Tiger Bytes

A note to our Tiger Bytes readers

2010-05-28T15:15:00.002-05:00

As you may recall, we posted a survey back in April to gather your thoughts about this blog. Just shy of the one-year anniversary of Tiger Bytes, we wanted to find out what you liked, what you didn’t, and how much of a role Olivet’s official blog plays in your lives.

Your feedback was interesting, candid, and incredibly helpful. We found that there are a few features our readers really like, while the other weekly articles could easily slip away without much hubbub.

Since Tiger Bytes’ inception, we’ve also been measuring the traffic to this blog. It’s clear that we have several faithful readers, but in comparison with our other University channels, the readership is relatively small and has not grown over time. Meanwhile, traffic to http://www.olivet.edu/ continues to increase every month, and the number of Facebook fans and Twitter followers we have has skyrocketed over the past year.

It is for these reasons that ye old Tiger Bytes writers are signing off for now. We’ve had a lot of fun with this blog and getting to know you. We’ve laughed, we’ve cried, we’ve uncovered a lot of trivial trivia together. Perhaps someday, we’ll have the pleasure of meeting you face-to-face in a Tiger Bytes reunion.

Your favorite features are not going away, but will simply be moved to other places, like http://www.olivet.edu/, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube . And now that we have more time on our hands, we’ll be introducing new features in each of those places. Be sure to check us out!

(Cue Boys-To-Men’s “It’s So Hard to Say Good-Bye”)

Have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend and an awesome summer! And don’t forget to stay in touch.

All the best,

Heather Day, editor

(on behalf of writers Casey Manes, Kate Morgan and dozens of guest bloggers)

P.S. We didn’t want to leave you hanging on our final Trivia Tuesday answer. On May 25, 2006, in Madrid, Spain, 300 self-proclaimed geeks arranged themselves to form a human replica of Pac Man. Now there’s a good use of time.

Five on Friday

2010-05-28T09:22:00.000-05:00

Featuring Donnie Johnson, director of graphic design

1. How did you become interested in graphic design?
I was first drawn to graphic design through my participation on the high school yearbook staff. I loved the end product after a year’s worth of work. The satisfaction of creating a book that would preserve so many good memories seemed like a great career to live out my life.

2. As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I always thought being an architect would be a cool job. Even up to the time of choosing a college major, architecture was at the top of the list. But for some reason that extra year of a five-year degree seemed like an eternity to me at the age of 18.

3. What's the best part about having your son, Logan, on campus as a student?
As a dad, it’s probably the first time in my life that I know more about what’s going on in Logan’s day than his mom does. He stops by my office in between classes a couple times a week. It’s fun being in the loop for a change.

4. You won the marketing office’s fitness challenge last year (trophy pictured above). What’s your favorite way to work out?
If there’s an awesome trophy to be won, I usually go for some type of cardio equipment like a treadmill or an elliptical machine. Then I can listen to a fast-moving music playlist to keep me motivated and help the workout go quickly.

5. What's the best way to spend a Saturday afternoon?
Saturday’s are my day to catch up on things around the house, like yard work and washing the car. It’s also a good day to tackle repair projects. Somehow simple do-it-yourself projects always end up taking me hours and hours after several trips to the hardware store. If I can get through everything on my to-do list on a Saturday, the rest of the week is a breeze.

Throwback Thursday - 1997

2010-05-27T14:49:00.002-05:00

We're always proud of our students -- perhaps never more so than when they volunteer their time to serve others abroad and domestically. Opportunities to serve have long been a part of the Olivet experience -- we recently sent teams out to Argentina and Thailand. In this picture, Jodi Dennis assists with an operation at the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital in Manzini, Swaziland.

(Photo from The Olivetian, Vol. 65, No. 1.)

Trivia Tuesday: Geeks unite!

2010-05-25T10:00:00.004-05:00

Don your pocket protectors and put the icing on your Episode IV commemorative cake — it’s Geek Pride Day!

Held on the anniversary of the theatrical debut of Star Wars: A New Hope, Geek Pride Day is a relatively new phenomenon that has been gaining momentum since its inception in 2006. This year, celebrations are planned around the world, including festivals in the U.S., Canada, Israel, France, Belgium and Romania. Fittingly, it shares the same day as two other science-fiction “holidays”: Towel Day (for fans of Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy) and Glorious 25th of May (for fans of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld).

So how exactly does one go about celebrating his/her inner geek? Wired.com suggests recognizing the five reasons to be proud of your geekiness , which may lead you to reciting the “Basic Rights and Responsibilities of Geeks.” Associated Content offers helpful party tips, such as competitive gaming, a local film festival or even Star Trek costumes.

Or perhaps you can recreate the very first Geek Pride Day celebration.

On May 25, 2006 in Madrid, Spain, 300 self-proclaimed geeks arranged themselves to form a human replica of a favorite video game character. What character was it?

Take a guess in the comments section, and we’ll post the correct answer next week.

Answer to last week’s question: The series finale of Friends, which aired May 6, 2004, attracted 52.5 million viewers. Congrats to Megan for guessing correctly.

Guest Feature: Design is Life

2010-05-21T15:02:00.006-05:00

By Matt Moore

I love conversation. By nature, I’m an outgoing person, and I love to talk to people. But I have to admit, I often cringe when someone asks me, “So, what do you do for a living?”

It’s not that I don’t love being a graphic designer. It’s just that at this point in the conversation, I often find myself trying to fudge my way out of designing a sign, brochure, or flyer for the individual I’m speaking with in order to keep free-time for my family.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m flattered by the fact that my title gives you the instant confidence that whatever I would produce for you would be a stunning visual advertisement for your various endeavor. And generally speaking, I like to help those around me as much as possible. I’m from the school of thought, however, that says “Give a man a fish and he eats for a day; show him HOW to fish and he’ll eat for a lifetime!”

At some point, you may be asked to produce a print piece to advertise your business, church or activity. If you utilize a few simple tricks, you can make any design a winner.

I like to think of design as being like life. For starters, life is better — and so is design — if you keep it simple. Use lots of pictures (especially on the cover if designing a brochure) rather than lots of text.

Ever read the owners manual for your blu-ray or smart phone? Me either. No pictures! You bought it in the first place because it LOOKED cool, right? It’s the same thing with a brochure or poster. Good photos will produce better results over long, boring descriptions. If you want to talk about your vacation, isn’t it easier with good pictures? And you can get photos anywhere. Use your own or pull some from a Flickr gallery of a friend — with their permission, of course. Just don’t sell ‘em, OK!?

Another key in design is limiting fonts (rule of thumb: no more than three fonts per piece). There are some good free font sites like 1001freefonts.com and fontfreak.com that are “no strings attached’ sites with fonts that can really punch up a layout. Use a “fun” font to draw attention to the title of your project; use a plain font like Arial, Franklin or Times for body copy.

When it comes to the amount of copy, put yourself in the audience. Ask yourself, “Do I really want to read all of this text?” Again, design mimicks life, and it’s always better to LISTEN than to ramble. Besides, the project is ultimately for the audience and not you.

If you want your piece to be readable, limit the amount of text you put over your pictures. Nothing makes a brochure look more amateurish than hard to read text over a photo. Compare it to having a phone conversation with a loud TV in the background.

And be sure to maintain consistent borders throughout. My kids need consistent boundaries to make it look like I’m a decent parent. Your artwork needs consident boundaries to make it look like it knows what it's talking about.

Lastly, get help. (I’m always happy to share my opinion!) Just like we have a Heavenly Father we can go to for help, there are unlimited resources all around us for ideas. Of course, I’m in NO way comparing the Trinity to billboards, print ads and the Internet, but a simple Google search will reap great rewards in aiding any design project. Just like a simple prayer before a meal or a five-minute devotional before bed can reap great rewards in life.

We tend to make things a little more difficult than they have to be. Design can be pretty easy. Life is a little harder. There are always ways to make both simpler. Look for them and it might surprise you what you can do with each.

Matt Moore is an ONU graduate, a graphic designer within Olivet’s Office of Marketing Communications and an all-around nice guy.

Five on Friday

2010-05-21T08:10:00.003-05:00

Featuring Liz Gray, help desk technician

1. What have you enjoyed most about your job?
Hmmm, that's a tough question. At first I would have to say that it was hard to get used to having my phone number on everyone's speed dial, but I guess I would have to say my favorite part about my job is simply just meeting new people and being able to help them with their computer problems. I have made a lot of friends here at Olivet simply by just being patient and helping them out with their questions and computer issues. While I am by no means a computer genius, I just love helping people in general.

2. What's one of the most frequent questions you get at the help desk?
Outside of normal "chaos control" for large outages, I would have to say the top questions we receive at the help desk are pertaining to password resets. Usually Network accounts, Blackboard, OASIS and Datatel. Next I would have to say would be questions regarding software utilization and how to's on a very wide variety of software, mainly Microsoft Office, GroupWise, Blackboard etc. A lot of the other issues are able to be resolved by just simply restarting the computer. We do, however; get a few funny questions once in awhile that should be directed to other departments like:

- "The power is out, and my computer will not turn on."
- "Our golf cart is not charging. Can one of your guys come over and look at it?"
- " Is Google's website down?"
- "Can you reset my facebook password?"

It's always great to get those -- it makes you laugh and it helps you try to put yourself in the other person's shoes. So much is related to technology that people often call without even realizing what the actual problem is. :)

3. Your family makes pure maple syrup. Can you tell us a little about that process?
Yes, my family has made Pure Michigan Maple Syrup for at least five generations. People who make maple syrup are often referred to as "sugarmakers." Each year in early spring, we go out to the woods for the start of maple syrup season, which generally lasts from mid-February (just before the snow melts) to early April depending on how well the weather cooperates. We "tap," or drill a small hole into the trunk of a tree (this does not hurt the tree and can't be drilled within a 3 inch radius of the hole from the year before or it will suck air) and then insert a spile to catch the sap that begins to collect in the hole. The spout is then connected to a bucket or to plastic tubing, which is what we use. The tubing stretches through the woods, to collect the dripping sap. Sap straight from the sugar maple tree is about 98 percent water and two percent sugar. Other sap starts to "run" or flow out of the holes when the weather is just right. The sap runs best when there are cold nights (with temperatures below freezing) and warm days (with temperatures above freezing). Once the sap is collected, it needs to be boiled to get rid of the excess water right away to make the maple syrup. Maple syrup as its finished product is approximately 33 percent water and 67 percent sugar.

We use an evaporator fueled by fuel oil along with a reverse osmosis machine so it heats the sap more consistently than wood heat. The reverse osmosis helps to speed up the process and use less resources at the same time. An evaporator consists of two or more large, specially designed pans that are filled with sap. It kind of works like the float system in the back of your toilet. These pans sit over a fire of burning wood or fuel, which heats the sap and causes it to boil. As it boils, some of the water in the sap turns to steam, which rises out of the syrup shack. It makes the air smell so good outside! The sap becomes thicker and sweeter as it boils.

We know the maple syrup is ready when its temperature reaches seven degrees Fahrenheit above the boiling point of water. This process requires a lot of time and energy, because it takes about 40 gallons of sap to make just one gallon of pure maple syrup! Once the maple syrup is thick enough, it is filtered to take out "sugar sand," which accumulates as sap boils. Sugar sand is just minerals and nutrients that concentrate as the excess water is boiled away. If it is not filtered out, the maple syrup will appear cloudy and taste gritty.

After the maple syrup is filtered, it is put into containers for sale. From there it can be made into other tasty maple treats like maple sugar, maple syrup candy, maple cream, and even maple jelly. Pure maple syrup is great on pancakes, waffles, french toast, baked beans, steamed rice and veggies, and other foods. My favorite is on vanilla ice cream!

4. What would a perfect afternoon with your boys include?
Since we are originally from Michigan, we were surrounded by outdoor activities. Not that Bourbonnais is not a great place, but we used to live where many people vacation. After moving here I quickly realized that we were very spoiled in growing up in Michigan. I would have to say that I have missed the beaches there, so a perfect afternoon would be spent at the beach, 78 degrees, a small breeze, a picnic snack, maybe a sand castle or two, no cell phones, and lots of fun photos to scrapbook and look back on later. As a side note, I mentioned to Ethan that we could go to the beach when we visit Nina and Papa, and he corrected me saying, "Mommy, you did say the wrong thing. That's silly, we don't say beaches, we only can go in pools, and tub-tubs." While it was funny to me that he would say that, I realized, he has never really been to a beach to swim. The whole idea was just foreign to him and totally caught me off guard.

5. Your husband recently accepted a church position in Michigan - Congrats! How would you ask people to pray for you during this time of transition?
Yes, the church we have accepted is located in Elmdale or Clarksville, Michigan, in which we are very excited and thankful about because it is just a few hours from both sets of family, hooray! We have seen how God has worked through this whole situation and as each day gets closer, we see His appearance in each day all the more. Things seem to be happening pretty quickly as far as our timeline goes and it seems rushed at times.

We would most likely be moving sometime in June -- just as Nate is finishing up a class and starting another, which is foreseeably going to be a little stressful. There are a few details that we are still waiting to hear back on so I guess I would ask for prayer for the rest of the details to fall into place as the Lord would have them to, for safety in our move, that the last month will be as stress-free as possible, and that this move would not be too tough on our children. I don't expect it will be too hard on them because they are pretty young yet (Ethan will be 4 on June 16, and Aiden will be 1 on July 15), and we are planning on getting Ethan and Aiden a puppy for their birthdays. I think Nate is more excited about the puppy than the kids will be, but we don't have a lot of worries in this. We know 100% that this is where God is leading us and we are constantly reminded through Romans 8:28-39 that God is with us and He will take care of us, if we are faithful to carry out His calling. I know we will miss our friends and jobs here at Olivet very much but are very excited to start this new chapter in our lives.

Throwback Thursday - 1980

2010-05-20T12:54:00.004-05:00

If you follow us on facebook or twitter, you know we try and spif up the campus every spring and summer for the upcoming new school year. In the spring of 1980, the University put the final touches on the Kelley Prayer Chapel. Above, art professor Jim Thompson assembles the stained-glass window that's now displayed above the entrance of the chapel. Kelley Prayer Chapel was dedicated as part of the 1980 ONC Commencement activities.

(Photo from The Olivet Collegian, Volume 48, Number 5)

Word of the Week Wednesday: Soi-disant

2010-05-19T15:55:00.009-05:00

Soi-disant (adjective)

Pronounced swah-dee-ZAHNG (the NG is not pronounced, but the vowel is nasalized)

Definition: Self-proclaimed, so-called

Example Sentence:
Sherry realized she must have left her cookies in the oven a bit too long when she had to scrape furiously to get their charred remains off of her soi-disant nonstick baking sheet.

---
Toast. Braids. Fries. Shall we say kissing?

It all sounds more intriguing when you add a little French.

According to Merriam-Webster, “Soi-disant,” which is literally translated, “saying oneself,” is one of hundreds of French terms that entered English in the 17th and 18th centuries, during the period known as the Enlightenment.

Other examples of French words that became English staples during that time frame include, “crepe," "vis-a-vis," "etiquette," and "sang-froid."

Perhaps then, like now, people believed they could sound more sophisticated just by adding a little French twist.

Trivia Tuesday: We interrupt this program

2010-05-18T13:04:00.004-05:00

While our spirits have been dampened by a near-empty campus (not to mention the near-constant rain we've been receiving!), we still have many things for which to be grateful. Last weekend we celebrated life with an incredible group of teens from across the region and this week we've welcomed pastors and lay leaders to campus for a time of renewal. These are good days!

We have to admit, though, there's something else that makes this time of year so special: We love our TV finales. Yes, your dear Olivet bloggers are a bunch of TV junkies. From discussing the search for answers on LOST to cheering on Bret Michaels in Celebrity Apprentice, we take our TV (almost) as seriously as we take our work.

Many know that the 2010 Superbowl that pitted the New Orleans Saints against the Indianapolis Colts recently took the crown of "Most Watched Television Event" away from the 1983 series finale of M*A*S*H. But since many of you already know that, we'll ask a different question.

What was the most-watched TV show finale in the last decade?

Take a guess in the comments and check back next week for the answer.

Answer to last week's question: 3 seconds

This week at Olivet

2010-05-17T13:02:00.002-05:00

Events on the campus of Olivet Nazarene University for the week of Monday, May 17 through Sunday, May 23:

PALCON
Monday, May 17 - Thursday, May 20

The 2010 Pastors and Leaders Conference is built around the theme "Rooted in Missional Passion." In preparing clergy for ministry for the second decade of the 21st century we will build upon the foundation of holiness tradition and address sacred ways to reach our postmodern culture. The invitation to participate is open to all clergy who continue to follow God’s glorious call upon their lives.

For more information, visit the PALCON website.

Five on Friday

2010-05-14T08:35:00.005-05:00

Featuring Matt Foor, controller

1. What is your role as controller?
My role is to help coordinate and oversee the day-to-day accounting operations of the University. The tasks are quite varied, and on any given day you may find me helping a department chair with budget issues, advising student government leaders about their student activity funds, working with auditors to reconcile financial reports, completing government-required reports so the school can receive federal funding, talking to bankers about treasury/cash management, and making sure "the bills get paid" in an efficient manner. I work with an outstanding staff and work for leaders with great vision. I feel privileged to be able to make a contribution to the ONU community and do my part to make this a better place for students.

2. You're participating in Vision Walk 2010. How did you get involved with this?
Vision Walk is being held in Chicago on June 13, and I am participating with my family. The purpose is to raise awareness and funds for eye diseases. We are so close to having cures to help those who struggle with being able to see. With God's help, the researchers can continue to make strides with adequate funding. Since some of my family members, including my wife, have to deal with vision difficulties, this is something I want to do to show my support for them. The 5K walk will start at Soldier Field and wind through the Museum Campus.

3. What's one family vacation you'd like to take?
This is an easy question. Disney World! We have started planning and saving for a trip. Our kids are getting to the age now where they travel better and enjoy vacation time. Beth and I have started telling them all the fun things there are to do there, and their excitement seems to grow each day. Our son is already studying the map of the parks and is asking questions all the time.

4. You and your wife both graduated from Olivet. How did you meet?
Beth and I met at Olivet, but were in different classes and had different friends. We knew each other just well enough to say "hi" in the hallways and cafeteria, etc. After we graduated, we both had jobs in the same town, went to the same church, attended the same small group, and she lived right next door to my sister and brother-in-law. So by then, our paths started crossing more ... then we started dating ... then we fell in love, and the rest is history. It was all part of God's plan and I am so thankful that we met at ONU and are now able to share the rest of our life together.

5. You're an Ohio State fan married into a Michigan family. How have you managed to remain on good terms with the in-laws during OSU's current winning streak?
I keep my mouth shut. :) Seriously, we have been kind to each other about our "differences." I knew my wife truly loved me when she, a Michigan fan from birth, pulled many strings to find tickets to a Buckeye football game for our tenth anniversary.

Throwback Thursday - 1943

2010-05-13T13:25:00.004-05:00

Like other colleges and universities of the time, Olivet saw many of its brightest students leave to serve the country during World War II. But letters to professors and University staff kept the community connected. Above, troopers Harold Stinehelfer and Warren Davidson, who were classmates at Olivet, were stationed together in 1943 as part of the Army Air Force Band. They wrote:

"We are enjoying the wonders of God and full salvation. We are inspired this lovely Sabbath day to write this message to the students at Olivet. We want to praise and glorify God for the way He has led the lives of these two Christian soldiers. God has been with us since we left the halls of dear old Olivet. He has kept us together as two workers in the field serving the Lord as well as Uncle Sam. ... Our testimony has been spread throughout the band. We are letting our lives shine to the Glory of God."

(Photo and text from The Olivet Collegian, Volume XV)

Word of the day: Palimpsest

2010-05-12T09:35:00.003-05:00

Palimpsest (Noun)

Pronounced:

PAL-imp-sest

Definitions:

1: writing material (as a parchment or tablet) used one or more times after earlier writing has been erased

2: something having usually diverse layers or aspects apparent beneath the surface

Example Sentence:

As Judy observed the eyes of her new boyfriend fill with tears at the end of Sleepless in Seattle, she teased him about what a palimpsest he had turned out to be.

Did you know?

According to Merriam-Webster, writing surfaces were once so rare that they were often used more than once. Their commentators explain, “‘Palimpsest’ originally described an early form of recycling in which an old document was erased to make room for a new one when parchment ran short. Fortunately for modern scholars, the erasing process wasn't completely effective, so the original could often be distinguished under the newer writing. De republica, by Roman statesman and orator Cicero, is one of many documents thus recovered from a palimpsest.”

Today, the word can be used to describe anything that is “more than what meets the eye.”

Definitions and pronunciation taken from Merrian-Webster Online

Trivia Tuesday: National Barbeque Month

2010-05-11T15:35:00.003-05:00

If you were to ask, "Which month is National Barbeque Month?" most folks would tend to go with July, since an Independence Day barbeque is almost as ubiquitous as a Thanksgiving Day turkey.

You might be surprised to discover that May is, in fact, National Barbeque Month. And when you consider what a cool month it is, I dont think that we can begrudge it its tasty title.

May heralds the imminence of summer. The weather warms consistently. Flowers come to full bloom. Pollen takes flight in all of its invisible and active forms — yet fails to dissuade most Northerners, long besieged by the cold winter months, from wanting to get out from under the shelter of their roofs. And really, what better approach to getting reacquainted with the great outdoors, neighbors, friends and family than the aroma of slowly grilled meat crusted with a sweet and spicy glaze?

While barbequing over a gas grill has many advantages — temperature control, convenience, etc. — its hard to argue that barbeque tastes a whole lot better (if done correctly) over charcoal.* Sadly, the art of charcoal grilling is fading in favor of the convenience of gas grills. But to those who abide by the sanctity and superiority of charcoal grilling, we offer this Trivia Tuesday question:

You know when the coals are hot enough to add the meat when you cant hold your hand over it for more than how many seconds?

Take a guess in the Comments section and we'll post the correct answer next week.

Answers to last week’s question: 1C, 2F, 3A, 4F, 5B, 6G, 7I, 8D, 9H, 10E. Kudos to Megan for her correct answers!

This Week at Olivet

2010-05-10T09:50:00.002-05:00

Events on the campus of Olivet Nazarene University for the week of Monday, May 10 through Sunday, May 16:

Block 1 Classes begin
Monday, May 10
7:30 a.m.

For more information, contact the Office of the Registrar, call 815-939-5201.

Editor’s Note:

As you can imagine, activity on the campus of Olivet Nazarene University slows down quite a bit during the summer months. We will continue to post “This Week at Olivet” throughout the summer, but only on weeks where public events are scheduled. Olivet business offices remain open throughout the summer months, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Guest Feature: Lessons learned, memories made

2010-05-07T15:47:00.003-05:00

By Amy Duerrwaechter

As I sit and reflect of my time at Olivet Nazarene University, on the verge of graduation, many memories flood my mind.

I look back on all of my first things I did on campus: move in and unpack, eat everything in the cafeteria (only to realize that I would be eating this every day for the next few years), and going around to all of the buildings to find my classes for the next day. I remember discovering that to “fit in,” I needed to take two cups at the cafeteria and that I shouldn’t carry a purse.

I also remember meeting so many people my freshman year. Back then, I never would have thought that they would still be the people I turn to at the end of my senior year. These were the friends that truly became my family.

And Olivet Nazarene University became a home away from home. I have grown and learned — in more than just academics.

As a freshman, you are encouraged to get involved, but I didn’t think that the activities I joined would have any serious impact on my life. I joined Omega drama ministries simply figuring that this traveling team would be something fun to do that would get me involved. My first team consisted of seven people. These seven people have made the most impact on my life. They have morphed into roommates, fellow co-workers, team leaders and best friends.

The following year, my involvement with Omega changed from just being a team member to a team leader, and currently I serve as director of this ministry. This ministry has changed the way I view everything I do. It has given me leadership experience, and every year I have grown in ways I could never have dreamed possible. God has led me to meet some of the most amazing people, and each team has become a family of people to trust and experience the year with. I can honestly say that if I did not get involved in this one activity, my entire experience at Olivet would have been different.

When people say, “Get involved,” they mean it. My advice to new students? Get involved in something, anything. It’s worth it.

When I visited Olivet, and had the tour of the campus, I was told that the professors here truly care about the students. Coming from a small private high school that was important, but I was skeptical if it would actually be played out and true. But let me tell you: the professors here are some of the best people in the world.

There was a Saturday afternoon I was working on a project and was having problems. So I called my professor, and he came onto campus — on his day off — to help me.

So many times, I would run to my professors for advice on something outside of the classroom, and they were always willing to lend a listening ear. When professors say that they are here to help us, they mean academically — but also in everyday life situations. If you are a current or future student, take advantage of the wonderful people around you. They have so much experience and knowledge to share.

So often, friends and academics are what most people think of when they think of college experiences, but there is one more aspect that I cannot leave out. Throughout my time at Olivet, I have been able to grow spiritually.

God has blessed me in so many ways. I look at how He works situations out, and I am amazed at His provision. God has been with me through everything. If there is one thing that He has taught me the most in these last few years, it is to surrender everything to Him. This is a very hard thing to do, since I tend to want to be in control of everything, but He has always been faithful in providing for me, when there seems to be no other way.

As graduation nears, I am looking at my empty apartment, and all of the books scattered on the floor, and boxes being taped up. It just makes me think how thankful I am for my time here at Olivet.

It is because of the friends who have become family, the education I have received, and the God that provides for me that I know I will be successful in whatever tasks that come my way in the years to come.

Amy Duerrwaechter will graduate tomorrow from Olivet Nazarene University with her bachelor’s degree in photography. Following graduation, she will work as a graduate assistant for Olivet’s Office of Annual Giving as she pursues her MBA through ONU’s School of Graduate and Continuing Studies.

Five on Friday

2010-05-07T11:42:00.000-05:00

Featuring Kathy Boyens, director of library and resource center

1. What do you enjoy most about your job?
Working with just great people (Olivet faculty and staff are the best in the world!), helping students and learning something new every day. Library work can be challenging because of the many changes - due especially to constantly changing technology - but at least you can never complain about being bored!

2. What's one book you've read recently that you would recommend to others?
Actually, there are two. One is a children's or young adult novel called Wednesday Wars, written by Gary Schmidt, an author and professor at Calvin College who visited Olivet in late March. Not only is the story engaging, but many of the characters demonstrate a great deal of moral courage. The other recommendation is a book of short stories (not all are so short!) by Pulitzer Prize-winning Jhumpa Lahiri called Unaccustomed Earth. While she describes lives caught between cultures of India and the U.S., her stories about families and relationships resonate with readers of any cultural background.

3. What are your thoughts about the Kindle?
Very cool - I'm enjoying mine tremendously. It's convenient and easy to read, but also dangerous, because it's so easy to download more e-books with just one click on Amazon!

4. Outside of work you serve as music director at your church. Why are you involved in this ministry?
It must just be ingrained in me. My father was a pastor and my mother was the church organist and children's choir director for many years. It's truly a spiritual experience to be able to lead a congregation in worshiping God through music.

5. What advice would you give the Class of 2010?
Be true to who you really are and, at the same time, be open to new ideas and new experiences. In trying something new, you learn more about yourself and others - and you may just uncover a hidden talent or passion!

Throwback Thursday - 1995

2010-05-06T14:06:00.003-05:00

We find it difficult to believe that it's once again graduation time on campus. But the bleachers have been put up and the lawn has been marked up and - it has to be said - the campus looks absolutely beautiful as we prepare to celebrate the Class of 2010.

While finalizing plans for this 97th Olivet Commencement, we take a look back at the ceremony of 1995. Above, President John C. Bowling and General Superintendent Paul Cunningham enjoy a moment of quiet before leading the processional.

Congrats to the Class of 2010! Today's graduates are tomorrow's Throwback Thursday participants!

(Photo from The Olivetian, Vol. 62, No. 5)

Word of the Week: Alma Mater

2010-05-05T10:38:00.004-05:00

Alma Mater (Noun)

Pronounced:

al-mə-ˈmä-tər

Definitions:

1: A school, college, or university which one has attended or from which one has graduated
2: The song or hymn of a school, college, or university

Example sentence:

As the convocation drew to a close, the entire congregation stood to sing Olivet’s alma mater, which was written by the Class of 1939’s Byron Carmony.

Okay, so this word may not be completely unknown to the majority of our readers, but we couldn’t think of a more perfect word for this week.

For one thing, no Olivet graduation ceremony would be complete without the singing of Byron Carmony’s “Alma Mater, Olivet.” And in the last hours of their ONU experience, graduates are sure to spend plenty of time this week reflecting on warm memories from their alma mater.

Interestingly enough, the very origin of this word makes it a good fit for this first week in May. “Alma mater” means “fostering mother” in Latin — just in time for Mother’s Day.

Like a nurturing mother, we’re proud of our graduates and wish them all the best in this next chapter of their lives.

And to the all mothers of the Class of 2010: thanks for loaning us your babies for the last few years. They’ve sure done you proud!

Definition and pronunciation taken from Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary.

Trivia Tuesday: Colorful Commencement

2010-05-04T10:40:00.007-05:00

The bleachers are up, and the commemorative program is off to the printers. It’s official: Graduation is just around the corner!

This year marks Olivet Nazarene University’s 97th annual Commencement ceremonies.

Though several things have changed over the years, the academic regalia remains largely unchanged. The Class of 2009 will don black robes and black caps — and colorful tassels that designate their specific academic field. The color of these tassels, which also appear on the trim of the hoods worn by master’s and doctoral graduates, are consistent with the colors worn at colleges and universities throughout the United States.

How well do you know your academic regalia? Match these colors with the appropriate academic fields listed below.

1. Light blue

2. Drab

3. Orange

4. Brown

5. Pink

6. Apricot

7. Sage Green

8. Golden Yellow

9. Citron

10. Scarlet

a. Engineering

b. Music

c. Education

d. Science

e. Theology

f. Business

g. Nursing

h. Social Work

i. Physical Education

j. Fine arts

Take a guess in the comments section, and we'll post the correct answer next week.

Answer to last week's question: "Hurray! It's Morse Code Day!" Congrats to Megan on her awesome Morse Code translation skills.

This week at Olivet

2010-05-03T10:06:00.001-05:00

Events on the campus of Olivet Nazarene University for the week of Monday, May 3, through Sunday, May 9:

Baseball

Thursday, May 6
1 p.m.
Snowbarger Park
ONU vs. Calumet College of St. Joseph (Ind.)

Softball

Thursday, May 6
Time to Be Determined
Snowbarger Park
ONU hosts CCAC Tournament

Baccalaureate Service

Friday, May 7
7:30 p.m.
McHie Arena

Commencement

Saturday, May 8
9:30 a.m.
Esplanade

SCHEDULE OF COMMENCEMENT ACTIVITIES SPRING 2010

Friday, May 7

1 p.m. Social Work Pinning Ceremony
Location: Kresge Auditorium

2 p.m.
Nursing Pinning Ceremony
College Church of the Nazarene

2:30 p.m.
School of Theology and Christian Ministry Graduation Chapel
Kelley Prayer Chapel

4:30-6 p.m.
Phi Delta Lambda dinner and induction ceremony, Mr. Jeff Enfield, President
Nash Banquet Room, Ludwig Center (by invitation only)

7:30 p.m.
Baccalaureate Service
Dr. John Bowling, President, speaker, Leslie Parrott Convocation Athletic Center

PLEASE NOTE: Graduates will sit with family and friends during the Baccalaureate Service. Graduates, dressed in their academic robes, should be seated in the Convocation Center no later than 7:15. Only trustees and faculty will march in the academic processional for this service. Graduates and their families are reminded that there will be open seating throughout the Convocation Center. Line of march for trustees and faculty forms at 7 p.m. in front of Burke Administration Building. In case of inclement weather, line of march will form in Birchard Gymnasium.

9-10 p.m.
President’s Reception for Traditional Degree Candidates and their families
Chalfant Hall

Saturday, May 8

CONVOCATION FOR TRADITIONAL DEGREE CANDIDATES

8:45 a.m. Line of march for degree candidates and faculty forms at the Admissions Center
9 a.m. Prelude, Concert Band
9:15 a.m. March begins
9:30 a.m.Commencement Convocation for Traditional Undergraduate Students
Mr. Hugo Chan, Attorney at Liau, Ho & Chan, Hong Kong, China
Milby Mid-Campus Esplanade/closed circuit TV viewing in Larsen Fine Arts Center

In case of inclement weather, the Commencement Convocation for Traditional Undergraduate Students would be held in McHie Arena, with line of march forming in Birchard Gymnasium. Overflow seating would be available in Chalfant Hall for closed circuit TV viewing.

12:00 Noon
ROTC Commissioning Ceremony
Fortin Villa

CONVOCATION FOR SCHOOL OF GRADUATE AND CONTINUING STUDIES DEGREE CANDIDATES

1-1:30 p.m. Line of march for Graduate and Continuing Studies degree candidates and faculty forms at Burke Administration Building (In case of inclement weather, line of march will form in Birchard Gymnasium.)

2 p.m. Prelude

2:15 p.m. March begins from Burke Administration Building

2:30 p.m.Commencement Convocation for School of Graduate and Continuing Studies degree candidates
Leslie Parrott Convocation Athletic Center
Dr. John Bowling, President, Olivet Nazarene University, speaker

Overflow seating is available in Chalfant Hall for closed circuit TV viewing.

Reception for School of Graduate and Continuing Studies graduates and their families to follow immediately after the convocation.

Five on Friday

2010-04-30T15:26:00.004-05:00

Featuring Liz Agan, a junior graphic design major

1. Why are you studying graphic design?
I've always loved art and I love computers. The reason I chose graphic design is because it combines two things I love.

2. What would you tell a student who was considering Olivet?
Olivet is a great place to meet new friends for life. I've learned a lot in my art classes that will help me in the real world. Having a Christian environment is a wonderful blessing because I know that my professors care not only about my school work but also about my walk with Christ.

If you are looking to grow in your knowledge and faith Olivet is the place to be.

3. What was it like growing up in a family of three boys?
Crazy. I grew up playing sports and video games instead of Barbies. But I loved every minute of it! :)

4. Classes are over and exams are underway - what do you have planned for the summer?
This summer I am taking classes from Olivet during May term. After that I'm going home to spend much-needed time with family and to finish all the details for my wedding. I getting married in August!

5. Congratulations on the upcoming nuptials! What do you most enjoy about your fiance?
There are so many things I love about him, so it's hard to choose ... He loves Jesus with all his heart and he makes me laugh a lot. :)

Throwback Thursday - 1973

2010-04-29T13:37:00.003-05:00

As this year's Tiger softball team continues to dominate the diamond, we take a look back at life pre-intercollegiate softball. While the gear and uniforms might make it seem a little casual, the play was certainly competitive during the intramural competitions. Here, Fran Reed takes a big swing at an incoming pitch.

(Photo from the 1973 Aurora.)

Guest feature: Gardening 101

2010-04-29T10:45:00.005-05:00

By Becky Williams

Spring has officially sprung, and signs of new life are popping up everywhere.

Perhaps you’ve determined this will be the year when you finally take part in the horticultural world for the very first time. Or maybe you’ve tried, unsuccessfully, to garden in the past and now you wonder if there’s any hope for your not-quite-so-green thumbs. Either way, my hope is that this article will provide you a few, simple tips that will put you well on your way to a successful planting experience.

Gardening, to me, is therapeutic. It amazes me how God can take a little seed or plant, and it will grow into this luscious vegetable or fruit. It’s fun to get outside in the garden and “get dirty” — then a few weeks later, bite into a juicy, delicious, red tomato that I (and God) grew!

Let’s start with the basics

All plants can be divided into two categories: perennials and annuals.

Perennials do not die after one season; they come back on their own from year to year. Perennials are great for landscaping, and require less maintenance. A couple common examples of perennials are hostas and tulips.

Annuals, on the other hand, must be re-planted each year. Most garden vegetables, beans and seed flowers fall into this category. While they are a bit more work then perennials, annuals offer you variety and additions to your color palate each year.

It’s all about the timing

In order to have a successful garden, you must sow in the proper season, which varies from plant to plant.

Right now, the gardening rule in our Midwest climate is to not set out any plants that will be affected by cold nights. My advice is to hold off until after Mother’s Day, when frost is far less likely. The hardest thing about this, I know, is seeing all the nurseries with the bedding flowers and all their colors. It makes you want to buy them and plant — but be patient and WAIT! If you do decide you must buy them now, put them inside the garage or under an awning at night so they are protected until you plant them.

Conversely, there are a few plants that should already be in the ground by now, such as root plants (i.e. potatoes, carrots and early peas). Some people use the rule: Plant your potatoes Palm Sunday weekend or Easter weekend. But those dates change every year —so it’s not a terrific guideline. Basically, they can be planted earlier than most plants since they are covered with soil.

There’s hope for you!

Maybe you’re thinking, “That’s all well and good, but I can’t grow a garden because [fill in the blank].”

But as the old saying goes, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”

What if you live in an apartment with no yard? Try container gardening, also known as patio plants (the more in vogue name). You can get pretty large containers and even grow two to three things in one pot.

What if you have heavy shade throughout your yard? Definitely check with a florist or nursery worker to find out what plants will do well in your local climate or even in your particular yard. There are a lot of beautiful perennials that do well in the shade — so don’t give up and think that nothing will work.

What if the squirrels, rabbits, bugs, etc., are enjoying the “fruits of your labor?” Well, the rabbits have been having caucuses in my backyard already, so chicken wire around my vegetable garden is the ONLY thing I’ve been able to use to keep them out. Some plants will get bugs on their leaves, etc., and you will have to buy a liquid or powder spray, sold at garden centers. You might even bring a leaf in to the garden center so they can see what specific disease or spots you are dealing with on the plants.

What of if you don’t have a lot of time to keep up with gardening? Start with a small space or container gardening first. Once you get the weeds under control and the plants mature, you might be surprised how little time the maintenance really takes.

What if you have a “seedy” history of killing every plant within your care? Try a cactus. (Just kidding) Outside plants are quick to tell you if they need a drink of water (leaves wilt, turn brown, flowers droop, etc.) So, if we go through a drought season, keep them watered, but don’t drown them. If we’ve had plenty of rain and you “talk to them” on occasion, they will thrive!

Off you go!

The best advice for a novice gardener? Just dig in! Literally. The joy of gardening is its simplicity, and you’re sure to pick up a few tricks of your own along the way. You CAN do this.

Finally, if all else fails — if gardening really intimidates you or time is really an issue — support your local farmers market. These are wonderful, and the best of whatever is in season will be right at your finger tips!

Becky Williams works in Olivet Nazarene University’s Office of Development and fields gardening questions daily from co-workers who aspire to grow bountiful gardens.

Word of the Week: Puerile

2010-04-28T11:20:00.003-05:00

Puerile (adjective)

Pronounced

PYUR-ul

Definition

1: juvenile
2: childish, silly

Example Sentence

Brian misinterpreted Julie’s polite smile as an indication his flirtatious behavior was well received, when in reality, she thought his antics were pathetically puerile.

--

According to Merriam-Webster, “Puerile can describe the acts or utterances of an actual child, but it more often refers (usually with marked disapproval) to occurrences of childishness where adult maturity would be expected or preferred.”

If you’ve ever experienced the disapproving looks of someone more “sophisticated” or “mature” than you, you know how uncomfortable it can be to cross the line from silly to immature.

Where exactly is that line? It depends largely on the situation, atmosphere, and the persons on the receiving end of your behavior. For example, a whoopee cushion would send a room of ten-year-old boys into hysterics, but would threaten your credibility if utilized at a sophisticated dinner party.

If laughter is what you’re after, know your audience and utilize smart, comedic timing.

Stick to this strategy and you’re sure to be the life of the party rather than the puerile pain who never gets invited.

Definitions and pronunciation taken from Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary

Trivia Tuesday: Beep Beep Beeeeeeep Beep

2010-04-27T08:00:00.002-05:00

Break out your telegraphs everybody. Today is national Morse Code Day!

Morse code, named after the painter-turned-inventor F.B. Morse, is a form of communication in which letters, numbers and symbols are communicated through a series of rhythmic sounds.

In the early part of the 20th Century, Morse code served as one of the primary ways to communicate time-sensitive information internationally, using telegraph lines, undersea cables and radio circuits.

Today, however, with the exception of some isolated aviators and amateur radio operators, few people can make sense of these messages encrypted as "dots" and "dashes" or "dits" and "dahs."

If you ARE among the few who can interpret Morse code, today is your opportunity to shine.

Translate this message into everyday English:

.... ..- .-. .-. .- -.-- / .. - / .. ... / -- --- .-. ... . / -.-. --- -.. . / -.. .- -.-

Take a guess in the comments section, and we’ll post the correct answer next week.

Answer to last week’s question: It takes just over 8 minutes for the sun’s rays to reach Earth. Congrats to Megan for guessing correctly!

This Week at Olivet

2010-04-26T09:22:00.003-05:00

Events on the campus of Olivet Nazarene University for the week of Monday, April 26 through Sunday, May 2:

LifeSong Omega Concert
Monday, April 26
7 p.m.
Warming House

LifeSong and Omega’s annual concert is a great time to see the talent that these student ministries have, and to celebrate the end of the year. Come out and listen to some awesome music, and see skits that relate to your life. This will be an awesome night of worship, laughter and, of course, food!

Department of Music Concert
Monday, April 26
7 p.m.
Kresge Auditorium

Wind Ensemble and the New Horizons Band will perform

Jazz Band/ Concert Singers Concert
Tuesday, April 27
7 p.m.
Kresge Auditorium

Baseball vs. Robert Morris University (Ill.)
Wednesday, April 28
3:30 p.m.

Jazz Combo II Concert
Wednesday, April 28
9 p.m.
Common Grounds

Tennis NAIA Regional Tournament
Thursday, April 29 through Friday, April 30

Women's Tennis
Thursday, 10 a.m., vs. Indiana Institute of Technology
Thursday, 4 p.m., vs. Aquinas (Mich.)
Friday, 10 a.m., Championship Match

Men's Tennis
Thursday, 12 p.m., vs. University of St. Francis (Ill.)
Friday, 1 p.m., Championship Match

Softball vs. University of St. Francis (Ill.)
Thursday, April 29
3 p.m.

Senior Recital
Thursday, April 29
7 p.m.
Kresge Auditorium

Gibson, Drace and Sauch will perform

30th Annual Olivet Open
Friday, April 30
10:30 a.m.

Kankakee Country Club, Kankakee, Ill.

The Larry Watson Memorial Golf Series presents the 30th Annual Olivet Open!

- Four-man scramble format (with 4 divisions)
- Prize for the lowest foursome
- Longest drive contest
- Closest-to-the-pin contest
- Hole-in-one contest

Schedule:
10:30 a.m. - Registration
11:00 a.m. - Lunch
12:30 p.m. - Shot-gun start

Cost: Entry donation of $175 per golfer includes green fees, cart, lunch, and driving range.

For more information, call the Office of Alumni Relations at 815-939-5258.

Softball NCCAA Regionals vs. Judson University
Friday, April 30, 3 p.m.
Saturday, May 1, 9 a.m. (if necessary)

Baseball vs. Illinois Institute of Technology
Friday, April 30
3 p.m.

ONU Football - Spring Game
Saturday, May 1
6 p.m.

Commencement Concert
Saturday, May 1
7 p.m.
Kresge Auditorium

Five on Friday

2010-04-23T14:36:00.004-05:00

Featuring Mary Margaret Reed, resident director of McClain Hall

1. What do you enjoy most about your job?
I love being a part of the Olivet community and working with students.

2. What advice do you have for the graduating class of 2010?
Stay connected to God and your alma mater.

3. Who was an important figure in your own college experience?
Professor Marjorie Mayo

4. You have a great group of girlfriends from your time at Olivet. How do you stay connected?
The Olivet Ya-Yas try to get together once a year at different places. We have bonds that can't be broken by years and distance.

5. How do you like to kick back during the weekends?
On the weekends, I love to go "junking" to find hidden treasures, have coffee with friends and sleep on my couch.

Guest feature: Marketing yourself to get a professional job!

2010-04-23T10:02:00.004-05:00

By Mary Anderson

Considering a young man at my church was recently quite surprised to see a person "my age" texting, it's a wonder that I was invited to write for the Olivet BLOG. But here I am!

I've worked in Career Services a long time, but some things never change: Marketing starts with the first impression. Unfortunately sometimes it ends there too!

One school superintendent told a true story at a recent conference. His office windows face the school’s parking lot. He observed a teacher candidate smoking a cigarette in his car on school premises before coming in for the interview. Needless to say, the interview “ended” before the candidate ever even entered the school!

Here’s my 7-point sermon on first impressions:

1. Think before you place a phone call. Plan what you are going to say, keep it very professional. If you must leave a message keep it succinct; state the reason for your call, say your name and telephone number very clearly. Employers are interested in hiring young professionals, not transitioning college students!

2. Think about how your voice mail message sounds. If you are not around when an employer calls you back, what will their impression be? Make it professional; employers detest “goofy” answering machine messages.

3. Present your résumé on good quality paper. If sending it electronically, send a PDF, not a Word doc. They don’t always look the same on the receiver’s computer or printer. PDF stands for Portable Document Format but let’s say “professional document format!”

4. Shake hands firmly and confidently to communicate your professional image!

5. Press your interview attire! Wrinkles are not professional.

6. Your professional attitude is contagious. Don’t be a carrier of a bad attitude — it's simply not professional!

7. Cell phones do not go to interviews. Turn it off, put it away! It is not professional. When you are in an interview, the interview is your only priority! When you are waiting for the interview, you should be preparing for the interview, NOT texting your friends or mother (and I am one).

Now if first-impressions-only could land you a job, you would be set, but there is much more to it than that.

You must do your homework: research companies, find out all you can about them before the interview, generate questions to ask based on your research. Showing up for the interview unprepared is like showing up for the final exam without ever going to class!

You need to network, network, and then network some more! Talk to people you know: professors, employers, family members, and anyone and everyone you know in your chosen profession. How did they get their jobs? People in your network know people you don’t know – that is the key!

First, clean up your Facebook; employers look there too! Create a professional profile on LinkedIn.com. Join groups and maintain connections —both in person and online! It will pay off in the end.

Mary D. Anderson is the director of career services at Olivet Nazarene University, where she has served since 1979. She has her bachelor of music from Millikin University and her master of arts in education from ONU. Find Mary on LinkedIn.

Throwback Thursday - 1984

2010-04-22T14:08:00.003-05:00

Sisters Cheryl and Kandra Dilts look like they're ready for the April showers that are heading our way this weekend. The two partnered together for the Parent Weekend Variety Show that featured acts from the Orpheus Variety Show and the Vikings-Treble Clef Variety Show. The weekend also included brunch with Dr. Bowling, donkey basketball, a planetarium show and a concert by the Department of Music.

(Photo from the 1985 Aurora)

Word of the Week: Skosh

2010-04-21T09:17:00.000-05:00

Skosh (noun)

Pronunciation

Skōsh

Definition

A little, a bit, a small amount

Example Sentence

“Would you move over just a skosh?” asked Vanessa of her husband, so that she could sit by him on the couch.

---

While a “skosh” isn’t exactly a precise measurement, it is still a fun word to use.

This is a relatively new slang word (new in the big scheme of things — nowadays many slang words go in and out of style weekly). But the nature of this word is what makes it interesting. If you told someone who hasn’t heard this word before to “give you a skosh more room,” they’ll know exactly what you mean and will probably move to accommodate you. It’s a fun, casual word everyone can understand and ought to use.

And now, your vocabulary is just a skosh bigger.

Definition taken from dictionary.reference.com

Give your opinion, get a free blanket!

2010-04-20T10:50:00.004-05:00

Here at Tiger Bytes Central (a.k.a. Olivet Nazarene University), we care about what you think.

We want to know what you would like to see more of, and, frankly, what you would like to see go away.

Tell us your thoughts in this BRIEF survey — seriously, it will take 6 minutes and 40 seconds or less — and you can be entered to win a super cool Olivet sweatshirt blanket.

Be honest. You won't hurt our feelings.

Or maybe you will. But that's okay, too.

Click here to take survey

Trivia Tuesday: Here comes the sun

2010-04-20T09:40:00.003-05:00

Ah, the sun. The bringer of daylight, sunshine, warmth, and … radiation.

We don’t like to think of the sun, which is so crucial for life on earth, as a potential hazard, but we still know that it can be harmful to unprotected skin,

“Ah,” you think, “But I never burn, I just tan. The sun isn’t hurting me.” Or perhaps you think the time it will take to cause irreversible damage will be in several decades from now. Unfortunately, you’d be wrong on both counts.

The sun emits two kinds of UV (ultraviolet) rays: UVA and UVB, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. A good way to remember which is which? Think of the A in UVA as “aging,” because that’s what those rays do to your skin, and the B in UVB as “burning” since those are the rays that cause you to burn. And it doesn’t take much exposure to cause damage in the form of wrinkles, dryness, or even cancer.

A broad-spectrum sunscreen is the best way to protect your skin, since it protects from both kinds of UV rays. The sun is strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., so especially during those hours, and throughout the summer months, be sure to put on sunscreen.

How long does it take for the sun’s rays to reach the earth?

Take a guess in the comments section and we’ll post the correct answer next week.

Answer to last week’s question: Salt.

This Week at Olivet

2010-04-19T13:17:00.002-05:00

Events on the campus of Olivet Nazarene University for the week of Monday, April 19 through Sunday, April 25:

Department of Music Concert
Thursday, April 22
7 p.m.
Kresge Auditorium

Featuring the Concert Band and Chamber Ensembles

Harp Ensemble Recital
Friday, April 23
7 p.m.
Kresge Auditorium

ONU Baseball vs. Purdue University-North Central (Ind.)
Saturday, April 24,
12:30 p.m.

Five on Friday

2010-04-16T10:37:00.005-05:00

Featuring Ali Hoskins, a junior physical education major

1. How did you end up at Olivet?
I heard about Olivet through one of my best friends from high school. I didn't really have any desire to go to Olivet, but then I came for a visit and felt very comfortable and at ease here. I was surprised by the professors and how much they genuinely cared for you. The staff here is not only tremendously talented but also very solid in their walk with Christ. I appreciate their honesty, willingness to be open, professionalism and caring attitudes.

What also attracted me was the community that Olivet has. I did not discover this at other schools and I very much enjoyed it. So I came for one visit, I liked it and it is conveniently located far enough away from my house to be "away" at school but also close enough to venture home to do laundry. ;)

2. What do you plan to do after graduating?
After graduating I plan to attend the French Culinary Institute in New York City to become a pastry chef.

3. That sounds perfect because we hear you're a fabulous baker! What's your favorite thing to bake?
My favorite things to make are chocolate chip cookies because I have made them so often and people seem to enjoy them. However, I LOVE to try everything new. :)

4. How did you become interested in horseback riding?
I became interested in horseback riding when I was very young. I started riding and working in the stable when I was 8 years old and have been active in it ever since. My mom used to own horses when she was younger, and I used to live on a camp in Wisconsin that had horses that were available to ride. I suppose I became interested in them when I used to sit on them when I was little and thought it was a blast.

5. Summer break is less than a month away. What are you looking forward to doing this summer?
I am looking forward to being outside at the barn all day and riding. I work at horse shows during the summers and help children, young adults and adults as well with their horses and I love my job! I am looking forward to being outside, wearing shorts and flip flops and enjoying the sun.

Throwback Thursday - 1974

2010-04-15T14:01:00.004-05:00

Mark Stout and Mark Sarver take a little break from paddling as they canoe down the Kankakee River. The canoe trip was an annual event for Men's Residence Association, a time to bond with dormmates and nature. While these two managed to stay dry for the photo, canoe tippings ended up being as much a part of the tradition as anything.

(Photo from the 1975 Aurora.)
..........................................

We want to see your memories! Have an Olivet photo you'd like to share for Throwback Thursday? Send the pic and a brief description to us at askus@olivet.edu for possible placement on the blog.

Guest Feature: Bare Feet Heartbeat

2010-04-15T09:56:00.005-05:00

By Houston Thompson

I thought it was a new fashion statement – students not wearing shoes.

I hadn’t noticed this lack of attire before on our campus. Of all days, it was cool, and for some, just plain cold. I thought, “Why would students begin a new trend on a day when the temperature was so low?” No doubt, the sidewalks had to feel cold, and I wondered how that made the rest of the body feel.

For me, it started about 8 a.m., when I visited a class and the professor made the comment, “I see you are all wearing shoes.” I thought to myself, “What an odd statement.”

Later in the day, I noticed students crossing the campus, entering buildings, going to lunch, going to class, barefooted. That professor knew something I didn’t know, but he wasn’t around for me to follow up. In an effort to satisfy my curiosity, I asked another faculty member, “What is this new phenomenon of students not wearing shoes?” Like me, she didn’t know. I have to admit I felt a little better since I wasn’t the only one who didn’t know what was happening.

As I headed to my office following a meeting, I met a guest on campus. The guest asked me, “How come some of the students are not wearing shoes?” I gave her an honest answer and said, “I don’t know.” I couldn’t explain why anyone would go barefoot on such a cool day and in a setting like our campus. After all, the University Life Handbook surely has guidelines about this.

Just then, a student, Stacey, was walking by barefooted. This was the moment I could inquire and hopefully gain understanding into what was happening around the campus. So, I asked, “Why are so many students not wearing shoes?” Stacey proceeded to tell me, and the campus guest, that this was a day of social action. To experience what it is like for people who do not have shoes, students were going barefooted. It was a way to experience need and make a statement about the cause.

I thought to myself, “This is cool” (no pun intended.)

Somehow, in the midst of going to classes, doing homework, pre-registration for next semester, and more, students were thinking about others who are less privileged. I was struck with the thought that down deep in the hearts of many of our students is a passion to identify with, reach out to, and help others who are less fortunate. I was moved by the overwhelming sense of compassion that many of our students were demonstrating. I was challenged with the idea that students were willing to embrace the cold to make a statement about a need with which others wrestled.

There is something different in the attitude of many of the students on our campus. Beyond all of the things that are required and expected, beyond all the opportunities available, there is the spirit of compassion that flows from the heart. There is an intense desire to make a difference.

I often say to students, “Let me hear your heartbeat.” The other day, I saw their heartbeat — bare feet strolling along cold sidewalks. It truly was a glimpse into the heart. It really isn’t a new phenomenon, as it is the heartbeat of the Christ-like. It is the expression of Christ’s love in a way that says we care and we are willing to show it.

I heard their heartbeat when I saw their bare feet.

Houston Thompson is chair of Olivet's Department of Social Work and Criminal Justice, directs the Social Work Program and teaches social work. He is also the dissertation coordinator for the Doctor of Education in Ethical Leadership at ONU.

Word of the Week: Legerdemain

2010-04-14T16:50:00.003-05:00

Legerdemain (noun)

Pronunciation

lej-er-duh-MEYN

Definition

Sleight of hand; trickery or deception; any artful trick

Sample Sentence

Sam’s favorite magic tricks to perform for his friends involved marked cards and plenty of legerdemain.

---

This 600-year-old word was coined by the French, but is far from the first word to come to mind when you think of a magician.

We usually think of white bunnies coming out of black top hats, or scarves that seem to come endlessly out of someone’s pocket. We call the tricks amazing, and we know there is legerdemain happening, so we watch closely to try and figure out the secret.

In the 2006 movie The Prestige, starring Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman, two magicians use legerdemain to try and outdo the other. Ricky Jay was the real-life magician who taught the actors their tricks for the movie. However, most magicians never reveal their secrets to another. As Christian Bale’s character says in the movie, “The secret impresses no one. The trick you use it for is everything.”

So if you happen to see a magic show, don’t expect to get the secrets. Instead, sit back and enjoy the legerdemain.

Definition and pronunciation provided by Dictionary.com

Trivia Tuesday: Ice Cream

2010-04-13T08:31:00.005-05:00

Ice cream has long been a favorite summer treat for many, although it has only become as common as it is in the past few hundred years.

Origins of the sweet treat go back to the Chinese King Tang, who combined ice and milk to make a special occasion concoction. The Roman emperor Nero also created a similar product with fruit almost 2,000 years ago, but historians tend to think the dessert as we know it today originated in China and made its way to Europe.

Making ice cream at home can be pretty easy and fun, especially if you do it with a friend. Making homemade ice cream can also be a good learning experience for kids, and if you follow this recipe for mint chocolate chip ice cream, it can be pretty easy:

Ingredients:
Ice cream maker
1/2 (250ml) pint milk
1/2 pint (250ml) double/heavy cream
3oz (75g) caster sugar
5oz (125g) plain chocolate (grated)
1 teaspoon peppermint essence
Two or three drops of green food coloring (optional)

Place the milk and sugar into a saucepan and heat gently until the sugar dissolves. Place the milk aside to cool. When cold, stir in the double/heavy cream and peppermint essence (and the green food coloring if you want to use it).

Transfer the complete mixture into an ice cream maker and freeze, following the manufacturer's instructions. Remember to add the grated chocolate as the ice cream begins to thicken!

What common cooking seasoning is added to the ice to help lower the temperature of the ingredients of ice cream as it is made?

Take a guess in the comments section and we'll post the correct answer next week.

Answer to last week's question: Royals Hall of Famer George Brett said, “If a tie is like kissing your sister, losing is like kissing you grandmother with her teeth out.”

This Week at Olivet

2010-04-12T09:31:00.003-05:00

Events on the campus of Olivet Nazarene University for the week of Monday, April 12 through Sunday, April 18, 2010:

Faith in Literature Symposium

Monday, April 131:30 - 4 p.m.

Reed 240 Auditorium

An invigorating discussion about the ways God speaks to us and grows our faith as we read literature.

Featuring Dr. Leland Ryken of Wheaton College, as well as ONU professors Jill Forrestal, Andrew Gibbs, and David Johnson.

Refreshments will be served

Softball vs. Cardinal Stritch University (Wis.)

Monday, April 13

3 p.m.

Baseball vs. St. Xavier University (Ill.)

Tuesday, April 14

3:30 p.m.

Softball vs. Bethel College (Ind.)

April 16, 2010

3 p.m.

Ladies Day 2010

Saturday, April 17

9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Registration from 8 – 8:45 a.m.)

Event includes continental breakfast and hot buffet lunch.

Featuring:
- Liz Curtis Higgs, Author-Speaker

- Kim Tabor, Musician

Other guests include:
- Orpheus Choir

- The Olivetians

- ONU Jazz Band

For more information, please call 815-939-5258. To register online, click here.

Softball Double Header

Saturday, April 17

Vs. Columbia College (Mo.) at 11 a.m.

Vs. Belhaven University (Miss.) at 3 p.m.

Baseball vs. Trinity International University (Ill.)

Saturday, April 17

12:30 p.m.

Guest feature: Enjoy the journey

2010-04-09T10:31:00.004-05:00

By Bill Greiner

I’ve realized something over the years; the destination in life isn’t the goal! It’s in the day-to-day journey.

If we live stressed, uptight, we won’t take the time for the people around us. James 4:14 says, “You do not know about tomorrow. What is your life? For you are a puff of smoke that appears for a short time and then vanishes.”

We need to let people know how much they mean to us. Co-workers, family and our parents are the people who have sown seeds into our lives and have made us who we are today. There will always be work left to do. At the end of my life, my “in” box will be full. Family and friends are everything, enjoy them every chance you can.

Two years ago our youngest daughter graduated from Olivet Nazarene University and was getting married in December of the same year. The six months from graduation to her getting married were stressful, but it went by fast as we made memories while she was still at home. It was a time to reflect, savoring the moments of her time at home before she began the next chapter in her life. The wedding was beautiful, but the memories are still vivid of the times we went to pick out invitations, the time I first saw her in the wedding dress and realized she was a woman. I can still remember the phone call from her fiance, wanting to talk about her hand in marriage. The simple, yet profound moments are the best in life. I try to enjoy my journey more and more.

I have been losing weight due to high blood pressure. At first, all I thought about was the end goal, that illusive, magical number that would signal I was no longer overweight. Over time, I learned to enjoy the journey, not the end goal weight I needed to attain. There are things I never knew about myself. I wasn’t sure I could run again as I had when I was younger and more fit. Today, I run three miles. I now lift weights and eat a balanced diet. The high blood pressure is gone and I’m off the meds. It’s been an interesting journey of patience and waiting. The end goal is no longer the focus; it is about the everyday exercise, a new lifestyle and enjoying my new-found energy. It is about enjoying my life and getting the most of each day.

The last eight weeks began with stress as I started editing my textbook I co-wrote more than five years ago. It is time for the third edition and I wanted to really change the majority of the text for a new direction in the book. At first it was frustrating and I had to really work hard just to get into the enormous amount of work ahead me. As the weeks went by and slowly each chapter was rewritten, I began to enjoy the process and I looked forward to the rewrites. Some days I accomplished a lot and other days, barely a page. I had a deadline and therefore I started early to avoid last-minute rushing around and stressing over the details. I needed to slow down and take each day one at a time. The process has been enjoyable and now it is nearly finished. I have made good memories with this journey and while it was a huge amount of work, it was fun almost every day!

If you have good friends, health and a loving family you are a rich person and life is very rewarding. I don’t want to miss out on the miracles each day brings. I try to tell people I know how important they are to me. These are the good old days for me! I try to make the most of every day and enjoy those folk who come into my life during a typical work day. I don’t get caught up in the goals anymore, but look for the memories and moments caught in life that make my days richer and fuller. It is my hope that you begin to enjoy the journey as well and stop focusing on the goals.

Five on Friday

2010-04-09T08:26:00.006-05:00

Featuring Dave Becker, senior enrollment counselor for the School of Graduate and Continuing Studies

1. What is your role at the School of Graduate and Continuing Studies?
I am a senior enrollment counselor with SGCS. I basically recruit public school teachers to enroll in our master's degree programs.

2. You were in full-time ministry. How do you remain active in the church?
Yes, I was senior pastor of several congregations in the Midwest and in Texas. I stay active by teaching Sunday school, singing in the choir and occasionally preaching in various churches in the area.

3. We hear you're quite the handyman. What big projects do you have on the horizon?
With the help of a very handy friend, I am building cabinets for a kitchen remodel for our 1940-era two-story in the Riverview neighborhood of Kankakee. I saved a boat-load of money and learned something new in the process!

4. You recently welcomed your fourth grandchild into the world - congrats! What's the best thing about being a grandpa?
Cecilia Danae Cash arrived on March 10 and is wonderful!! She has a full head of hair (unlike Grandpa) and is healthy and thriving. The best thing about being a grandpa is being called "Pa" and watching those little faces light up when they see you.

5. What are you most looking forward to with the return of the warm weather?
Consistent motorcycle riding. I'm a proud member of the "Wild ONU Hogs."

Throwback Thursday - 1946

2010-04-08T14:27:00.003-05:00

While some couldn't wait to get away for the Junior Sneak, Wayne Welton practically had to be dragged onto the bus. Although, upon further inspection, it doesn't look like he minded too much. Keeping the annual tradition alive, the Class of 47 tried to sneak away from campus for a day of fun in Chicago. Although their plans were found out, they still managed to escape to visit Merchandise Mart, Marshall Field's and the Museum of Science and Industry.

(Photo from the 1946 Aurora)

Word of the Week Wednesday: Slake

2010-04-07T11:30:00.010-05:00

Slake: Verb

Pronunciation: \SLAYK\

Definitions:
1. To satisfy; to quench; to extinguish; as, to slake thirst.

2.To cause to lessen; to make less active or intense; to moderate; as, slaking his anger.

Sample sentence: The rain striking campus today will hopefully slake the ground's thirst.

Ever been so thirsty you couldn't gulp that water/soda/Red Bull fast enough? There's nothing so satisfying as slaking your demanding thirst.

(That word just sounds smart!)

Definition from Dictionary.com.

Trivia Tuesday: Sore losers

2010-04-06T10:09:00.003-05:00

One day into the baseball season, the Olivet campus is buzzing with excitement that our two favorite teams — the Cubs and the White Sox — are back on the field.

Of course, one team’s fans are thrilled with yesterday’s outcome while the other team’s enthusiasts are still in mourning. We won’t remind you who COMPLETELY CHOKED yesterday, lest ye ol’ Tiger Bytes bloggers develop a reputation for being biased toward the South Side.

At any rate, the thrill of experiencing a win — whether you’re actually on the field or simply cheering from the stands— is pure rapture. Losing, on the other hand, is unequivocally torturous.

What great Kansas City hitter and third baseman once said, "If a tie is like kissing your sister, losing is like kissing your grandmother with her teeth out."?

Take a guess in the comments section, and we’ll post the correct answer next week.

Answer to last week’s question: Mount Denali. Congrats to thepianist86 for correctly answering! Go celebrate with a big scoop of Denali!

This week at Olivet

2010-04-06T09:22:00.004-05:00

Events on the campus of Olivet Nazarene University for the week of Tuesday, April 6 through Sunday, April 11:

Faculty Recital
Tuesday, April 6
7 p.m.
Kresge Auditorium

Martha Dalton
Kathrine Benson

ONU Softball vs. Trinity International University (Ill.)
Thursday, April 8
3 p.m.

Faculty Recital
Thursday, April 8
7 p.m.
Kresge Auditorium

Charles Lynch and Guest

ONU Baseball vs.Cardinal Stritch University (Wis.)
Friday, April 9
4 p.m.

ONU Baseball vs.Cardinal Stritch University (Wis.) - 2
Saturday, April 10
11:30 a.m.

Ernie Haase & Signature Sound
Saturday, April 10
6 p.m.
Chalfant Hall

General admission tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door. Artist Circle tickets are available for $25. There is also a group rate (20+) of $18 each and each group receives two free tickets.

Phone orders: 800-430-1049

Order online: www.TrinityCommunications.org

$2 per ticket service fee for phone and online orders.

René Clausen Concert
Saturday, April 10
7 p.m.
Kresge Auditorium

Internationally known conductor and composer René Clausen will visit the campus April 9-10. Following two days of workshops with Olivet choirs, Clausen will conduct a free concert for the community Saturday, April 10, at 7 p.m.

Guest Feature: Nuisance in the Church

2010-04-01T14:01:00.005-05:00

By Stephanie (Quimby) Kumor ’04

I was a little nervous for her question as we sat talking on the phone that late afternoon. I knew it was about Christianity, and I was hoping it wasn’t going to be something that would prove too difficult to defend.

A new Christian, Jen had been reading her Bible and was trying to reconcile what she read with what she had observed in church on Sunday.

She got straight to her point. “From everything I have read in the Bible, it seems that children were very important to Jesus. Why is it, then, that in church, they are so looked down upon and kept separate?”

That sounded absurd to me. “What gave you that impression?”

Jen then explained the reactions she continued to receive every time she brought her infant into a church service. Anytime her baby would make a noise at all, she was met with disapproving looks. One person — a complete stranger to Jen — even approached her and stated, “We have a great nursery, you know.”

As I listened to Jen’s concerns, I couldn’t help but feel heartbroken. After praying for Jen for two years and trying to share Christ with her, it was completely disappointing that someone in the church had made her feel uncomfortable about being there.

I did my best to write it off as an isolated incident. I tried to tell her that of course children were of important and valued.

But the next Sunday, when I had my son in service with me, I decided to be more watchful and aware. It was only then that I started to notice a little bit of the hostility people had toward having children in “God’s sanctuary.”

Since I have grown up in the Church and know all of the people, I just hadn’t paid attention before. Quite honestly, I felt comfortable and didn’t really care when 10 people looked back at the slightest noise. My friend, however, who didn’t know anyone and is absolutely new to the Christian church, felt embarrassed and hurt.

Naturally, the story in Matthew 19 of “The little children and Jesus” comes to mind.

I have always thought that the story in Matthew talked about children “running to Jesus” and then the disciples stopped the little kids. However, if you look more carefully, it says that the children were “brought to Jesus” and the disciples “rebuked those who brought them.”

I think that is an important distinction.

How many times have I rolled my eyes or thought “get that child out of here” when the pastor is preaching and I hear a child cry or babble? Isn’t that exactly what Jesus rebuked the disciples for doing?

I guess I haven’t felt guilty about my response in the past, because I figured I wasn’t placing blame on the child; it’s those darn parents’ fault. In reality, though, rebuking parents for wanting to experience church alongside their children is just as ludicrous.

We discourage parents from bringing children to services when we should be encouraging them to make the choice that is right for their family’s needs, whatever their reasons — and even if we don’t understand why. For example, I happen to know my friend has very valid grounds for keeping her baby with her. And so if she were forced to attend services without her baby, she simply would not be in the services.

All of this said, this week is Easter, and our congregations will be flooded by visitors, many of whom are checking out what this whole church thing is all about. Some churches will have “family services” where families are formally invited to keep their children with them for worship. Others will have young ones in the service in spite children’s programming that may be available.

As you encounter these “little ones,” I only urge you to act as Christ would have you act. Be welcoming to these visitors — and their families — and let them bring their children to Jesus. You never know the effect your “looks” can have.

If you must look back at a noise, make sure it is done with a smile. And if the children bother you more than you can possibly stand, just move to the front row where there will surely be no one around to bother you.

Stephanie (Quimby) Kumor is a 2004 graduate of Olivet Nazarene University, where she double majored in psychology and social work. She and her husband, Ben ’04 reside in Omaha, Neb., with their two sons, Caleb and Nathaniel. Stephanie currently oversees Sunday and Wednesday children’s programming for her local church — but promises she won’t be offended if you decide to take your kids with you to service instead.

Throwback Thursday: 1968

2010-04-01T12:04:00.002-05:00

With the weather approaching 80 degrees, and on the verge of a four day weekend, everyone at Olivet Nazarene University has spring fever!

This photo, taken in 1968, shows just how beautiful our campus can be in the spring.

Word of the Week: Expeditiously

2010-03-31T09:00:00.000-05:00

Expeditiously (adverb)

Pronunciation
ek-spi-dish-uhs-lee

Definition
Characterized by promptness, acting with speed or efficiency

Example Sentence
No one wanted to be in a meeting for two hours, so they conducted the business expeditiously.

---

The temptation to procrastinate is everywhere. In work or school, we tend to put things off or do them slowly. It can take an hour to do a project that should only take half an hour, because we get distracted by Facebook, e-mail, doctor appointments and more.

This interview asserts that workers get distracted from their tasks an average of every three minutes.

In fact, you’re probably reading this article as an interruption from something else. And if you clicked on the article above, that counts as another distraction/interruption.

Multitasking, the art of doing as many things as possible at once, is not necessarily a bad thing. It’s great that we can be so very expeditious when it comes to switching tasks. But we should also be expeditious at completing the tasks we’ve started.

So as you finish reading this article and get back to whatever you were doing before, do your best complete that task expeditiously.

Who knows? Maybe by focusing your attention on one thing at one time, you’ll have more time left at the end of the day to relax and do things that really matter.

Trivia Tuesday: Best deal ever

2010-03-30T13:41:00.000-05:00

On this day in 1867, the U.S. purchased Alaska from Russia for a grand total of $7,200,000 — less than two cents an acre.

You may remember that Alaska became an organized territory in 1912 and the 49th U.S. state on January 3, 1959.

But what don’t you know about the Last Frontier?

Its other state nickname is “The Land of the Midnight Sun”

While it is easily the largest state, twice the size of the next largest state (Texas), it is the least densely populated

Almost half of its residents live in or near the metropolitan area of Anchorage

It has 34,000 miles of shoreline, thanks to its plethora of islands

Juneau, the state capital, is unlike any other capital because it is not connected to any road system and must be accessed by car ferry

Alaska is only 60 miles further from Tokyo, Japan, than it is from New York City

Alaska is also home to the tallest mountain in North America, and this mountain has an ice cream brand named after it. What mountain is it?

Take a guess in the comments section, and we'll post the correct answer next week.

Answer to last week's question: The rose is the most popular flower sold by florists.

This week at Olivet

2010-03-29T09:42:00.000-05:00

Events on the campus of Olivet Nazarene University for the week of Monday, March 29 through Sunday, April 4, 2010:

Baseball vs. Holy Cross College (Ind.)
Monday, March 29
2 p.m.

Orchestra/ Chamber Concert
Tuesday, March 30
7 p.m.
Kresge Auditorium

Softball vs. Judson University (Ill.)
Wednesday, March 31
3 p.m.

Softball vs. Trinity Christian College (Ill.)
Thursday, April 1
3 p.m.

Easter Break
Friday, April 2 through Monday, April 5

In observance of Good Friday and Easter, there will be no classes and Olivet Nazarene University business offices will be closed.

Softball Tournament
Friday, April 2 and Saturday, April 3
ONU plays at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. both days

Baseball vs. Judson University (Ill.)
Saturday, April 3
12:30 p.m.

Five on Friday

2010-03-26T08:39:00.000-05:00

Featuring Craig Bishop, director of public safety

1. One of your biggest roles has been to "link" Olivet and the Kankakee County community. Why is collaboration between the two important to your work?
Clearly, the University is a positive part of Kankakee County and all faculty and staff are to be credited with adding value to that relationship. I am honored to have daily relationships with the countywide emergency services community. These relationships prove most valuable as they become collaborative and advance to synergistic.

Shared values and trust are sought on a daily basis so that efforts in an emergency situation are not as reactive. The University has properly communicated appreciation to the emergency services for their preparedness to serve the University; the University has also proven supportive of the emergency services by allowing University resources in emergency situations. The collaborative relationships allow us all to be proactive.

2. Your job has the potential to become very stressful. What sorts of things do you do to wind down?
I very much enjoy working with landscaping, mowing the lawn and all the while listening to music! Reading is relaxing as well as sharing conversation with my wife, family and friends.

3. You will start the Ed.D in Ethical Leadership in May. Why are you interested in this doctoral program?
I am humbled and thrilled to have been accepted into Cohort IV of the Ed.D in Ethical Leadership program. I am a believer in life-long learning and have a strong passion for leadership. My master's degree is in organizational leadership, which only serves to provide more motivation. It seems likely that I will be applying study and research into leadership and collaboration within emergency management. It will prove helpful to my profession and the University. Besides, my wife told me I should get the doctorate!

4. You're about to celebrate your 25th wedding anniversary - congratulations! What's one secret to a happy marriage?
Thank you! The secret to a happy and successful marriage relationship is having a healthy relationship with Christ. Specifically, if a person is humble and surrendered in their relationship with Christ, then they can be selfless enough to actively love another person. Marriage requires caring so deeply about your best friend that you listen emphatically and seek to understand their most intimate need. I thank God daily for my wife and best friend, Joan! Life is great together and we are further blessed to have two wonderful sons, Daniel and Michael.

5. Any Easter traditions or events you're looking forward to celebrating with your family?
We used to celebrate by surprising Dan and Mike with Easter baskets filled with chocolate and a really cool Disney video tape! Things change! VCR tapes change to DVD format. Little boys grow into men! I hope we can be together as a family and share a meal while reflecting on the fact that we have a Savior that has risen!

Throwback Thursday - 1997

2010-03-25T14:50:00.000-05:00

Working late into the night to meet a deadline, GlimmerGlass editor Matt Grills and Andrew Hall finish one last story. While students had been getting work done on computers at Olivet for several years, the 1996-1997 school year did usher in a new era of technology. For the first time, Internet access was available in all rooms. Now 13 years later we're still trying to figure out if Internet access helps students become more productive - or just helps them polish their Facebook status updating skills.

Jesus Loves Tom Petty (For the Bible Tells Me So)

2010-03-24T14:53:00.000-05:00

Guest feature by Seth “tower” Hurd

One of the common misconceptions about my chosen career is that I got into Christian media in order to give Christians an alternative, or perhaps a shelter from, the “scary outside world.”

I currently work full-time for 89.7 Shine.FM, as well as host The Merge Out Loud a music interview show airing on Direct TV.

The joy of this career is not giving Christians a place to hide from mainstream pop music, but in taking the Gospel out through music and artists that I believe in with my whole heart.

Fifteen years ago, groundbreaking author and church leader Bob Briner published Roaring Lambs, a call to Christians to start changing Hollywood, the music industry and publishing from the inside out — to get into the trenches and help create the media.

But even as Christians have embraced the work of Christians in mainstream media, the Church still holds on to strong tendencies of distrusting media in general.

We’ve seen the purchasing power (and therefore, influence) of Christians at the box office — pushing The Passion of the Christ over the $300 million mark, and propelling films like Fireproof and To Save a Life to “hit” status.

However, other books, films and albums which contain both affirming and true spiritual messages are completely ignored by the Church.

A great example of this is The Book of Eli, released in February of this year. The story, which contains no sexual situations and virtually no profanity (though there are two James-Bond style shoot-em-up scenes), follows leading man Denzel Washington across a post-nuclear landscape. In his backpack, he carries the final copy of the Bible (the Book was outlawed in a war, and all copies, save one, were burned). Each day, he walks westward, following what he believes is a call from God to bring the Holy Scriptures to a place where hope can finally be preached to a hopeless world.

A brilliant, beautiful, true story. And the Church ignored it. I believe that is because The Book of Eli, unlike the aforementioned movies, didn’t have any “Christian star power” attached to it.

Not what, but where, is truth?

The Book of Eli is just one example of how Christians easily miss truth in mainstream society.

Scripture tells us that since God is Creator, all truth is His truth. God is the author of love. And if we were to first hear of sacrificial love in a play by Shakespeare, that doesn’t make Shakespeare the author or love — only the person who communicated a truth.

Consider the following lyrics, and judge for yourself which is directly more spiritual:

“I won’t back down. No, I won’t back down/You can stand me up at the gates of hell/but I won’t back down.”

Contrasted with…

“Draw me close to you/Never let me go/I lay it all down again/to hear me say that I’m your friend.”

The first song clearly deals with spiritual conflict and courage. The second could very well be penned by a junior high girl, addressing a crush on a classmate.

The first song is by American rock icon Tom Petty, the second is a modern worship song. I wouldn’t disagree that many have genuinely worshiped God through the song Draw Me Close. However, I believe it’s the Tom Petty song that more clearly communicates a spiritual truth, while the lyrics of the worship song only describe a vague affection.

In my life, I’ve often discovered beautiful descriptions about God, and truth about life, outside of Christian music. In fact, there are some “mainstream” albums that I believe every Christian should hear.

The Apostle Paul echoes this sentiment in the book of Titus, when he quotes a local pagan prophet and then follows with the words “what he said is true.” (Titus 1:12-13) In this reference we see that Paul wasn’t afraid to read pagan poetry (as we also read in Romans), and he wouldn’t shy away from God’s truth, even if a pagan prophet had said the same thing.

Not a license to sin

Clearly, there are some things that Christians should never watch, listen to or consume.

Media certainly has an effect on the soul, and often preaches a worldview that stands in opposition to the Gospel. This blog is not an endorsement for you to allow the teens at your church to blast explicit rap music and watch the Saw horror movies at church.

But aren’t there more categories than just “officially Christian” and “evil”?

If we operate on those two categories alone, where does Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue album fit? It’s considered the standalone greatest jazz album of the 20th century, but certainly can’t be categorized as “Christian,” since there are no lyrics whatsoever.

To me, Miles Davis records fall into the same category as sunsets and steak dinners — just one more way to enjoy the life and freedom we’ve been given through the blood of Christ.

An opening to share faith

In addition to bringing beauty into our lives, there’s another reason to be current on quality mainstream media: witnessing.

In my life, when I’ve had the opportunity to share my faith, it’s often not through a single conversation, but through a series of conversations that play out over several weeks or months. Those conversations have often been brought on because of mainstream books and music.

For example, I’ve had faith conversations over the music of punk band The Gaslight Anthem (both of the band’s albums deal heavily with searching for redemption) and The Life of Pi (an acclaimed novel about a boy who’s stuck in a lifeboat with a Bengal Tiger).

In both of these situations, I couldn’t sit around waiting for the non-Christian person to read Christian author Francis Chan’s Crazy Love or listen to CCM artist BarlowGirl. I had to go to where they were to share my faith in Christ.

An opportunity to elevate art

Finally, Christians need mainstream media to see how “our” media is often lacking.

While the Church made the explicitly preachy Fireproof a hit movie at the box office (it debuted at #6 its opening weekend), it’s simply a horrendous movie. Any second-year film student could point out a plethora of flaws, from acting to significant issues in the storytelling.

Sure, the film had a great theme, but we don’t buy albums if the singer can’t carry a tune just because his heart is in the right place. Imagine if the Church had hired a second-rate painter to complete the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, spending money to support “Christian art” rather than the best quality art. Imagine just how many people (in an illiterate society) might have missed out on the power of the Creation Story, because the images of God and Adam had been sloppily applied.

In the end, this world is God’s creation, not our idea. He is the point, the center, of the whole story of creation and human history.

When film, music and books point to the truth of Christ and the good things Scripture commands us to fix our minds upon, then it’s to our detriment if we overlook them because of the lack of an explicit “Christian” label.

Seth "tower" Hurd can be heard on 89.7 Shine.FM, and seen hosting The Merge Out Loud, a music interview show, airing Friday nights at 8:30pm on Direct TV. He's written about music for multiple national publications, including Relevant Magazine.

Word of the Week: Bespoke

2010-03-24T09:27:00.000-05:00

Bespoke (adjective)

Pronunciation

bi-ˈspōk

Definition

Custom-made, made-to-order

Sample Sentence
Jennifer was extremely lucky to have a personal tailor: all of her jackets were bespoke for her.

---

While most of us can’t afford to have someone create or tailor all of our clothes, it can be a comfort to know that each of us does have at least one thing bespoke in our lives: ourselves.

Every person is unique — we all have our own sets of hand and footprints, even tongueprints. And that doesn’t even touch on how varied our personalities can be. If you know a set of twins extremely well, you’d know it would be a stretch for them to impersonate eash other because their personalities are so different.

Thanks to your background, personality, likes and dislikes, strengths and weaknesses, you can accomplish a set of tasks no one else in the world can — and even better, you can accomplish them well.

So this year when you’re “spring cleaning” your closets and cupboards, why not spring clean yourself? Take a look in your personality closet, find your favorite pieces about yourself, and wear them. The pieces that just aren’t “you”? Feel free to dump them out with the trash.

You’ve been made-to-order, and there’s nothing better than letting you be you.

Trivia Tuesday: Spring is in bloom

2010-03-23T12:53:00.000-05:00

The bright sun, a prevalence of people wearing shorts, and the sniffles of those with seasonal allergies can only mean one thing: Spring is in the air. But even if you do have allergies, it’s hard to complain about the sunshine and bright colors starting to crop up.

One of the best parts of spring is the emergence of flowers. Tulips and daffodils, heathers and hyacinths, agapanthus and zinnias; flowers of every shape with every size and color of petals burst out in bloom. Many of us won’t be able to resist picking a few or buying some at a local store to brighten our tables.

In Victorian times, different flowers were given different meanings. For example, the aster (a daisy-like flower that grows on a bush) means “contentment.” Even different colors of the same flower mean different things: Carnations that are pink mean gratitude, and those that are white mean remembrance. Be careful to whom you give striped carnations, though — the stripes mean “refusal.”

If you wanted to brighten a friend’s day, try a bouquet of zinnias (thoughts of friends), cosmos (peaceful) or gardenias (joy).

Q: Giving bouquets of flowers has been a common practice for centuries. The most popular flower that florists sell is also the official flower of England. What is it?

Take a guess in the comments section, and we'll post the correct answer next week.

Answer to last week's question: The Bible, which has sold at least 2.5 billion copies and up to 6 billion copies. The next high-selling book has only sold between 800 and 900 million copies.

This week at Olivet

2010-03-22T10:07:00.000-05:00

Events on the campus of Olivet Nazarene University for the week of Monday, March 22 through Sunday, March 28, 2010:

Career Fair
Tuesday, March 23
10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Weber Leadership Center

Olivet students: don’t miss out on this opportunity to meet with top regional and national employers!

Whether you’re looking for a full-time job or a summer internship, this will be a great step toward achieving your goals.

ONU Baseball vs.University of St. Francis
Tuesday, March 23
1:30 p.m.

Senior Recitals
Tuesday, March 23
7 p.m.
Kelley Prayer Chapel

Blake Reddick – vocal
Callie Ivey – vocal

ONU Softball vs. Judson University
Thursday, March 25
3 p.m.

The Glass Menagerie
Thursday, March 25, 7 p.m.
Friday, March 26, 7 p.m.
Saturday, March 27, 2 and 7 p.m.
Kresge Auditorium

Come see Green Room's presentation of "The Glass Menagerie," the beautifully haunting and poignant masterpiece by Tennessee Williams. Listen to Tom as he tells the story of his journey to follow his dreams while his ridiculous but nevertheless lovable mother and hopelessly reclusive sister hold him in a stagnant life.

Tickets:
Adults: $10
Students, Children, and Senior Citizens: $5 ($2.50 with an ONU Student Discount Card)

Purple and Gold Days
Friday and Saturday, March 26-27

Join other high school seniors and their parents for an in-depth look at Olivet. Purple & Gold Days includes a campus tour, meetings with professors, the opportunity to visit classes, a meeting with your admissions counselor, a financial aid session, campus meals, and a trip for pizza and Starbucks in Chicago or an on-campus musical, play or student activity! Students stay overnight in a campus residence hall with a current Olivet student. Reduced lodging rates are available for parents at area hotels. There is no charge for this event, but space is limited, so register early!

For more information, and to register, click here.

ONU Invitational Softball Tournament
Friday and Saturday, March 26 and 27

March 26

9 a.m. ONU vs. Trinity Christian College

5 p.m. ONU vs. Stephens College

March 27
9 a.m. ONU vs. Aquinas College

5 p.m. ONU vs. Judson University

ONU Baseball vs. Trinity Christian College
Friday, March 26
3 p.m.

Stories from the Streets
Friday, March 26
7 p.m. (Doors open at 6:30 p.m.)
Warming House

Andi and Al Tauber, the performers of Stories from the Streets, work with Emmaus Ministries, an outreach ministry that is committed to connecting with the homeless male prostitutes that walk the streets of Boystown in Chicago.

"Stories from the Streets" is a dramatic retelling of some of the stories of these ostracized and outcast men told through song and interpretive monologue.

There is NO cost, but donations for the ministry and for the Stories from the Streets performers are appreciated.

Five on Friday

2010-03-19T09:24:00.000-05:00

Featuring Nancy Dodd, assistant to the chaplain

1. The chaplain's office plays a vital role in the spiritual atmosphere of the campus. How have your experiences within the ministry - as a leader, teacher and pastor's wife - helped prepare you to minister to students as assistant to the chaplain?

I definitely know that God has place me here in the Office of the Chaplain. My past ministry experience, through the local church and district level, have prepared me for the ministry opportunities here at Olivet. My entire adult life has been centered around my walk with the Lord and ministering to teens, women and children in various capacities.

Most of my ministry has been with teens. My husband and I were in youth ministry for many years, and for a period of time during his senior pastor career, I served as a youth pastor separately. I am passionate about learning and growing spiritually, but also about building relationships with students and helping them realize their unique gifts and ways they can be used in the kingdom of God. One of the best ways for this to happen is through the experience of mission trips and Bible studies with peers.

It is a privilege to serve the Lord and Olivet in the area of spiritual development for our undergraduates. I enjoy seeking out speakers who will engage the students and nurture their spiritual growth. The position in which I serve is actually a culmination of my life experiences and abilities. It is a blessing to serve in this way.

2. You're enrolled in Olivet's School of Graduate and Continuing Studies. What are you studying?
I'm currently working on a degree in business administration, and I'm really enjoying it! I graduated from Trevecca Nazarene University many years ago and have been a teacher for my sons. It is a switch to be the student instead of the teacher again, but I'm loving it! I am a life-long learner and am taking advantage of the opportunity to expand my horizons. It is my plan to work on a master's degree in either organizational leadership or ministry next.

3. You home schooled both of your sons. What did you enjoy most about that experience?
The Lord definitely called me to home school my two sons. Originally, I approached it as a "one-year-at-a-time" project ... but it became evident that this was the path for our family. As a parent, I have always taken seriously the idea that God entrusted me with children and have recognized this as the priority in my life. I value the character-building and spiritual influence I was privileged to have by engaging in their lives 24/7.

Academically, I as able to provide a learning environment that was suited to each child's temperament and learning style. The freedom to direct their education was a unique opportunity. Through one-on-one tutorial education, co-operative learning groups, video curriculum and involvement in athletic programs and the local symphony, my sons experienced a lot.

We recognized the world as our classroom and realized that everything is an opportunity to learn. Unit studies followed up with field trips both domestically and internationally.

Now, Tyler will be graduating in May from Trevecca with a degree in business administration. He is currently doing an internship with the North American International Office for Nissan. Tyson is a sophomore music major at Olivet. He currently travels with Olivet's praise band, Before Tomorrow, and is involved in many other music groups as well.

4. You recently traveled to Guyana with 29 Olivetians. Tell us about that experience.
Over spring break, my husband and I traveled with 29 students through Missions in Action to Georgetown, Guyana, South America. It was absolutely incredible - just ask one of the 29 students!

Our host, Rev. Alfonso Porter, the district superintendent for the Church of the Nazarene in Guyana, arranged the ministry site visits. There was such a variety of ministry opportunities. We ministered a few times in the daycare center at the location where we stayed, conducted a training session for the daycare workers from two schools, conducted a single-parent seminar, visited a nursing home to conduct a service, tutored high school students in an after school program, visited an orphanage and ministered to AIDS patients and children in a hospital.

Our first adventure the day after we arrived was a trip to an indigenous church. We had to travel by boat up a river for about 45 minutes to get to the church that was located up a hill. The people were wonderful and we praised the Lord together with them.

We had the opportunity to fly by small chartered planes into the interior of Guyana to visit the Kaieteur Falls, one of the tallest single-drop waterfalls in the world). It was beautiful to hike around in this Amazon basin and be reminded of the power and majesty of our Lord.

Thirty-one virtual strangers left together for 10 days in Guyana. I am happy to report that we returned as life-long friends, bonded in a unique way, fully realizing the changes that God made in each of us as we minstered - and were ministered to - in the beautiful country of Guyana.

5. Why do you enjoy traveling so much?
I have always loved traveling! Even as a child, my family would travel across the U.S. from California and Florida, where we lived, back to visit relatives in West Virginia.

I first became involved at a professional level in the travel industry when my husband and I were planning a trip for our youth group to go to Haiti. The agent I worked with was just opening her own agency and hired me to join in the venture. When I made the decision to stay at home with my sons, instead of leaving the travel business, I brought the business home. I have operated as an independent travel consultant for more than 20 years. The focus of my work has been geared around helping churches, youth groups and districts with their travel plans to go on mission trips. This is one of the reasons my position here at the University is a perfect match for my past experience - I currently make the travel arrangements for our Mission in Action team.

In addition to the ministry opportunities that travel allows, I love to learn about other cultures and see the beauty God created in different countries.

Throwback Thursday: 1939

2010-03-18T13:59:00.000-05:00

This week we're digging deep into the archives and traveling back to the old campus. This photo of a car entering the Olivet, Ill., campus was taken just a year before a fire devastated the University. In November of 1939, the main building on Olivet's campus burned down and the school relocated to its current location in 1940.

Byron Carmony, author of Olivet's Alma Mater, penned the song "Back Again in Olivet" in 1939.

"Old Olivet,we're back again once more within your halls
We love to know tho far we go that oft your spirit calls
To those who spent their student days inside your welcome door
To Olivet our voices raise, 'We're here again,' once more"

---------------------------------

Thanks to all who participated in last week's caption contest! Congratulations to Chadwick Oring Anderson for his winning caption:

"After 10 semesters of nothing, ONC officially stopped offering the 'Rapture Watch' course, much to students' disappointment."

Send your address to askus@olivet.edu, Wick, and we'll send you your Olivet prize.

Guest feature: Let the madness begin

2010-03-17T13:30:00.000-05:00

By Matt Smith

This weekend is my favorite weekend of the year, but it won't be because spring will have finally arrived. It's the arrival of the three best weeks of college basketball, the NCAA Men's College Basketball Tournament.

And I, like many of you, am asking that most important question: How does my bracket look? Well, if you're struggling with that question, here is some advice to help you win your bracket challenge.

1. Seeding is not as important as you think. If your team has made "The Big Dance," don't be upset if they are a 4 seed instead of a 3. Or if your team's a 10 and you think they should be an 8, don't worry. It's about the match up. If your team matches up well against their opponent, your team has a chance. It was only four years ago that 12 seed George Mason University made it to the Final Four, so fear not (unless you're a 16 seed ... then you've got no shot).

2. Loyalty is overrated. When the Indiana Hoosiers (my team) were perennial dancers, I used to pick them to win at least three games every year. Was that a huge mistake, or what? Being loyal to your team often distorts reality. In 2009, IU had freshman sensation Eric Gordon. I was sure he could lead them to the Elite Eight. They lost in the first round, and my bracket was toast.

After spending four years in Lansing, Mich., I also root for Michigan State. But I have them out in the second round this year. Make sure you can step back and see your team for who they really are.

3. It's a "two-game tournament." Yes, I know it takes six wins to cut down the nets in Indianapolis, but remember that all your team has to do is win two games in three days, three times. If a team is a high seed, you must have confidence that they will not overlook lesser teams. If a team is entering the tournament with a mid-level seed, like 6 seed Notre Dame, do you believe that the momentum of an opening round win can vault them to a win over 3 seed Baylor and advance to the Sweet Sixteen?

When I fill out my bracket, I try to pick each region separately. If I pick all first round games, then second, and so forth, I lose sight of what game is next for each team. Winning six games in a row is a tough feat, but don't put the cart before the horse. You must focus on getting out of this weekend with at least 14 of 16 correct.

4. Love your enemies. Being an Indiana Hoosier fan has allowed me to enjoy some great success in this tournament, even if those successes are now distant memories. If there are two things a Hoosier fan doesn't care for, it's the Purdue Boilermakers and the Kentucky Wildcats. I used to find ways to knock out Purdue or UK in my brackets. In the past, if Kentucky were a 2 seed, I'd convince myself that the 15 seed could beat them. Not a smart strategy. Even if you despise a certain team, don't knock them out because you don't like them. Chances are they're better than your team anyway.

5. If all else fails, pick according to the team colors and mascots. If you've read through all of this and you're thinking to yourself, "This is just way too much work," keep it simple. The Demon Deacons might be evil, but are no match for a Longhorn. And Big Red is not going to let an Owl get in his way. And Georgia Tech against Oklahoma State is a tough one, but I think OSU's orange is much stronger than Tech's yellow.

There you have it, my tried and true way of picking a spotless bracket. I've yet to fill mine out, but I can tell you that my pick for the 2010 NCAA National Champion is ... the Kentucky Wildcats. If you want to see how good (or bad) the rest of my picks are, I'm posting my bracket at intramurals.olivet.edu. Let the madness begin!

Matt Smith is the director of campus recreation at Olivet.

Word of the Week: Pseudonym

2010-03-17T08:00:00.000-05:00

Pseudonym (noun)

Pronunciation
sood-n-im

Definition
A fictitious name used by an author to conceal his or her identity; pen name.

Example Sentence
Because women authors did not used to be well-respected, many such as Mary Ann Evans wrote under pseudonyms; hers was George Eliot.

---

Almost everyone has read several books by Theodor Geisel, and quite a few youngsters would count him as their favorite author. However, almost no one calls him that, instead referring to him as Dr. Seuss. He picked up the pen name early in his writing career and wrote all of his children’s stories by the pseudonym.

Another famous pseudonym is that of Samuel Clemens, who went by Mark Twain. Clemens, who before becoming a writer had a brief career as steamboat pilot on the Mississippi River, adapted the pseudonym from a term used in taking soundings. As boats went from the dock into the main channel, the leadsmen would call out “mark twain” if the water were at a safe enough depth to increase speed.

Actually, one of our own Olivet English professors claims to write books under a pseudonym. Since she won’t disclose what pseudonym she’s better known by, we naturally assume she’s a world-famous, best-selling author in disguise.

Trivia Tuesday: Classic reading

2010-03-16T10:35:00.000-05:00

On this date in 1850, Nathaniel Hawthorne’s classic book The Scarlet Letter was published.

One of the first mass-produced American novels, it is considered Hawthorne’s greatest work and a huge turning point on the road to American literature. The first mass printing of The Scarlet Letter produced 2,500 copies and sold out within ten days. Since then, the books produced in that initial run have been multiplied many times over. You're sure to find a copy at your local library.

If The Scarlet Letter is not exactly your cup of tea, there are plenty of other classic and contemporary alternatives for you to choose from. Reading has many benefits for people of all ages, including boosting your vocabulary, concentration, focus and memory. It’s also a great way to escape, as books have a way of transporting you into another time, place, and person’s life.

Of all the books you might consider reading, what is the best-selling book of all time?

Take a guess in the comments section, and we'll post the correct answer next week.

Answer to last week's question: The first celebrity to join the Barbie doll family was British fashion model Twiggy in 1967.

This week at Olivet

2010-03-15T10:09:00.000-05:00

Events on the campus of Olivet Nazarene University for the week of Monday, March 15 through Sunday, March 21:

Senior Recital
Monday, March 15
7 p.m.
Kresge Auditorium

Featuring Kate Burkey and Emily Poling

Men's Tennis vs. Indiana Institute of Technology

Wednesday, March 17

1 p.m.

Women's Tennis vs. Indiana Institute of Technology (Scrimmage)
Wednesday, March 17
1 p.m.

Night of Jazz
Thursday, March 18
7 p.m.
Chalfant Hall

Love to tap your foot and groove to the sweet sound of jazz music? Come and hear Olivet's own jazz band for a wonderful night of great music in Chalfant Hall.

Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for students. Student discount cards and Tiger Dollars will be accepted.

Purple and Gold Days
Friday, March18 - Saturday, March 19

Join other high school seniors and their parents for an in-depth look at Olivet. Purple & Gold Days includes a campus tour, meetings with professors, the opportunity to visit classes, a meeting with your admissions counselor, a financial aid session, campus meals, and a trip for pizza and Starbucks in Chicago or an on-campus musical, play or student activity!

Students stay overnight in a campus residence hall with a current Olivet student. Reduced lodging rates are available for parents at area hotels.

For more information or to register, click here.

Spoons-4-Forks
Friday, March 18
7 and 9 p.m.
Wisner Auditorium

Come out and enjoy an evening with Olivet’s resident improv team as they create a one-of-a-kind, hilarious show based on suggestions from the audience.

ONU Baseball vs. Holy Cross College (Ind.)
Saturday, March 19
12:30 p.m.

T.C.W. (Tiger Champion Wrestling)
Saturday, March 19
7 p.m.
Chalfant Hall

Who can resist an evening filled with high-flying wrestling moves combined with good ol’ fashioned metal chairs?

You won’t want to miss this always impressive, genuinely entertaining, and only slightly staged competition between the good guys and the bad.

Secrets of the Cardboard Rocket
Saturday, March 19
7 p.m.
Strickler Planetarium

Blast off with two children as they use the power of their imaginations and the knowledge of a talking astronomy book to explore the planets of the solar system. Visit each planet in turn (including a certain well-known dwarf planet) to get a close-up look at their surfaces and learn more about their environments.

Though the show is aimed primarily for children pre-K to early middle school level, full-dome video effects make this an exhilarating educational ride for all ages. Topics treated include the nature of the Sun, the inner planets, the gas giants, Pluto, temperature and pressure, and asteroids.

Show time approximately 45 minutes (including live star talk).

Five on Friday

2010-03-12T08:44:00.000-06:00

Featuring Chris O'Brien, network manager

1. What's the role of a network manager?
I manage a team that is responsible for making sure computers (and other devices) can connect and communicate on Olivet's network and with others on the Internet. There are a lot of servers, services and utilities running behind the scenes that require quite a bit of interaction to keep things running smoothly. Most of our time is spent monitoring and working on those.

2. How many spam e-mails do you block from Olivet inboxes on a daily basis?
Between 125,000 and 400,000 messages per day!

3. You and your wife both work at Olivet. How did the two of you meet?
Our stories actually differ a little. We had a Bible class together, but she doesn't remember me from that. I would come to class a half-hour late twice a week due to an overlapping ecology lab, but I must not have made enough of an entrance to be noticed! Some time after that, we both worked as students in the IT department - that is when she remembers meeting me.

4. What are you most looking forward to as spring approaches?
Getting outside and spending a lot more time on one of my favorite hobbies, photography.

5. With a name like O'Brien, do you have any plans to celebrate St. Patrick's Day next week?
Being Irish already, I tend to celebrate that all year round! But I'm sure I'll wear a green shirt and/or tie. :)

Throwback Thursday: 1962

2010-03-11T14:44:00.000-06:00

It seems, dear readers, that our inspiration has momentarily run low at the blog. So that means it's up to you to come up with a caption for this photo. Yes, that's right, we're sponsoring another caption contest! Give us your best caption for this picture. And we'll give one lucky commenter some great Olivet merchandise.

And perhaps next Thursday we'll be back to our normal, witty selves. Perhaps.

The Purpose of Christian Higher Education: Are We Making Consumers or Producers?

2010-03-11T13:21:00.001-06:00

Guest feature by Gary Thomas

The other day a student, I’ll call him “Frank,” came to my class late for the umpteenth time.

“I am sorry,” Frank said, “I just can’t get past the bad habit of not getting up in time.”

“What will you do when you get a job?” I asked.

“Oh, I’m never going to do that at my job,” he replied.

Higher education has become a means to an end. It has lost its primary function and meaning. If you ask most students why they are in college, they will very quickly tell you that it is to get a good job; to live the American dream. And with that, college education has become a hurdle students must get over in order to get to the real business of “making a living” so that they can become successful consumers.

I feel that higher education, especially Christian higher education, has a higher purpose than that. It is not simply a means to an end but is an appropriate end in itself. The goal of education is education.

Perhaps I’m idealistic.

I recently read in Proverbs that “to get knowledge is better than gold” (Prov. 16:16). I think most students are getting it backwards. If you ask most of them they will say the gold (money, car, house, stuff, etc.) is more important than education. For many of them the acquiring of knowledge is just a necessary evil that one must endure in order to obtain the gold. And the world reinforces this, sending a strong message that everyone ought to pursue stuff; that we should get more knowledge so we can have money to purchase more stuff.

Jesus said it clearly: “Don’t worry about your stuff,” (my paraphrase, of course), “the pagans run after such things.” (See Matthew 6:31-33.)

So are we raising a bunch of pagans?

We in Christian higher education ought to be teaching our students that knowledge is good for its own sake. Teach students to seek first the Kingdom of God (where true wisdom and understanding come from), and the other things will be added to them as a bonus. In other words, I would like to see us teach them to reverse the order that the world gives them. Wisdom is primary; all the other stuff is secondary.

In some ways, I believe this higher education’s fault. I mean the acquisition of a good career is, for students and parents, a great marketing plan to get students into college. But aren’t we in Christian higher education joining in on the world system when we treat education like just another consumer product, and students and parents like consumers?

The Kingdom of God is made up of those who produce disciples, not simply consumers of the latest products. When knowledge, understanding and wisdom are pursued for their own sake, perhaps our students can become powerful producers instead of consumers.

Gary Thomas, associate professor of art, has been teaching at the university level for ten years, including the past three years at Olivet Nazarene University. He loves teaching AND making art, and is also a writer, sometimes preacher and a wannabe farmer. Gary loves riding his bicycle everywhere he possibly can and is looking forward to spring so he can plant my garden.

Trivia Tuesday: American Fashionista

2010-03-09T15:12:00.000-06:00

Today marks the 51st birthday of an American icon: Barbie.

On March 9, 1959, Mattel’s darling made her debut at the American International Toy Fair in New York wearing a simple, black and white striped swimsuit and a pony tail.

Barbie, whose full name is “Barbie Millicent Roberts,” has an incredibly impressive résumé. She’s a college graduate (1964) and has sparkled in more than 80 different careers, including paleontologist, astronaut, rock star and presidential candidate. She’s also served in all four branches of the military.

In spite of this, it’s her stunning looks and chic fashion choices that have made Barbie most famous. She’s worn more than a billion pairs of shoes in her lifetime, and more than 100 new additions to her wardrobe are introduced annually.

It’s fitting, therefore, that the first celebrity to join the Barbie family was a supermodel.

In 1967, what supermodel became the first celebrity to have a Barbie doll modeled after her?

Take a guess in the comments section, and we’ll post the correct answer next week.

Answer to last week’s question: This year, the Girl Scouts added a new cookie named “Thank You Berry Munch.” It is made with cranberries and white chocolate.

This week at Olivet

2010-03-08T13:39:00.000-06:00

Events on the campus of Olivet Nazarene University for the week of Monday, March 8 through Sunday, March 14, 2010:

Spring Break
Saturday, March 6 through Sunday, March 14

Olivet business offices will be closed Monday, March 8 and reopen on Tuesday, March 9 at 8 a.m.

Good to the Core: Building Value with Values
Thursday, March 11
8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Larsen Fine Arts Center
$39 registration includes book

Olivet Nazarene University’s Center for Ethical Leadership and Executive Development will host Good to the Core: Building Value with Values, a seminar led by John Blumberg.

ohn Blumberg speaks with organizations that want to develop leaders of substance and cultures of genuine service. He is a certified speaking professional and author. He has presented keynotes and workshops in nine countries on three continents. Blumberg’s presentations are designed to inspire a turning point both personally and professionally. His energized and animated presentation style brings to life meaningful and memorable content that penetrates the surface hardened by the speed of our everyday lives.

Blumberg’s newest book, “Good to the Core: Building Value with Values,” is included with each registration. This book is packed with a powerful and challenging message on the very values that drive individuals and organizations.

The cost is $39 per person. For more information or to register online, click here.

Five on Friday

2010-03-05T11:17:00.000-06:00

Featuring Marsha Randall, switchboard operator

1. How did you end up at Olivet?
I have been at Olivet for 12 years. I had cleaned Manteno Nazarene Church for several years, but was interested in working at Olivet to help get my boys through college. What I found when I got here was a home with a tremendous Christian atmosphere!

2. You're retiring next Friday. What will you miss most about Olivet?
I will most certainly miss all of the wonderful friends that I have made here while working in several different departments over the years. If I could pack them all up, along with all of Shine.fm, and take them with me, I would do it in a heartbeat!

3. What are your retirement plans?
My husband and I plan to spend much more time with our sons, daughters-in-law and grandchildren, who all live in Missouri. We are moving to southern Illinois, which makes us much closer to them and to our mothers, as well.

4. What are your hobbies?
I absolutely love reading Christian fiction. I also enjoy gardening. After we move, I plan to put in a kitchen garden and start canning and freezing vegetables like I did when my sons were little. We have seven pecan trees that will keep us busy. We might even go into the pecan-selling business!

5. If you could give one piece of advice to your replacement, what would it be?
My advice would be to always treat the ONU callers with respect, friendship and - most of all - loving, Christian understanding!

Throwback Thursday: 2000

2010-03-04T14:14:00.000-06:00

Since both the men's and women's basketball teams are gearing up for CCAC Tournament semifinal action tonight, March Madness has officially set in on campus.

With dozens of conference championships and NAIA Tournament appearances between the men's and women's teams, longtime basketball fans have a difficult time picking favorite Tiger moments. For many, the men's 2000 season stands out, as they marched all the way to the NAIA Final Four.

Above, Zach Freeman, a key player in Olivet's 2000 run and the Tigers' all-time leading point-tallier, plays above the rim during practice.

Curling: It isn’t only about your hair!

2010-03-04T10:59:00.000-06:00

Guest feature by Lisa Drury

I hope many of you were able to watch the always-exciting Winter Olympics held recently in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

My family and I watched the games daily, keeping track of the exhilarating downhill skiing with USA’s Lindsay Vonn, and Julia Mancuso. We never missed a race with the lightening speed and the laid-back demeanor of speed skating superstar, Apolo Anton Ohno. Of course, I cannot go on without a mention of our very own Illinoisans, women’s speed skater, Katherine Reutters of down-state Champaign and men’s figure skater, Evan Lysacek of Naperville. Way to go, Katherine and Evan!! Both of these very talented athletes medaled in their prospective sports and made our country proud! What an accomplishment!

We are a family of winter sports, as my husband plays hockey, a sport he has played for 30+ years. At 47, he comes home moaning and groaning of those sore, achy muscles, mumbling that he may be getting to old for this! My 8-year-old son was bitten by the hockey bug a couple of years ago and is a goalie for a local youth hockey team.

Speed skating is particularly close to my heart, as I speed skated competitively in my younger days.

For several years, beginning early in my teens, I competed in races around in the Midwest region. My coach, a gentleman from Germany, taught me a great deal about the sport. Still vivid in my mind is a bad spill I took in the Mayor Daley Silver Skates Derby in 1976, fracturing my wrist. But, with great determination, suffering through the pain, I caught a glimpse of my ever-so-supportive mother in the crowd shaking her fist at me while yelling at me to get up; with all the energy I could muster, I made it back to my skates and finished in third place.

I hung up my speed skates many years ago and recently took up the game of curling.

You’re probably thinking, “Are you kidding me? Curling?? What is up with that weird game anyway?"

Curling is an ancient sport and remains a big mystery to many people. Let’s talk about some curling basics, and perhaps this will help take the mystery out of the game.

The “stone,” or “rock” as it is commonly referred to, is made of granite, weighing between 38 and 44 pounds, with a handle attached to the top. The handle allows the stone to be gripped and rotated upon release; on properly prepared ice, the stone's path will bend (curl) in the direction the front edge of the stone is turning, especially as the stone slows. The only part of the stone in contact with the ice is the running surface, a narrow, flat, ring on the bottom of the stone. The sides of the stone bulge convex down to the ring, and the inside of the ring is hollowed concave to clear the ice.

The “sheet” (the ice surface) has to be created in specific conditions in order to obtain the correct playing surface. The surface must start off with a level field and then have water droplets sprayed on it so that it creates a “pebbled” surfaced. This surface helps to create the curl (or spin) of the stone after it is released.

A game of curling consists of ten “ends,” which are similar to sets in tennis or innings in baseball. In each end, each team member throws two stones. If there is a tie after the ten ends, game play continues until the tie is broken.

In curling, teams slide the stone over the sheet which has a pattern near the end of it that looks very similar to a target with a bull’s eye. The entire target area is called the “house” with the bull’s eye portion called “the button.” The goal is to place your team’s stones closest to the “button.”

To assist the stone in reaching its mark, teammates sweep the ice with special brooms to guide the stone. The friction from the sweeping creates thin water tracks that the stone can follow.

The game requires a lot of skill, strategy, and finesse. Because of this it is often called “chess on ice.” The “skip” (essentially a team captain) decides where they want each stone to be placed to ensure that their team’s stones end up closest to “the button.” Once they strategize they’ll stand near the target and place the broom at the point of the field that they want the person sliding the stone to aim for.

The slider will begin at the “hack” (a starting block, much like those used in track and field events, located at the back edge of the sheet). The slider will draw the stone back, sometimes lifting the stone off the ice and sometimes not, and they push off from the hack to propel themselves forward with the stone. The slider must release the stone before he or she crosses the first line, known as the “hog line.” The “skip” then directs the other two teammates how to use their brooms to guide the stone. Sweeping allows the stone to travel farther, but not necessarily faster.

As you can tell, there is specialized equipment that is specific to curling. You need a curling stone, brooms and a special kind of shoes. Professionals, or the more serious curler, will wear shoes to allow for sliding, as well as for traction when needed. A “slider” made of Teflon is worn on one foot, while a “gripper” is worn on the other foot for traction. Also available are “step-on” sliders and pull-on grippers that are used by most novice curlers.

Interested in trying it out? It’s certainly a challenging game, and it’s also a great way to make new friends, share some laughs with other novice curlers and — believe it or not — get some great exercise.

If you are local to the Kankakee area, you might be surprised to know that there ARE curling opportunities nearby. Contact Debbie Buchanon at the OAK Sports Arena on River Road, at 815-939-1946 for further information. Spring League will soon get underway and Fall leagues and a Learn to Curl Program is also available. Curling equipment is available for FREE at the OAK Sports Arena, if you’d like to try it out!

Lisa Drury is the assistant to Dr. Sue Rattin, director of assessment & learning support services. She has been curling for two years and is a former competitive speed skater. Lisa and husband, Jeff, live in Bourbonnais with their two children, ages 10 and 8, while Lisa’s oldest son is a junior at Florida State University majoring in sports management.

Word of the Week: Blandish

2010-03-03T10:28:00.000-06:00

Blandish (verb)

Pronunciation

BLAN-dish

Definition

To coax or influence by gentle flattery; cajole; also to use flattery or cajolery
Example Sentence

Sherry blandished her mom into letting her borrow the car, even though she’d only had her license for a week.

---

At one time or another, most people blandish to get what they want. A little compliment here or there before asking for what you really want, or saying what you really mean, can get you a long way.

Sometimes we even blandish subconsciously before asking an acquaintance for a favor. If you’re thinking “not me!” just think of the last time you asked a friend or coworker for something.

Did you jump right to the request?

“Can you help me finish up this deadline? I have so much to do this week, and I don’t have the time”

Or did you converse a little before getting to the real topic of conversation?

“Hey Jim. How are you? That tie looks great on you. So I know you’re great with this program, and I could really use some help….”

Blandishing may not actually be a bad thing. Most people would get tired of constantly being asked for favors by someone who seems to care nothing about how they are doing. Common courtesy says that we ask about other people and their lives and show interest in them before asking them to take interest in ours.

Blandishing may, in fact, merely be the polite way of asking for something.

Definition and pronunciation taken from dictionary.reference.com

Trivia Tuesday: Crazy for Cookies!

2010-03-02T16:50:00.000-06:00

Everyone knows the five seasons: summer, autumn, winter, spring, and Girl Scout Cookie season.

Who doesn’t love the chocolaty mint crunch of Thin Mints? Or the strange concoction of coconut, caramel, and chocolate in Caramel deLites? Or how about Do-Si-Does? Or Tagalongs? Mmm … we’re getting hungry just thinking about it.

Girl Scout Cookies have been around since 1917 when scouts made their own cookies and sold them door-to-door as fundraisers.

In the mid-1930’s, the national Girl Scout organization began licensing commercial bakers to mass bake the cookies for the girls to sell. Over the next decade, almost 30 commercial bakers were licensed to make “Girl Scout Cookies.”

What a sad existence it must have been in the 1940s when Girl Scouts stopped selling cookies due to rationing and sold calendars instead! But all was well again when cookie baking resumed after World War II ended.

Finally, in 1978, the Girl Scouts first featured the cookies we now know and love. The national organization allowed only a few bakers to create the cookies and gave them guidelines for recipes, packaging and box decorations. Since then, not much has changed, although a few new cookies have been introduced over the years.

This year, a new cookie was introduced into the Girl Scout Cookie family. What is it called?

Take a guess in the comments section, and we'll post the correct answer next week.

Anwer to last week's question: 16 nations competed in the first Winter Olympic Games, held in Chamonix, France in 1924.

This week at Olivet

2010-03-01T10:02:00.000-06:00

Events on the campus of Olivet Nazarene University for the week of Monday, March 1 through Sunday, March 7, 2010:

Women's Basketball: CCAC Quarterfinals

Tuesday, March 2

7 p.m.

Vs. Holy Cross College

Student Recital
Thursday, March 4
7 p.m.
Kresge Auditorium

Featuring:

Brittany Harris - French Horn

Patrick Wright - Trumpet

Men's Basketball: CCAC Tournament Semifinal

Thursday, March 4

7 p.m.

Vs. either # 3 St. Xavier University (Ill.) or # 3 Holy Cross College (Ind.)

Spring Break
Saturday, March 6 through Sunday, March 14

Spring Break for students of Olivet Nazarene University will begin following a normal class schedule on Friday. Classes resume at 7:30 a.m., Monday, March 15.

Olivet’s business offices will be closed Monday, March 8, and will reopen at 8 a.m., Tuesday, March 9.

Five on Friday

2010-02-26T10:00:00.000-06:00

Featuring Jonathan Bartling '99,
assistant professor of education/director of assessment and accreditation for the School of Graduate and Continuing Studies

1. You graduated with a music education degree. How did you end up teaching within the School of Education?
I actually took a job in Olivet's media department while I was waiting for my wife to graduate.

When I started applying for high school choir teaching positions, I had a couple of job interviews and offers. But Dr. Streit called to see if I would consider becoming a faculty member in media, training faculty how to use technology in their classrooms. I said yes, went back to get my master's degree, and then in 2004, a position opened in the School of Education. Been here ever since...

2. But you weren't much of a tech guy before?
No, I hadn't ever been a tech person. I had my mom type papers for me in high school! But since I had taken the Instructional Technology course for my undergrad degree, they thought I could handle it. Now I actually teach that course!

3. How is music still a part of your life?
Even though I'm not teaching music these days, I enjoy getting to still be involved in music. I enjoy singing in the choir, and my wife and I have been involved in Kankakee Valley Theatre productions in the past.

4. Tell us about your family.
My wife, Mindy, and I have one adopted son and one biological son - a shock pregnancy we didn't think was possible - and we are in the waiting process for adopting our third child. We call them Miracle #1, Miracle #2 and Miracle #3, respectively. Our boys are hilarious and keep us crazy busy!

5. Ever get any downtime with your wife?
One of our favorite activities is to eat dinner in Chicago and then head to a Broadway show. We love musical theater and love to eat well - especially in Chicago restaurants!

Throwback Thursday: 1986

2010-02-25T14:33:00.000-06:00

Yes, folks, it's the time of year when we all start wondering why we don't live in Florida. But instead of complaining about the snow that just keeps falling, students in 1986 decided to turn Chalfant Hall into the Florida coast. Complete with volleyball games, sandboxes and giant beach balls, these beach bums knew how to warm up a winter's night.

OK, OK, let's bring on the limbo.

(Photo from the 1986 Aurora.)

Word of the Week: Ubiquitous

2010-02-24T11:06:00.000-06:00

Ubiquitous (adjective)

Pronunciation

yoo-bik-wi-tuhs

Definition

Existing or being everywhere, especially at the same time; omnipresent

Sample Sentence

The ubiquitous ants were marching all over the kitchen.

---

You know how when you learn a new word, suddenly you notice everyone using it? Or when one of your friends points out a car they want to you, you see it on every street? And if someone tells you about a new book they just read, you’ll almost positively hear someone else talking about that book the next day.

Songs, people, Bible verses: so many things go unnoticed by us all the time, but then when you are introduced to something new, it becomes so ubiquitous you wonder how you never noticed it before.

This week, when you learn a new skill or are introduced to a new author or a song or Bible verse, pay attention. You may start to notice just how ubiquitous some things are.

Trivia Tuesday: Olympic Games

2010-02-23T15:18:00.000-06:00

Today is Day 12 of the XXI Olympic Winter Games, and with only six days remaining, the U.S. is doing pretty well on the medal count.

Every four years, fans around the globe who typically care nothing about skiing, who wouldn’t know what channel to find the luge on, and who wouldn’t be caught dead watching men in spandex dance around on ice, tune in to root for their home country.

There’s something about watching the medal count, hearing the familiar Olympic theme, and especially learning the stories of the individual athletes. There are stories of athletes with local roots, like Evan Lysacek from Naperville, Ill., who won the gold medal in men’s figure skating just a few days ago. Or inspirational stories, like Alex Bilodeau, who was told by his brother with cerebral palsy to keep skiing, and then he became the first Canadian to win a gold medal at an Olympics held on their home soil.

At the end of the day, it’s not about whether the U.S. won the most gold medals, or who beat the Russian favorites. It’s about the stories of athletes and their families, about inspiration. It’s about the realization that for a few weeks every few years, we can put aside our differences and compete in unity at the Olympic Games.

How many nations competed in the first Winter Olympic Games, held in Chamonix, France in 1924?

Take a guess in the "Comments" section, and we'll post the correct answer next week.

Answer to last week's question: : Ash Wednesday always occurs 46 days before Easter. This is because it is 40 days, not including Sundays.

Guest Feature: “Giving up” or GAINING at Lent?

2010-02-22T10:59:00.000-06:00

By Johnathon Eltrevoog

“What are you giving up for Lent?”

Most people that I know will answer that question this way:

“Nothing. I’m not Catholic.”

Now I don’t necessarily believe that a Christian person must give up something for Lent or anything like that, but that answer seems to indicate that there is some lack of understanding of what Lent is all about.

It is not simply a meaningless ritual (well, maybe it is for some), but the intention is:

Coming to the end of yourself
Opening ourselves to the world God longs to bring into being
Starting a new beginning with God
Planting God’s compassion deep within us
Challenging our assumptions, anger, and prejudices

I don’t know about you, but that doesn’t really just sound like just a “Catholic” thing to me.

I decided to do something special for Lent this year. I’ll be following the Lenten Experience Calendar.

Don’t worry; it’s not some quasi-spiritual/neo-Pentecostal thing It’s just a bunch of things to do in your regular day-to-day life in order to experience the Lord for yourself in your daily actions over the 40-day Lenten season.

Interestingly, the only one I balked at was day #1: Ash Wednesday. It reads, “Have an ash cross put on your forehead.”

Okay. That’s where I said: “Uh…but I’m not Catholic.” And…I think the writer of that calendar (who isn’t Catholic either) would say, “Uh…so?”

Don’t worry, the rest of the 40 days is filled up with cool stuff like:

Don’t text today—just call
Fast from coffee, soda, or alcohol
Buy someone’s coffee or lunch anonymously

So, if you saw me on last Wednesday, you probably saw ashes on my forehead.

Check that calendar out for Lent (It’s not too late!) and see what you think!

This article was originally posted on Johnathon’s personal blog, and is re-posted with his permission.

Johnathon Eltrevoog is a 2005 graduate of Olivet and one of the members of Shine.FM’s Rise and Shine Morning Show. He has worked at Olivet Nazarene University’s 89.7 Shine.FM since 2002 and also serves as the station’s program director. Shine.FM broadcasts throughout the South Chicagoland/Northwest Indiana area, and online. Johnathon has been married to Natalie since 2004.

You can connect with Johnathon on Twitter and Facebook.

This Week at Olivet

2010-02-22T10:14:00.000-06:00

Events on the campus of Olivet Nazarene University for the week of Monday, February 22 through Sunday, February 28, 2010:

Men’s Basketball vs. Holy Cross College
Tuesday, February 23
7:30 p.m.

Spring Musical: Little Women
Thursday, February 25: 7 p.m.
Friday, February 26: 7 p.m.
Saturday, February 27: 2 and 7 p.m.
Kresge Auditorium

University President John C. Bowling will make his Olivet theatrical debut in the upcoming production of Little Women: The Musical, directed by Jerry Cohagan.

Based on the book by Louisa May Alcott, Little Women follows the lives of aspiring author, Jo, and her sisters as they come of age during the Civil War. The musical, which opened on Broadway in 2005, features a powerful narrative and a striking score.

Tickets are $10, $5 for students and seniors, and are available for purchase by calling 815-939-5110.

Purple and Gold Days
Friday, February 26 through Saturday, February 27

Join other high school seniors and their parents for an in-depth look at Olivet.

Some of the opportunities afforded to students and their families during this weekend include: touring the campus, meeting with admissions counselors, meeting with financial aid representatives, attending an academic open house, campus meals, Tiger athletic events, Department of Music performances, and a trip for pizza and Starbucks in Chicago or an on-campus musical, play or student activity!

Students stay overnight in a campus resident hall with a current Olivet student. Reduced lodging rates are available for parents at area hotels.

For more information, click here.

Sat@Olivet
Saturday, February 27
$10 registration fee (includes lunch)

Are you in seventh, eighth or ninth grade? Sat@ONU is a chance for you and your church youth group to get a sneak peek of weekend college life at Olivet Nazarene University!For more information, click here.

Men’s Basketball vs. Indiana University – South Bend
Saturday, February 27
3 p.m.

Five on Friday

2010-02-19T12:00:00.001-06:00

Featuring Beatriz Ydrovo, program specialist for the School of Graduate and Continuing Studies

1. What is your job at Olivet?
I currently work at the School of Graduate and Continuing Studies as a program specialist. Since we are growing, I would like to perform my best. One of my goals is to do the best that I possibly can in my job. I cannot forget that I am an ESL person, and even though sometimes the language barrier is not the problem, the way I express myself is not the same in English.

2. Where are you originally from and how did you end up here?
I came to America seven years ago because Colombia was suffering an economic recession. I was an accountant working for a coffee company; because of the recession, I got laid off and was unemployed for 17 months.

At that time, my older sister was already living in this country. When she came to Colombia to visit, she encouraged me to come here. That was the main reason I came here, looking for a better life for my daughter and for myself.

3. How has the transition gone to a new country?
Even though it was hard the first couple of years to get used to the different customs and traditions (food!), I really appreciated the fact that God guided me to come to this country because I have found a big family that is Olivet Nazarene University.

4. What is it like to take classes at Olivet as a nontraditional student?
I recently took a college writing class at Olivet and it was a big challenge for me because I am an ESL person. Also, the age difference between the freshman college kids and me was very noticeable! However, I did learn and enjoy the classes. I loved my professor.

For now, I would like to be on standby for my education and focus on my job and my daughter's future. However, I would like to start some account courses later on so that I can have some side jobs as a book keeper, for example.

5. What is your highest goal?
My biggest dream is to see my daughter, Daniela, who is my biggest reward in life, become a nurse. That is what she wants to be. Even though I am a single mother, I will support her as much as I can.

Throwback Thursday: 1943

2010-02-18T15:09:00.000-06:00

Call it the place to see and be seen. The Nook, which served as a dining room to 200 students by day, turned into the hottest place on campus after 9 p.m. Whether taking in a Coke at the counter or ordering a round of burgers for the table, students gathered to eat, drink and catch up on all the day's events.

(Photo from the 1943 Aurora.)

Guest feature: Letting go of balloons

2010-02-17T12:17:00.001-06:00

By Casey Manes

Maybe it was reaching my 30th birthday, or maybe it has been becoming a parent for the first time, but either way, I have become aware of becoming old.

It’s not just about finding a second gray hair or finding myself saying mom-ish, old lady things like: my back hurts from sleeping on a new bed or feeling carsick after looking at a map for two seconds. It is more like I am turning old at heart by becoming way too much of a rule follower.

You know the ones: following rules with a legalistic bent, forgetting to laugh, fixating on how people perceive you or how to look or please certain people.

So I am on a quest to unlearn some rules in order to make sure I am becoming truly, entirely, messily, wonderfully the person God intended, while staying young at heart.

Anne Lamott, a writer I revere, said, “The real issue is how do we gently stop being who we aren’t? How do we relieve ourselves of the false fronts of people-pleasing and affectation, the obsessive need for power and security, the backpack of old pain and rules?”

Here’s how I stop being what I am not: failure, admitting my fears, silence, dancing, listening to loud music, lots of Jane Austen, heartbreak, hours of reading, laughing hysterically, being a bit dorky, loss, risk, staring off into space and out windows, and long, deep talks with old, trusted women friends.

When I was a kid, I loved playing dress up. Sometimes, so much that I would convince my mom to let me stay in costume for outings to public places. So I would traipse along in a dress that had me resembling Laura Ingalls from Little House on the Prairie, with 10 crooked barrettes askew all over my hair, complete with tennis shoes and loose laces slapping loudly as I walked.

In those moments, I wasn’t trying to become someone I wasn’t; I believed I was donning an outfit that made me more of who I already was. Which, at the time, was apparently a souped-up version of a pioneer girl. But you get the point. I wasn’t afraid of what others thought, I felt good as myself.

For me, returning to this sort of innocent, fierce desire to stop being who I think others want me to be and to embrace my authenticity takes a full, dead stop. To do this, I began to consciously break the rules I began learning through growing up.

Here is what I am not doing.

I am not trying to achieve more, faster, harder. I am not trying to grasp and hold more. I am not looking at what anyone else is doing and trying to emanate them. These are formulas I have followed for way too long. I am not reading any books on how do more, better.

Here is what I am doing.

I am daydreaming more, moving slowly, wasting time, and eating more chocolate. I am saying “no,” and I am making things with my own two hands and getting lost in the project. I am removing my watch and letting go of the things I hold onto too tightly sometimes. Oh, and when I am in the midst of being with someone, I am trying to actually listen, instead of thinking of what I want to say next.

Lamott also said, “The only problem is that there is also so much other stuff, typically fixations with how people perceive us, and how to get more of the things that we think will make us happy. You have to make mistakes to find out who you aren't. You take the action, and the insight follows: You don't think your way into becoming yourself. Obviously, it is in many people's best interest for you not to find yourself, but it is better for you, for the whole world, to proceed.”

Recently, while at the grocery store with my one-year-old, an employee was handing out free balloons. Glossy, pink, blue and green balloons bobbed from shiny ribbon, just begging someone to give that helium a chance to fly. My daughter had never held her own balloon before, and her eyes grew wide with excitement as I tied the ribbon to her wrist. With several kids dotting the store that packed afternoon, inevitably, several balloons were already stuck to the ceiling.

Honestly though?

All I wanted to do was let that balloon fly high, too. Only kids-who-don’t-know-any-better do that, right? But I get it. It’s a feeling of carefree fun letting it go and watching it dance into the heights of the sky, or, um, in this case, grocery store ceiling.

I resisted that day, for my daughter’s sake, but it’s a lesson I’m taking with me on this thirty-something quest to keep my heart malleable and open, not tired and dried up. Maybe being thirty and being a mom don’t have to make me feel old, after all.

I plan on being a letter-goer of balloons, so to speak, while trusting God with the journey back to the person He made me to be.

Casey Manes is a writer in Olivet’s Office of Marketing Communications.

Word of the Week: Bugaboo

2010-02-17T10:37:00.000-06:00

Bugaboo (noun)

Pronunciation

buhg-uh-boo

Definition

An imaginary object of fear; something that causes fear or distress out of proportion to its importance

Example Sentence

Sarah’s worry about meeting her boyfriend’s parents was a bugaboo she could not shake, even though he told her not to worry.

--

If you’ve ever babysat or parented a young child, you probably have been woken up in the middle of the night by a bad dream you didn’t have. The familiar call of your name comes down the hallway and you know the child in your care has been deeply disturbed — even though there’s nothing of which to be afraid.

Of course, children aren’t the only ones with irrational fears. Far too often, we adults are also paralyzed by worries about things like work, bills, school or the kids.

When we start to worry about decisions we have to make, or situations that feel too big for us, it is easy to lose faith and feel like we’re in the dark by ourselves. The key is remembering that God is on our side.

In Romans 8:31, Paul reminds us, “If God is for us, who can be against us?”

God also commands Joshua twice in the first nine verses of Joshua 1 to “be strong and courageous.”

Romans 12:1-2 points out that if we allow ourselves to be transformed by the renewing power of God, we can test and approve his will, which is “good, pleasing, and perfect.” If God’s plan for our lives is good and perfect, we can’t let our fears get the best of us, no matter what we’re going through.

As our favorite singing vegetables summed it up, “God is bigger than the boogie man” (or in this case, the bugaboo).

When all is said and done, after we see how God came through, we will clearly see that the monster under our bed was nothing to be frightened about at all.

Definition and pronunciation taken from dictionary.reference.com

Trivia Tuesday: Ash Wednesday

2010-02-16T16:36:00.000-06:00

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday when millions of Christians around the world will be marking their foreheads with ashes as a sign of repentance.

Ash Wednesday has biblical origins, as it was common for Israelites to cover their heads with ashes when they were in a period of mourning or repentance. The ceremony wasn’t used widely by Christians until the sixth century, during the papacy of Gregory the Great in Rome, when ashes were used on the sick and infirm. Ashes weren’t used symbolically for the beginning of Lent until the end of the eleventh century when Pope Urban II suggested this practice.

Today, both Catholic and Protestant Christians from various denominations — including some within the Church of the Nazarene — participate by marking their foreheads with ash. Many people who celebrate Ash Wednesday also celebrate Lent by fasting any number of things they feel too dependent on, such as coffee, soda, chocolate, meat or even modern distractions like Facebook.

Ash Wednesday itself is a moveable feast, since it occurs a specific number of days before Easter. Since Easter falls on a different date each year, Ash Wednesday can be as early as February 4 or as late as March 10.

How many days before Easter does Ash Wednesday occur, and why the odd number?

Take a guess in the comments section, and we'll post the correct answer next week.

Answer to last week's question: B. Liver. In As You Like It, Rosalind promises to cure the lovesick Oliver, saying that her ministering will wash his “liver as clean as a sound sheep’s heart, that there shall not be one spot of love in’t”.

This Week at Olivet

2010-02-15T09:36:00.001-06:00

Events on the campus of Olivet Nazarene University for the week of Monday, February 15 through Sunday, February 21, 2010:

Classes Resume
Monday, February 15
7:30 a.m.

Mr. ONU
Saturday, February 20
7:30 p.m.
Chalfant Hall.

Come out and see guys from each class dance, model, and work their hardest to win the title of Mr. ONU!

Tickets will be on sale for $4, or $2 with a student discount card, in Ludwig February 18 and 19 during lunch and dinner hours. Tickets will also be available at the door

You won't want to miss out on this awesome Olivet tradition!

Five on Friday

2010-02-12T08:59:00.000-06:00

Featuring Ovid Young '62, artist in residence

1. What is the role of an artist in residence?
Artist in residence is something of an honorific title, I suppose. In most cases, it seems to be given to someone who has spent a significant part of his/her career before a broad public, over a number of years, often internationally. It's usually hoped that some of this "real-world" experience can be passed on to university students whose early years are spent in the cocoon of academe -- absorbing theory and philosophy and acquiring performing skills.

2. You're a pianist, organist, composer and conductor. Is there one role you enjoy more than the others?
I began playing the piano at the age of 5 (when dinosaurs roamed the earth) and, so, have been doing that for much longer than my other professional activities as organist, composer and conductor. My evasive answer to your question is that -- to my enormous delight -- I still have opportunities to do all of the aforementioned and am not yet forced to choose only one! :)

3. You've traveled the world as one-half of the Nielson & Young duo-pianists. What was one of your favorite performance venues?
Over more than four decades, I've had performance experiences in a huge variety of countries and venues, but some of the more unusual sites have included the famed Passion Play Theatre in the German town of Oberammergau, performing with a symphony orchestra from the Czech Republic; the stage of the Academy of Music in Madras, India; the Kremlin in Moscow; and, just a few months ago, in Rome's Basilica of St. Paul's-Outside-the-Wall with the Rome Symphony Orchestra.

4. You and your wife, Laura '62, both attended Olivet. How did the two of you meet?
In the music department -- where else?! Laura, a very good amateur pianist, is now retired from her real career as an elementary education professional.

5. With Valentine's Day approaching this weekend, what's one love song you think sounds great on the piano?
Franz Liszt's "Liebestraume" (Dream of Love); or perhaps the classic American popular song, "Laura," from a great film score.

Throwback Thursday: 1973

2010-02-11T12:22:00.000-06:00

With Valentine's Day quickly approaching, we're thinking about all of the lifelong romances that began at Olivet. Here, Mike Morgan '73 and Jill Welton '75 announce their engagement at the "Precious and Few" Valentine's Banquet of 1973.

These two have survived 35 years of marriage, two kids - including, ahem, one dear old writer of ye old blog - and, yes, the mutton chops.

Did you meet your sweetheart at Olivet? Share your love story with us in the comments.

(Photo from the 1973 Aurora.)

Guest Feature: iPad ... iCarumba!!

2010-02-10T11:34:00.000-06:00

By Jeff Rice

iLife, iWork, iTubes, iPod, iPhone, iBooks, … iCarumba!

Regardless of your fascination or your distain for Apple products, there can be no argument that Apple has brought forth fantastic devices, whose hallowed existence was once reserved for the paradisiacal pages of science fiction and the humble halls of geekdom. They have, in fact, brought them into fashionable society.

Phenomenal, revolutionary, incredible, wonderful, awesome, and magical; these are not just the words that describe my wife, but is the language that Steve Jobs and the Apple marketing mechanism use to describe their newest product: the iPad. Combining the features of an iPod Touch, a netbook, and a tablet PC with Apple's signature style and sleek user interface, Apple proudly announced their newest "i" product this past January.

Reminiscent of devices seen only on Star Trek, the iPad is a small, lightweight portable computer that more resembles a clipboard than a laptop. Weighing about a pound-and-a-half and measuring at a fraction of an inch thick, the iPad is sure to attract both the pocket-protected techies and the fashionably elite. But, let's talk turkey.

WARNING: Geek Speak Alert!!!

This section is for we, technological enthusiasts, who have surpassed the common nerd, who live in the glorious land of the geek and who speak its native tongue. A translation will be provided in the following section.

The iPad has screen real-estate to boast. It sports a 9.7 inch IPS, full capacitive multi-touch display with a max resolution of 1064x768. While it has a built in sensor for ambient light, its accelerometer sensor is most impressive. It allows the content of the screen to be viewed no matter how it is rotated or flipped.

The silicon is a custom job by Apple, designated the A4. This single chip, which Apple touts as the "most advanced chip we've ever done" also contains the GMCH (graphics memory controller hub), I/O controller and a 1GHz processor. Unfortunately, it’s rumored lack of multitasking support seems poorly thought-out.

Most impressive (although Dell has a netbook with it already) is the solid state drive (SSD). No moving parts in this baby. You'll have the options of 16, 32, or 64GB, which will be enough for your music and maybe a few ISOs. Inherent with SSD technology is the battery life. According to the specs (although no indication of load is given) the iPad will run up to 10 hours, which will be long enough for a few movies. Your movies, however, will have to be in MP4 or MOV files as there is no support for flash.

The lack support is evident in Steve Jobs' keynote introduction of the iPad. While showing the New York Times on the iPad the symbolic "no flash installed" lego icon is clearly visible where a flash video should have been.

The iPad will have Wi-Fi natively and upgrade options for 3G are available, and yes, to most of our consternation, it will first be released on AT&T. If however, you are a proponent of AT&T, you will be eager to learn that Apple has negotiated a delightful deal with them to provide subscribers with a 250MB/month data plan for $14.99 and an unlimited data plan at $29.99. There are no contracts to sign with either option! However with the immanent end of the AT&T/iPhone contract in a few months, there may yet be hope it could be offered on other networks.

In addition to the lack of flash and multitasking, there is no on-board camera. It had been rumored that the iPad would make video calling commonplace. The lack of a camera spells the end to that myth, and I believe, is a major mistake. Also, be cautious that the operating system is not OSX.

The Non-Geek Translation

The iPhone changed the way phones were made and change the way people used them. While, no argument that the iPhone was a technological wonder, it's small screen size hampered its usability. Not so with the iPad. Apple has made it with an extraordinary large screen that can be seen clearly from multiple angles. It also supports a multi-touch technology, where users can interact on the screen using more the one finger simultaneously.

In addition the screen will detect how you're holding it and automatically adjust to your best viewing angle. You can and turn it left, right, all around, or even upside down. This makes it perfect for watching movies, playing games, or using it as an e-book reader.

To accomplish this technological marvel, Apple had to develop its own processor, known as the A4. The iPad also uses a technology called solid state drives. A normal computer uses a mechanical drive. The motor in these drives consume a significant amount of power. Solid state drives have no motor and thus use less energy. This, in turn, increases battery, which on the iPad will last up to 10 hours.

The iPad will work on standard wireless and only on AT&T's network. Apple has negotiated a great deal for its users. For a meek $14.99 every month, you can download up to 250MB of data, which should be enough for a majority of the owners. If you are a heavy user, you can purchase an unlimited data plan for $29.99 a month.

While iPad definitely has the "cool factor," its internal components may have more to be desired. It has no support for flash, a video component used on hundreds of thousands of Web sites. It also has no ability to run more than one program at a time. Furthermore, it lacks a built-in camera.

Denouement

The iPad is a fantastic device. It has the potential to change the way people use mobile computers. Apple has intentionally confronted the netbook and e-reader market with an easy-to-use and stylish device, though competition is quick upon their heels. HP recently announced the Slate, its riposte to Apple.

Will the iPad's fashion factor seal it success? Undoubtedly style will play an ample role. However I think the iPad will leave its owners asking, "Where's the beef?"

Jeffrey Rice was born at a very young age. Shortly afterwards, he graduated from Olivet with a BA in Biology and later with a Masters in Business Administration. Jeff's mirthful constitution is enduringly tolerated by his beautiful wife Sheila and their peppy pup, Lady. Jeff currently serves as a Network and Telecommunications Analyst for the University.

Word of the Week: Sapient

2010-02-10T11:01:00.000-06:00

Sapient (adjective)

Pronunciation

SAY-pee-uhnt

Definition

Sage; wise; discerning

Example Sentence

Tim was not exactly sapient when it came to relationships, which is why his friends were unsurprised when his third girlfriend in as many weeks broke up with him.

---

The word “sapient” comes from the Latin root "sapere," meaning “to taste or know.” It has origins in the 15th century and is closely related to the word “sage.”

Are you sapient? The book of Proverbs repeatedly praises wisdom and encourages the pursuit of wisdom, saying it is more precious than anything money can buy.

Proverbs 3:13-14 says, “Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.”

But how are we to find wisdom?

Proverbs 2:6 explains that “…the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” Proverbs 13:10 says wisdom “is found in those who take advice,” and 15:33 states that “the fear of the Lord teaches a man wisdom.”

It’s interesting that those who take advice, not give it, are considered wise.

This week, if you have the desire, spend some time in Proverbs or Ecclesiastes. Both “wisdom books” have a lot to say on the subject and will definitely make you a more sapient person.

Definition and pronunciation taken from dictionary.reference.com

Trivia Tuesday: I heart Valentine’s

2010-02-09T17:12:00.000-06:00

It’s nearly Valentine’s Day, and love is in the air!

Experts tell us that approximately 1 billion Valentines will be exchanged this year — making February 14 the second largest card-sending occasion of the year, next to Christmas. An overwhelming majority of these cards, whether hand-made or store-bought, will carry a common design element: hearts.

Similarly, our friends at NECCO will provide millions of lovers a bite-sized vehicle for sweet, thoughtful wishes in 13 characters or less, using — you guessed it — hearts.

While we associate love with the “heart,” that hasn’t always been the case.

In what other organ was love thought to “reside” during the days of Shakespeare?

A. Kidneys
B. Liver
C. Pancreas
D. Spleen

Take a guess in the comments section and we’ll post the correct answer next week.

Answer to last week’s question: Much to the chagrin of Punxsutawney residents, “Groundhog Day” was filmed in Woodstock, Illinois

This Week at Olivet

2010-02-08T10:06:00.000-06:00

Events on the campus of Olivet Nazarene University for the week of Monday, February 8 through Sunday, February 14, 2010:

Composers of Olivet Concert
Tuesday, February 9
7 p.m.
Kresge Auditorium

Join us for this special concert featuring original compositions by students within Olivet’s Department of Music.

Winter Break
Friday, February 12

Winter break for students of Olivet Nazarene University begins after a normal class schedule on Thursday.

Classes resume at 7:30 a.m. on Monday, February 15.

Five on Friday

2010-02-05T13:04:00.000-06:00

Featuring Craighton Hippenhammer, information technology librarian

1. You've lived in a lot of places. How did you end up in Bourbonnais?
After a stint in the Air Force as a first lieutenant during the early 1970s, I earned a Master of Library Science degree from the University of Oregon and spent the next 13 years working as a children's librarian for public libraries in Illinois and Ohio.

My wife, Linda, an RN then, gave birth to two daughters during those years and then decided to go back to school. She finished her pre-med studies at Millikin University and then her MD at Southern Illinois University. We then moved to Cleveland, where she got her residency in radiology. We moved to Bourbonnais in 1987, when she joined a local radiology group as a partner.

2. How has your job change since you arrived at Olivet?
Olivet hired me as reference librarian in the summer of 1991, the same month as Dr. Bowling. I moved eventually to access services librarian and now to informatics librarian.

Olivet got the Internet in January of 1992, and as technology became more and more important to libraries, I stepped up and showed interest, solved techie problems and eventually created a new department that deals with applying information to library needs. This department, library informatics, now has a full-time librarian (me), a full-time assistant and 25 students, mostly lab assistants.

3. What's an exciting aspect of your job?
As a librarian, I get to see the research interests of students and have been impressed by how many Olivet graduates double major.

Research in between traditional disciplines is a growing need and is where the really exciting discoveries are now taking place. Over the last three or four decades, research in computer science has had a profound affect on the way our society operates, and it is likely that the next several decades will bring massive changes due to bioengineering, another interdisciplinary studies subject.

Because of my interest in this, I am currently leading a University committee that is researching and creating documents about what an interdisciplinary studies major might look like at Olivet.

We love this community and we love Olivet - what a great place to serve our Lord!

4. What's one thing you've been able to enjoy doing with your wife?
Linda has made a job change to free herself up to do part-time missions work. Over the last four years or so she has visited and served in more than a dozen different third-world countries, taking radiology services to the poor (she backpacks an ultrasound machine in with her) as a part of Christian NGO teams. I've been able to accompany her on five trips to help with medical logistics and occasionally have been able to help libraries with their technical issues as well.

5. Tell us a little about your family.
Our oldest daughter, Darci, graduated from Olivet in 1995 and then worked on an MA and PhD while teaching high school biology. She now teaches and does research in education at Illinois State University.

Our youngest daughter, Sonda, graduated from college soon after and now is a homemaker in Georgia. Linda and I have great fun spending time with them all - especially our three grandchildren! We're looking forward to a trip south during spring break to hang out with them in a number of places, not the least of which is the Magic Kingdom.

Throwback Thursday: 2005

2010-02-04T10:11:00.000-06:00

Remember when Olivet still offered a surfing major, with courses at the local beach? Man, those were the days.

Actually, Rachel Kring and Abby Hay taveled half-way around the globe for this fun photo opp.

They, along with the rest of the women's soccer team, went to Australia over the summer for an action-packed mission trip. When they weren't hard at work offering soccer camps for local kids, they managed to squeeze in a little beach time.

Photo taken from the 2005 Aurora.

Super Feasts: Making healthy choices during the big game

2010-02-03T10:38:00.000-06:00

Guest feature by Heather Gibbs

It’s Super Bowl time again, which means whether interested in professional football or not, many people will be getting together with friends to watch the game (and commercials!) and chat. As in many social gatherings of American culture, food will play a major role.

In walks me, your friendly, registered dietitian.

Only, contrary to what you might think, I’m not really one to give a list of “eat this” and “don’t eat this.” In fact, when I teach nutrition to college students, I begin with the basic principles of balance and moderation, supporting the idea that all foods can fit into a healthy diet and lifestyle. In other words, balance your intake of all nutrients, and don’t eat an excessive amount of anything.

I should point out, however, that distracted eating is associated with overweight and obesity, and television seems to be a major distracter. Ouch! It appears we struggle to pay attention to internal body hunger and fullness cues when we are watching television, so we often end up overeating.

The logical answer here is either : 1) don’t watch TV when you are eating; or 2) place a small portion of food onto your plate or bowl to limit the amount you consume in a setting.

And don’t just sit there, move!! Before the game! During half-time! Whenever!

The NFL, in partnership with a number of organizations has launched a campaign, “Fuel Up to Play 60,” to target childhood obesity. The goal of this campaign is to “improve nutrient-rich food choices and achieve 60 minutes of physical activity each day among children.” It will take collective efforts, such as this one, to develop in our children healthy habits to achieve healthy lifestyles.

Of course, your habits (if you’re a parent, caregiver, teacher, coach, etc.) speak volumes to children, and physical activity is naturally fun to a child. Why not make physical activity a part of our social gatherings as well?

So, enjoy the game, and make healthy choices as you do!

Heather Gibbs is an assistant professor in the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, where she primarily teaches nutrition. She is a registered and licensed dietitian, and received her B.S. from ONU, M.S. from the University of Kansas, and is a PhD Candidate at the University of Illinois. She and her husband, Andy, reside with their two girls in Kankakee, Ill.

Word of the Week: Doppelganger

2010-02-03T10:14:00.000-06:00

Doppelganger (noun)

Pronunciation

dä-pəl-ˌgaŋ-ər

Definition

A ghostly counterpart of a living person; double; alter ego

Sample Sentence

In honor of yet another pointless, but fun, Facebook event, millions of users have changed their picture to that of their celebrity doppelganger for the week.

---

It doesn’t matter if you are one of the Facebook users who changed their picture to Val Kilmer, Leona Lewis, Matt Damon, or any other celebrity, or if you are one of the many who can’t seem to figure out who you look like. Let’s face it, “doppelganger” is just a fun word.

The word comes from the German Doppelgänger, doppel meaning “double” and ganger meaning “goer” or “walker”. The word appeared around 1850 and was meant to refer to a ghost or spirit that exactly resembled a living person.

Nowadays the word has a less eerie connotation; if a friend tells you that you have a doppelganger, they are probably referring to someone else they know who looks like you.

If you want to find your look-alike, you can go to http://celebrity.myheritage.com/celebrity-collage to upload a picture and find your celebrity twin.

Trivia Tuesday: Groundhogs Day

2010-02-02T12:29:00.000-06:00

Put on your wool socks, and throw another log on the fire. At 7:25 a.m. (Eastern) this morning, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow. Olivetians everywhere: prepare for six more weeks of winter.

Though we groan at his prediction, we can’t help but give ol’ Phil mad props for the fame he’s garnered over the years.

Punxsutawney Phil has been a guest in the White House, was once featured on the on the Oprah Winfrey show, and his predictions have been simulcast on the Jumbo Tron in New York’s Times Square. Perhaps most famously, he played a starring role in the 1993 comedy “Groundhog Day.”

Phil’s fellow Punxsutawney residents, on the other hand, have not been so fortunate. In fact, they might have even been a little perturbed when the Bill Murray classic was filmed in an alternate location.

What Illinois city was the locale for the filming of “Groundhog Day?”

Take a guess in the comments section, and we’ll post the correct answer next week.

Answer to last week’s question: Behind June, August is the second most popular wedding month. Third, fourth and fifth are May, July and September.

This Week at Olivet

2010-02-01T12:46:00.001-06:00

Events on the campus of Olivet Nazarene University for the week of Monday, February 1 through Sunday, February 7:

Spring Revival Services
Sunday, January 31 through Wednesday, February 3

Lead by special guest speaker, Dr. Mary Paul

Schedule of services:

Monday, February 1:
9:30 a.m. Chalfant Hall
7:00 p.m. College Church of the Nazarene

Tuesday, February 2:
9:30 a.m. Chalfant Hall
7:00 p.m. College Church of the Nazarene

Wednesday, February 3:
9:30 a.m. Chalfant Hall
7:00 p.m. College Church of the Nazarene

Purple and Gold Days
Friday and Saturday, February 5-6
9:00 a.m.

Join other high school seniors and their parents for an in-depth look at Olivet. Students stay overnight in a campus resident hall with a current Olivet student. There is no charge for this event. However, space is limited so register early!

For more information or to register, click here.

Alumni and Friends Gathering: Valparaiso
Friday, February 5
6:30 p.m.

Don't miss our upcoming gathering at Valparaiso First Church of the Nazarene. This event will include a catered meal, plus a concert by the Olivetians. This ticketed event will be for all alumni, friends of the university, and any prospective students and their families.
The church is located at 2702 Glendale Blvd.

For more information, please call the Office of Alumni Relations at 815-939-5258 or click here.

Band Winter Showcase
Friday, February 5
7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.
Kresge Auditorium

Men’s JV basketball vs. Prairie State College (Ill.)
Saturday, February 6
10:30 a.m.

Women’s basketball vs. Holy Cross College (Ind.)
Saturday, February 6
1 p.m.
Conference Game

Five on Friday

2010-01-29T09:04:00.000-06:00

Featuring Ritchie Richardson, head softball coach and professor of exercise and sports science

1. You're building quite the softball dynasty at Olivet. What is one accomplishment you are most proud of?
I am most proud of the team's accomplishments. Our ONU softball teams have won five NCCAA National Championships and have also been to the NAIA World Series five times.

2. What's one lesson you hope your players learn from you during their time at Olivet?
By preparing themselves to win in intercollegiate sports, I hope they will learn a great deal about group unity, discipline, teamwork, courage and hard work that will help them in their everyday lives.

3. You participate in the Chicago North Men's Senior Baseball League. Why do you remain an active baseball player?
I played college baseball and then Men's Major Fastpitch for many years. I still love to compete and, fortunately, am in good enough shape to still be able to do it.

4. What's one thing you like to do with your family in your spare time?
We like to find and try new restaurants around the Chicagoland area.

5. What's one album you could listen to again and again?
"Greatest Hits of the 70s"

Throwback Thursday: 1929

2010-01-28T14:38:00.000-06:00

As we dig deep into the archives this week, we thought we'd use Naomi Akers' original description for this photo:

"With the growth of the modern attitude toward education during the last few years, we are beginning to realize the necessity of a course of study which will enable a student to go out into life prepared to cope with the problems that will confront him. No longer is education considered purely ornamental. Of course, it contributes to a person's culture, but it must do more than that. It must prepare him for life.

"This year the commercial department has offered courses in typewriting and shorthand. These two courses have a very practical value. Shorthand is often an avenue to the highest form of culture, and it's immediate advantages are the development of memory, accuracy, poise, precision, and self-control. ...

"Typewriting is too often thought of as purely mechanical, but it involves attractiveness in appearance and arrangement of letters, accurate spelling, correct punctuation, grammar, and structure; and the instantaneous co-ordination between eye and hand. Commercial subjects are of practical and lasting value, and are of use to any student."

Couldn't have said it better ourselves.

(Photo from the 1929 Aurora.)