester so far in his own words as “Fantastic!”, remarking,“As a cabinet we really have come together like a family and it is one of the best experiences that I am so blessed to get the opportunity to have.” The staff this year has had some amazing opportunities to reach beyond the Greenville community and do some good in the world. “As a Vespers cabinet we have had a lot of great opportunities to expand outside of Greenville and just show the love and community of GC with other communities. We have done outreach work for a church in O’Fallon, Illinois where we went door-to-door in area of O’Fallon and invited these neighborhoods to this church. We did a Food for Orphans event where we packed meals for children. We even

had the chance to speak at a See You At The Pole Rally event in Trenton, Illinois, where we got to speak to high school students. We have done a lot of donations work for organizations like Doctors Without Borders to help the Syrian Refugees and we even have done donation work for the Christian Activity Center in East St. Louis. “Vespers this year has tried to do a lot to extend the hand to other communities, especially Greenville. Greenville has given us a temporary home, and it is important to us we give back when we can. This year, Vespers finally had an outdoorsstyled Vespers, and this has been something we have been trying to do since I was a sophomore on Vespers cabinet, and to see it finally happen is an incredible thing.

“Another thing I really appreciate is the relationships that we are making with people on campus. Vespers is a very special thing, and the fact that we are leaders on this campus and we have the chance to make an impact and a difference is very important to us. And I love that we are really building a really good communication relationship with the tech team and the Pursuit bands this year, that is something I said from day one that it was important that we all work together and be one.” Truly inspiring and amazing, the Vespers staff this year has made great strides in helping communities near and far.

Luke Cottingham 55

MAKING THE WEEKEND

EXTRA ORDINARY

Bright lights, loud music, flying limbs, and a good time. What better way to describe Greenville Homecoming 2015? Hosted by GCSA, this dance was an awesome success and a great way to spend a Saturday night. In usual GC Homecoming fashion, there was an outstanding homecoming court, voted for by the students of Greenville. The freshmen were Genesis Martinez and Nick Roberts. Representing the sophomore class was Laura Mullen and Nate Wieland. For the junior class; Treyvon Manning and Whitney Vitt. Finally, the senior class was represented by Brian Ehresman and Missy Deal, Brian Gertlr and Ashley Featherston, Tyler Kohrs and Abby Mauer, Justin Mulholland and Brittain Monroe, Alex

HOMECOMING 2015 | NATE WIELAND

Ruppert and Annie Reyes, and Parker Wray and Rachel Stroud. With all of these awesome senior representatives, choosing a king and queen would be a near impossible task. Nevertheless, a decision was made and our king and queen were chosen. Your 2015 Homecoming King and Queen are Tyler Kohrs and Rachel Stroud! These two seniors received the most votes and were deemed most worthy of the prestigious positions. Like the rest of the senior candidates, these two are loved around campus by everybody they meet. All in all, Homecoming was a great time. It was a chance to meet up with friends, dance, laugh, lose some hearing, and make an ordinary weekend extraordinary.

Coffee Culture in Greenville Abi Hillrich

A thorough description of coffee options in the town of Greenville—coffee is, after all, the life-blood of the college student. It’s no secret that the only way you were able to finish that paper you procrastinated on was by consuming an absurd amount coffee too late at night.

Adam Brothers Music & Coffeehouse Coffee Source: Joe Sippers Food: Meals & pastries Website: adambroscoffee.com Adam Brothers Music & Coffeehouse is a unique, relaxing coffeehouse located on the square. An approximate ten-minute walk off campus, Adam Bros provides an escape for those who may want to get away for a bit. With beans from Joe Sippers in Effingham, IL, they brew some of the best coffee around. Whether you’re a black-coffee-type, or more of a frappe drinker, Adam Brothers Coffeehouse offers first-rate options that won’t disappoint.

Jo’s Java Coffee Source: Kaldi’s Coffee & Trifold Roasters (Honduran Roast) Food: Meals & pastries Website: josjava.com Jo’s Java is located on campus and provides many options to a student who wants a quick coffee fix. Offering many varieties of coffee drinks, sodas, and baked goods, this shop is definitely one of the most accessible ways to get a caffeine fix. Now open on Sunday evenings from 8pm – 11pm, it is also the perfect place to do all the homework that you procrastinated on Friday and Saturday.

Trifold Roasters Coffee Source: Roast own beans, see website for further info Website: trifoldroasters.com Trifold Roasters is primarily available at the Blackroom Café on Tuesday evenings. They have also recently partnered with Jo’s Java! Owned by Alex Staton, purchasing coffee from Trifold is a great way to support a fellow Greenville student. You can also find their coffee available at The Globe Theater and their online shop.

The Union Coffee Source: Starbucks Food: Meals & snacks The Union currently offers a Starbucks brew. It is quick, and inexpensive. This is an uncomplicated way to get a basic cup of coffee.

KIRSTEN NORSWORTHY

ARE YOU READY TO

GRADUATE? While this is obviously a tongue-in-cheek experiment, life after college can be pretty scary. However, when you look back on the experiences you’ve had at GC, I’m sure you will see that you have been uniquely prepared to conquer whatever life has to offer. No matter whether you go near or far, never forget your Alma Mater.

START

do you feel prepared to enter the workforce?

yes

Of course you do. You’re a GC grad. Do you have a job lined up?

Do you have a ring by spring?

What? You’re lying. Go back to start. Does that job pay enough to make student loan payments and rent?

yes yes

Uh oh. What exactly have you been doing the last 4 years?

Does he or she have a job lined up?

yes

Welcome to the 21st century economy.

What else can you do?

Grad School

Parent’s basEment

BRINER SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

JOIN THE TEAM Apply to be a part of the writing staff or design staff today. We have positions open. Email vista@greenville.edu for more details.