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November 4, 2021
The reality of virtual reality
Facebook announced last Thursday that they have changed their brand name to Meta, all part of their move towards the “next chapter” of the internet – a virtual reality universe that you can do anything and everything in. Your animated avatar will be able to change clothes and mimic your facial expressions. You will even be able to feel things, thanks to a new magnetic material called ReSkin. You can work in the virtual office, from home. Just put on a headset (eventually just glasses) and voila! A virtual world to distract from the real one. Facebook, which already holds...
November 4, 2021
Becky’s first appointment of the day, reserved for tai chi
Rebecca Stoltzfus, the president of Goshen College, begins her mornings at around 5:45 with tai chi, an ancient Chinese discipline involving gentle stretches and movements. In an effort to connect the mind and body, tai chi flows from each motion to the next, maintaining constant movement in a meditative state. If the weather is nice, she will take her practice outside to her favorite spot on the back deck, which includes a view of the Goshen Dam Pond as well as a silhouette of Stoltzfus’ treasured hackberry tree, which she calls “Lady Hackberry.” “It’s just really lovely to be awake,...
November 4, 2021
Spanish speakers make conversation at weekly ‘Charlas’
Cristobal Garza Gonzalez sits at a table in the Hunsberger Commons, holding an old Spanish translation of Dante’s The Divine Comedy. He is reading quietly, until he notices somebody he recognizes walk by. “Hola! ¿Cómo estás?” he says with a wave, inviting them into conversation. If they choose to take the bait and sit down, Charlas will officially commence. Charlas, which can be directly translated to “chats,” is a weekly gathering hosted by Garza Gonzalez, assistant professor of Spanish. It has one primary goal: to give people a place to socialize in Spanish. “The idea for this came from my...
November 4, 2021
Colleen Geier gives grades and gets graded
At 63, Colleen Geier has earned a long list of degrees. That does not mean the Goshen College professor is done learning. Geier, director of the sign language interpreting program and a professor in the department, is currently taking classes at both Goshen College and Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS) in Elkhart. The professor has an associate degree in liberal arts, bachelor’s degrees in American history and elementary education ‒ “history because I love it, education to get a job!” ‒ a MS in elementary education with concentrations in special education and deaf education and a PhD in adult education. ...
October 14, 2021
Athletic department searches for a new mascot
Goshen College is beginning the process of creating a new mascot to pump up the fans during sporting events. On Monday, Sept. 20, a committee comprised of faculty, community members, students and alumni sat down to start thinking about the mascot that a costumed student will impersonate to represent the campus. Erica Albertin, athletic director and head of the committee, said, “Historically there have been some mascots off and on, but there hasn’t been one that stuck. I would love to have one for a long time moving forward.” Goshen College’s history with mascots has mostly consisted of students dressing...
October 14, 2021
Intramural sports bring students together
Nearly every week, large groups of Goshen College students gather in the Recreation Fitness-Center, on the sand volleyball courts, or at the KMY lawn to partake in intramural sporting events and tournaments. To start the semester, students formulated teams and played in the annual sand volleyball league and tournament. Likewise, an outdoor soccer tournament was held this past weekend. According to Chad Coleman who works in Student Life and has managed all intramural sports on campus since 2009, intramurals create a great sense of community and camaraderie amongst students. “Intramurals provide a competitive, yet fun, inclusive environment for students, particularly...
October 14, 2021
The ones that were kicked off
After such a fabulous display by those who performed at Kick-Off, I think it’s only fair to also acknowledge the unsung talent at GC. Not all skills are suited for the Sauder Concert Hall stage, but that doesn’t make them any less impressive. Here are a few acts I heard of that didn’t quite make it to the final lineup this year. Dramatic Recitation of the Books of the Bible: I believe it when you say that you made up an absolute banger of a song to help you memorize this for Engaging the Bible. Every impossible-to-spell name between...
October 14, 2021
Who is the Zodiac Pray-er?
By now I’m sure you’ve seen the news on social media–an independent group claims to have solved the mystery of the Zodiac Killer. This comes as a great relief to me, because I’ve been living in fear ever since I saw David Fincher’s cinematic masterpiece “Zodiac.” I know it seems ridiculous to think that the Zodiac killer would come after me all the way in Indiana, but the killer was a master of deceit. No one ever knew who the next target would be. Fortunately, I no longer need to justify my fears since the case has basically been resolved....
October 14, 2021
Tending to his garden since 1986: Ervin Beck
Many students walk through the garden on the south side of Newcomer without a second thought. The garden is tucked away behind a wall, in between the communication wing and the rest of Newcomer Center. But for one man, the garden is deeply important. Ervin Beck taught English at Goshen College for over 30 years, retiring in 2003. He is the primary caretaker of the garden. “I come here almost every day,” Beck said. “Just to do a little bit of work.” Beck speaks in a gentle voice, choosing his words carefully and thoughtfully. Similarly, no aspects of the garden,...
October 14, 2021
Rêverie: a downtown knitter’s daydream
It’s a rainy Saturday afternoon, but the two-tone chime in Rêverie still sounds frequently, announcing the entrance of customers searching for knitting needles, dish towels or a last-minute gift for a relative. The air is heavy with the scent of vanilla candle wax, and several display shelves are marked with price drops on yellow slips of paper ‒ apparently, sidewalk chalk is 40% off this week. Located on the corner of South Main and West Washington, Rêverie has sold yarn, home decor and gifts in downtown Goshen since 2013, when it was founded by five people who felt the absence...
October 14, 2021
Bike thefts go unsolved
At least three bicycles were stolen from the Goshen College campus in the past month. Campus security and the Goshen City Police have yet to succeed at retrieving them. For years, bikes have been stolen from racks around campus, with incidences increasing in the fall months. While some students and community members suspect they know who is behind many of the thefts, campus safety and the police say there isn’t enough evidence to make accusations and instead tell bike owners to be more careful with their property. David Lopez, a junior sports management major, found the lock to his bike...
October 14, 2021
Worth a thousand words: Kick-Off 2021
Isabella Ruiz performing an original composition for voice and ukulele. Dantaye Albert performing his comedy routine “Being Black at Goshen College.” Wendo Kisila delivers a poem on the video screen with an in person interpreter. The members of Howell House performing a “Mama Mia” dance medley, featuring lead singer Agusta Nafziger. The dance group tied for third place. Goshen Panic, an ensemble made up of Sam Scheele, Benjamin Good-Elliot, Isaac Fisher, Birch Baer, and Jonathan Orjala, trumpet. Bohan Lin and Julia Jun, performing “Peace is a Promise You Keep” by Addereth Worship.
October 14, 2021
Disc Golf comes to Goshen
The sport of disc golf has exploded since the start of the pandemic, with new courses popping up across the country. This summer, the city of Goshen jumped on the bandwagon. Mullet Park, a short walk through the woods from the better-known Shanklin Park, became the first disc golf course in the city of Goshen in July when a full nine-hole course was installed. A local father and son-in-law combo are responsible for bringing the game to Goshen. Stuart Meade and his son-in-law Kevin Hinkle, got into the game three years ago. After visiting courses around Northern Indiana, the pair...
October 14, 2021
Crosswords with Caleb
ACROSS 1. Doofuses 5. See 3-Down 6. “Strangely enough…” 7. Instagram feature that mimics Tiktok 8. Triage centers, for short DOWN 1. Law partner? 2. Yellow fever mosquito 3. Vacation we didn’t have last year, with 5-Across 4. “The ___ the limit!” 5. Drill holes in Answer Key Below:
October 14, 2021
Kick-Off makes a comeback
Goshen College students showcased their talents at the annual Kickoff event in Sauder Concert Hall last Saturday. The 15 acts of the evening demonstrated a wide range of unique abilities including singing, playing instruments, comedy and much more. While last year’s live performance was limited to only seniors (others watched it on over live stream from dispersed locations), this year saw a return to full in-person participation, with mask-wearing being the only COVID-19 restriction, besides the cancelation of the traditional after-party. The band The Runaways won the contest with a cover of “Runaway Baby” by Bruno Mars that brought the...