House plants: they can brighten a room, relieve stress, replace the need for an animal and even become our friends! For some college students, plants may be their only source of predictable peace. Often however, when students are considering starting a plant collection, they write it off as too difficult due to their living circumstances. But not all hope is lost – with these tips, anyone can have a green thumb!    One of the best things you can do for your plants is purchase a plant light. Regardless of what plants you are planning to keep, in the Indiana...

By Alexa Kennel • October 14, 2021 • Features

With COVID-19 vaccines available and travel restrictions easing this year, Goshen College reported an 18 percent increase in international students from a year ago. This fall, the college enrolled 73 international students from 32 countries, according to Dan Koop Liechty, the international student adviser at GC and director of alumni engagement. That compares with 62 students from 25 countries last year.   Koop Liechty credits Goshen College’s athletic coaches for the influx in international students.  “A good year would be 20 new students,” he said, “and we have nearly 30 this year.” The countries with the highest representation on campus are...

By Cormac Koop Liechty • October 7, 2021 • News

October is upon us, and with it comes everyone’s favorite holiday of the year: Halloween. I decided to seek out one of many Halloween lovers on campus and ask what makes the day so special. My target? Self-proclaimed Halloween enthusiast Olivia Ewry. Unlike the rest of us fake fans, Ewry begins her celebration on September 1 to maximize the season.  “I start my Halloween playlist then, start wearing fall clothes, put up Halloween decorations and really begin getting into the Halloween mindset,” she tells me (for those curious, the playlist is seven hours long). The phrase “Halloween mindset” intrigued me....

By Eli Reimer • October 7, 2021 • Funnies

In 2013, Goshen College’s Physical Plant installed an electric vehicle charging station outside of the Chairman Building, tucked away near the railroad tracks and the 9th Street entrance to campus. Eight years later, the charging station is one of just three public stations in the city of Goshen. This number will continue to grow as the city plans to add several charging stations, contributing to a nationwide campaign to lay the groundwork for vast fleets of electric vehicles. The two-plug EV charging station at the Chairman Building was set up to promote the use of renewable energy, said Glenn Gilbert,...

By Liam Morris • October 7, 2021 • Features

Historians of the present study old newspapers, letters, journals and books when trying to understand the past. Historians of the future will probably study memes.  For Lydia Nolt, one of the creators of the Instagram account “Goshen_memes_4_2000s_teens,” a meme doesn’t necessarily have to be an image with text, even though that is the generally understood definition of a meme.  According to Nolt, the thing that really matters when it comes to memes is “some sort of unifying factor.”  “Everybody gets it,” she said, “or at least they should. Memes are about community.”  Nolt is a junior history and secondary education...

By Greta Lapp Klassen • October 7, 2021 • Features

Starting this year, Goshen College students have the opportunity to receive a library card from Goshen Public Library. This new partnership aims to provide additional resources on top of the college’s Good Library, which already provides students access to many digital and printed resources.  Prior to this year, if students wanted to find additional resources that the Good Library did not have access to, they would have to go and search for the resources themselves. This program was set in place to make it easier and less time consuming for students to obtain resources for their course work. Goshen Public...

By Meaghan Godzisz • October 7, 2021 • Features

Despite the many carefully-labeled recycling receptacles scattered around campus, understaffing at the Physical Plant and improper disposal of recyclable products has led to almost all of Goshen College’s recyclable materials being thrown away with the trash.  One place where the lack of recycling is noticeable this year is in Java Junction. The blue recycling bin in Java Junction is gone, and in its place is a traditional black trash can.   Christian Saleh, a student supervisor at the coffee shop, was surprised by the change when he returned to campus after the summer. But he understands why the switch was made.  ...

By Sierra Ross Richer • October 7, 2021 • News

Over Homecoming Weekend, young and old visitors alike were taken on tour after tour of campus. Now, I’ve heard the tour before, and I’ve got to say, it’s kind of boring.  So, in an attempt to help out admissions, I have recently developed a new campus tour on the one thing students really want to know: nap spots. Join me in a rest-filled tour across campus!   Rott: Good pre-nap snacks (cereal, anyone?). Power naps only, since they’ll kick you out after a half hour.   Kulp: Basement is very cozy, and everyone is quiet here.   Ad Building: Honestly,...

By Eli Reimer • October 7, 2021 • Funnies

   (from left to right: Dave Kendall, Duane Stoltzfus, Erika Buhring, Suzanne Ehst and Jan Shetler) Goshen College will soon have a new hub for partnerships in the community, thanks to a total of $5 million in grants, from both the Lilly Endowment Inc. and the Community Foundation of Elkhart County. The grants will fund new programs and partnerships and make Newcomer Center the home of the Center for Community Engagement.  The Center for Community Engagement is Goshen College’s newest initiative to strengthen ties with the greater community, according to Suzanne Ehst, professor of education, director of the core curriculum...

By Greta Lapp Klassen • October 7, 2021 • News

Last weekend, Goshen College’s theater department presented their first fall performance of the year with Barbara Lindsay’s play Heavenly Light. Lindsay’s play takes place in a dystopian-like world and follows freedom fighter Lucinda Celeste, who goes on a journey toward self-discovery and reclaiming one’s voice. “Even when things are hard … and she is broken … she is still finding good in the world,” said Abigail Greaser, the director of the play. This is Lindsay’s second time winning the Goshen Peace Play award, a contest surrounding peace. The winning play is performed each year, but due to COVID-19, Heavenly Light...

By Jakyra Green • October 7, 2021 • Arts

Saturday proved to be a day full of celebration and record-setting performances for the Goshen College men’s and women’s soccer teams. Over the Homecoming Weekend, both teams earned shutouts and their first conference wins of the season.  The men’s team played under the lights on Saturday night and topped the University of St. Francis Cougars (IN) 3 to 0 with goals by first-year Lars Razor and seniors Lucas Bontreger and Wendo Kisila.  Bontreger’s insurance goal in the second half was his fifth of the season, tying him with Razor for the team’s leading scorer. Goalkeeper Matias da Fonesca made six...

By Graysen Cockerham • October 7, 2021 • Sports

A new campus entrance on 10th Street opened Tuesday. The new entrance is the first part of an initiative to restructure the campus over the next couple of decades.   When President Rebecca Stoltzfus was appointed to a second term last spring, she proposed a master plan to improve the college in four areas. Her goals include improving campus boundaries, livening the heart of campus, expanding the health and science departments and providing more academic programs for students.   The master plan, which was approved by the board of directors, will cost $76 million, most of which will come from donations and...

By Dakota Cain • October 7, 2021 • News

The Goshen College men’s and women’s cross country teams traveled to the E.P. “Tom” Sawyer State Park in Kentucky this past weekend to run in the 20th Annual Louisville Cross Country Classic. Competing in the Blue Race division, season-best and career-best records were shattered by numerous GC athletes and the teams returned home in high spirits.  Head coach Rustin Nyce said, “Louisville is always a big opportunity for us to compete against many of the best regional teams.” “In the past, we have felt like we had already run our best races, but we are now starting to put some...

By Graysen Cockerham • October 7, 2021 • Sports

The Goshen College men’s cross country team ran over a minute faster at their race last Friday, Sept. 24, than they did at this time last year. For a team seeking to continue its two-year streak of qualifying NAIA for the National Championship, that is  a good sign.   Goshen’s top five runners (Nelson Kemboi, Liam Elias, Jackson Steinmetz, Jordan Garlinger, and Edwin Kimutai) covered the 8-kilometer course at their second meet of the season in Findlay, Ohio, in a combined 2 hours, 11 minutes, and 39 seconds.   “That’s not just a little faster,” said Rustin Nyce, head coach for the...

By Sierra Ross Richer • September 30, 2021 • Sports

Both the Goshen College men’s and women’s tennis teams wrapped up their seasons this week. The men’s team finished 5-10 overall and 3-5 in the conference, while the women’s side ended the season 0-15. Evan Atkinson, head coach, said, “This was probably one of the most enjoyable teams I’ve ever coached.” “Our team is enthusiastic and passionate,” he said. “When I say team, I speak of both our men’s and women’s units because even though we compete separately, we are one family.” The two groups practiced, traveled, ate, and laughed together, all while supporting and encouraging each other throughout a...

By Graysen Cockerham • September 30, 2021 • Sports