Gordon College Breaks the Routine: Rabbis Lecture on a Christian Campus

To some students at Gordon College, attending chapel is part of the daily routine. To some, attending chapel is out of the question; sleep is more important. However in mid-September, as some students went about their routine and attended the Friday morning convocation, they were in for a surprise. Greg Carmer, Dean of Chapel, would not be speaking today; rather, Rabbi’s would be lecturing at this Christian college.

Perhaps Gordon needed to promote the presence of the Rabbis more. Ariana Rostron, a junior Spanish major at Gordon College, said, “I attended the Rabbi chapel. I didn’t know that I was attending anything out of the ordinary though; I just went to get chapel credit.” After polling several sophomores and juniors at Gordon, 90% of those polled were not aware of the Rabbis presence on campus.

Those who chose to sleep, rather than attend convocation, missed out. Rabbi Barauch Halevy, Lecturer on Jewish Spirituality, Leader of the Temple of Shirat Havam, led the opening convocation. Halevy spoke about the Psalms, headlining that “God wants the heart” and explaining Judaism customs and history. Halevy spoke in a Jewish tongue, to incorporate his background into the lecture, and he used humor to win over his dominantly Christian audience.

The Rabbi convocations were not the routine chapel service, they were an event that explored diverse view points and promoted a healthy future for Jewish-Christian relationships.

Newcomers: Kaelyn McBride Trades Africa's East Coast for America's East Coast

By Margaret Starr Lafferty

On the eastern coast of Africa, in the heart of the Kenyan wilderness, there is a boarding school. Rift Valley Academy houses high school students of many different nationalities. A barb wire fence surrounds the perimeter to keep out wild animals. On the eastern coast of America, on the north shore of Massachusetts, Gordon College houses students from all of the country, as well as internationals. There is no barb wire fence to keep out predators. Kaelyn McBride, a new student at Gordon College, reflects on the difference between the two schools as she tells of her time living in Africa.

New student, McBride, with junior standing at Gordon, is a history major with a political studies minor. Since she was four years old, McBride lived in Africa, attending school in Tanzania, the country south of Kenya, until her junior year of high school. She then decided to go to Rift Valley Academy, surrounded by African wilderness, McBride made many close friends. “My best friend was from Finland,” McBride said. “I had another good friend from Korea and a few American friends.”

After graduating from high school, McBride returned to the States, became a student at Westmont College, in California. She soon realized it wasn't a good fit and transferred to Gordon College for the Fall 2009.

So, why Gordon? “I love the academics at Gordon, the professors and the classes. There’s not that too cool for school attitude that there was at Westmont,” said McBride. “I like the location too, and the freedom of no fence.”

However, she notices big differences between Gordon, Westmont, and Rift Valley Academy. “Rift Valley was so international. I miss the diversity. I was friends with everyone from everywhere,” said McBride. “Compared to Westmont, Gordon is more diverse,” she said with a laugh, “but that’s not saying a lot.” McBride comments on diversity at Gordon saying, “We’re color blind, yet we still know there is a difference. This is foreign to me, because I grew up with everyone being the same, no matter their nationality .”

Zinsser’s 30 year old Book, On Writing Well, Still Speaks to Modern Reporter

In an age where most products are consistently updated for our convenience, there stands a book that has withheld in our age of renewal. William Zinsser’s On Writing Well: the Classic Guide to Writing Non-Fiction is celebrating its 30th Anniversary, and it is still being used as a guidebook for writers.

Today, On Writing Well is being read at Gordon College to help young writers. Alyssa Baxter, `11, a Communication Arts Major from Vernon, NJ, said,” It has helped me remove the clutter from my writing and always look for the human element in any story.” When asked what she found to be Zinsser’s most helpful tip to college students, Baxter replied,” “When writing, to remember that you’re dealing with another person’s dignity and honor as well as your own. “

On Writing Well may have good tips for writers, but the question remains is it as relevant today as it was 30 years ago? Baxter said, “Yes, I think it is still relevant. The same concepts are still applied to writing today. Good writing is good writing.”

Abigail Solberg, a junior and Design Major at Gordon College has positive feedback for On Writing Well. Solberg said, “I think his guidelines on how to interview are helpful. He gives the tools you need to write for any story in any genre. That is why the book has lasted for so long.”

Both Baxter and Solberg were asked if they would recommend the book to other writers. Baxter said, “Absolutely.” And Solberg replied, “Yes. Zinsser gives you all of the easy tips that you wouldn’t think about, he says in Chapter 12 of On Writing Well, ‘You’d be surprised how many writers venture forth to stalk their quarry with no pencil, or with one that breaks, or with a pen that doesn’t work, and with nothing to write on. ‘He gives us everything we need to get started.”

With close to 2 million copies sold since its 1976 publication, On Writing Well continues to help writers prepare themselves. With Zinsser’s help they are able to sort through the clutter and compose compelling stories.

College Students Skeptical About Online Journalism

Waking up for class, walking down to Lane on a Friday morning, getting some breakfast and reading a copy of the Tartan was a highlight of the day for some Gordon College students. However, the times are changing. The anticipated Friday morning moment of getting the student news paper is replaced with a daily updated online resource. Is this new online Tartan a good or a bad change for Gordon College?

Baxter enjoys journalism. She is a junior and a Communications major on the writing track at Gordon. Though she feels the change from print news to online is “good for the environment”, she adds, “There was something nice about waking up, getting terrible coffee in Lane, and reading the Tartan. Oh, people would make fun of me for reading it, but I enjoyed it.”

Veronica Pierce is also a junior and a Communications major at Gordon; however she is on the media track. When asked whether she prefers print news or online news, Veronica said, “I like print news, I may skim the online Tartan. But there was something exciting about rushing to read about a friend featured or a friend’s article.”

Both Communications majors, both with similar feelings about the Tartan: put it back in print. The anticipation and the excitement about the Student News were lost when it made the transition from print to online.