Anderson University

Literary Binge

Friday, January 27, 2012 by Joshua Powell

I'm on a reading binge.

Anyone who has read my blog with any regularity (thanks Mom) probably knows that I have been engrossed for the last two or three months with the Harry Potter series, having missed the boat as a youngster and only just now climbing aboard to pull up the magical anchor. I turned to Rowling's series as a mindless escape from the drudgery of business textbooks, but it turned out that her story crafting abilities were of a superior blend, and I followed Harry and his friends all the way to the end of their journey without looking back.

That being said, I've always been a voracious reader, but these books got me back into the frenzy. It's admittedly a little more difficult to read recreationally in college since one becomes so bogged down in the assigned readings that make being in school worth the effort, but I have found plenty of available slots to fill with this activity as of late.

Over Christmas break, I read Harry Potter 5 and 6, "Erasing Hell" by Francis Chan, "On Writing" by Stephen King, and "A Clockwork Orange" by Anthony Burgess. I was exhilarated at my own rate of literary saturation and subconsciously committed to its continuance.

So far, it's been a success.

Within three days of being back at school, I finished J.K.'s series with an air of finality. Then I picked up Pablo Coelho's "The Alchemist" and slaked it too in no more than a day or two. I found it to be a bit tedious after the nonstop narratives I was coming off of, but I could still appreciate it to such a degree that I was still thirsting for more. I then picked up "Carrie" by Stephen King, being a long time fan, and read it in two days as well. It was one that he referenced heavily in his nonfiction tome on the writing craft, and that element improved my experience.

Feeling the need to counter my fiction gluttony, I spent two days in Francis Chan's "Forgotten God" and kept notes on his dwellings on the Holy Spirit. Then I found "The Hunger Games," and it was enthralling. I hadn't been so latched on to a story since old Harry. The characters were endowed with life in my imagination and I fell in love with the ideal of dystopian rebellion and yearned to join Katniss Everdeen to spit in the Capitol's eye. (The two sequels are in the mail as I type, and my fingers are all but trembling with anticipation.)

Two days ago I started Kerouac's "On the Road," and it's tedious. His jazz language is often beautiful, but the "beat" culture of the 50's tires me so. I love home, whatever form it may take, and the hitchhiking protagonists (or antiheroes) of the author's account just literally wear me out. The plan right now is to power through the remaining 200 pages and return to Panem and the Hunger Games series, countering it with a simultaneous reading of Bonhoeffer's "The Cost of Discipleship." That's one that has been looming on my shelf, daring me to crack it, but I feel that I have finally achieved the momentum I'll need to conquer it. Here's to hoping, and to reading.

What I Will Bring to My Profession

Friday, January 27, 2012 by Lizzie Loveland

As I reflect, I am excited to look to the future with the hope that God promises us. I have been recklessly faithful in following the call- and as of now, that call seems most clearly defined in Dance Therapy and Youth Ministry. What I bring to my profession I think is as unique as my delighted ENFP soul itself. I am obviously an extrovert-intuitive-feeling-perceiving-(which I think of as spontaneity); traits of someone who loves people deeply, and loves to mentor and inspire those around her. Therefore, I long to be in a position at a church somewhere- mentoring youth and helping to bring out the value and potential that God sees in them. I want to enable them with the creative gifts that have both blessed and healed me: such as art, dance, creative writing, drama, and music. I think I would like to work as a resident counselor in a youth residential treatment facility somewhere- and would bring to that my healing story and the methods I have used in my own life, as well as the knowledge of unlimited hope that can be found when we get close to God. On top of that, I love self-expression and I am delighted to see it in others. It would be such a joy to get to know some awesome young people and watch a love of creativity cultivated through learning to dance or write. I think I bring enthusiasm to the field, and on top of that, a love of God which inherently keeps me motivated and joyful.

All of the important tools that I am lacking for the field, I am currently studying or practicing to achieve: better understanding of dance, dance technique, applicable counseling practices; important psychological understanding of the brain, behavior, and development. I plan on wholeheartedly finishing this Bachelor’s in science of Psychology, complementary majors in Youth Leadership Development, and Dance. I am so blessed to have this opportunity to study in this awesome faith community of AU and pursue so many different courses at the same time. Who knows what God will have in store for me in the future? However, I do plan on acquiring a master’s in counseling, and my eye is currently on Columbia College’s Dance Therapy/Counseling degree which allows the clinical practice of both! Whether its in a church, dance studio, counseling center, school, or wherever I end up, I am motivated to become the most inspiring and influential mentor that these kids have ever seen.

Get Yo' DC On!

Thursday, January 26, 2012 by Emily Congdon

The snow is falling, the slush is forming, and students are laughing on their way to class. I have found that I have enjoyed all seasons here at AU thus far. The snow is covering the campus in a perfect blanket of snow that makes everything seem new and bright! It makes for a very scenic view on the way to every class. The snow doesn't stay for very long down here, I have found. I'm used to 8+ inches of snow that stays for months, but here in the "south", the snow is gone within a day or two. Which is nice, since you aren't slipping and sliding your way to class.

A cool thing about AU, is that they give all students the opportunity to lead. Student Leadership Services is an awesome resource! As a freshman, they let you get your feet wet by participating in Campus Ministries, or being a Scooter, but second semester they open up the secrets to how they run such awesome activities for students and open up key leadership positions. They had a meeting for all student leaders or students who had an interest in being a student leader on Wednesday and Hannah and I decided to attend. I had been recommended for the Discipleship Coordinator position, and wanted to check it out. We went to Hartung 101 and I was amazed to see the room filled, and even some students standing on the side! It was really encouraging for me to see that AU is not sprinkled with leaders, or slightly filled with them, but comprised of leaders. Knowing that leaders are what make up AU is another reason I love it here. I am surrounded by fellow go-getters!

Needless to say, I have applied for the DC position and am eagerly awaiting the confirmation from the DC office. I'm really happy that I chose AU. I can be a leader in my sophomore year and every year after that. AU has so many opportunities to lead that I barely know what to do with myself!

Flying, Colloquially.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012 by Joshua Powell

I wonder what the specific context was when that mysterious trend-setter coined the phrase, "fly by the seat of your pants." My curiosity is not such that I care to do any real research into the matter, but I did wonder, while selecting that descriptive colloquialism, as to its origin and how exactly one does achieve flight using only the backside of their slacks. However, I digress.

Saturday was one such day. My planner that is typically laden in dark ink marks (furiously scrawled and threatening to spill of the corners of the page) that denote my obligations and deadlines; but this weekend, Saturday was as blank in its tidy little square as the fresh coat of snow that obscures the campground across from my building. I was free.

Personal tradition dictated that I begin with an excursion to my sanctuary, Panera, for a cinnamon crunch bagel, hazelnut coffee, a few chapters of the Bible, and a few chapers of Kerouac's "On the Road." (The former work perpetually proves its worth while the latter is still teetering on my line of approval, having been very well-written but conerning content that is unequivocally depressing.)

Upon returning to my dormitory, I received a call from my good friend Michael Tomlinson proffering me a ride into Broad Ripple with some friends to see his show at Indy CD & Vinyl. I spontaneously accepted and found myself being whisked away to the worn out looking storefront to appreciate the distinctive songwriting of a capable colleague. We celebrated at BDubs, and I rode back to Anderson with another close friend, Charlie Holcomb.

I ended up falling asleep on his couch, the wintery day serving as some meteorological melatonin, and woke feeling disoriented to the point of not knowing what day it was. Charlie laughingly reassured me of my place and time, and we headed out to Daleville to watch a high school team that is coached by one of our brothers in DKA (Dativus.)

We stopped by the bowling alley on our way back to catch the end of a Campus Activities Board event and mingle with a vaster collection of our peers, and we ended up at Charlie's fiancee's apartment with a group of friends in the dramatic throes of Apples to Apples. Somehow, people just never get tired of that game.

Sometimes the days where you have no plans turn out to be packed with activity, but it's okay with me. In some miniscule way, it feels just a little bit adventurous.

Midwest Collegiate Summit

Wednesday, January 25, 2012 by Brennan Bowman

Brennan Bowman Throughout my time at college I had the opportunity to get to know many students at the schools in the Midwest including, Rose-Hulman, IU, Ball State, OSU, U of Indianapolis, Butler, U of Illinois, IWU, and Taylor. While many of these relationships have been started at a variety of events whether it be football games, business conferences, or just through mutual friends, the majority of them have been through the world of swing dancing. Because I travel so often, these people and I have created strong friendship as we carpool across the Midwest, crash on the floors of people's homes, and dance till late in the night.

This year, there was a clear need for more communication between the swing dance clubs at every school. The officers of every swing club in the Midwest decided it would be good to start meeting together to discuss the differences and similarities in our clubs. The goal was to inspire and to improve our clubs as well as promote a stronger community. This past Sunday we all met at Purdue University to discuss our plans for the year. It was incredible to see my fellow swing club officers step up as leaders and talk about their jobs within the AU Swing Club and compare that to those with similar jobs at other schools. Its moments like this that really tests one's leadership abilities. While AU is a small school, I feel like our students can stand up next to any student from a larger school with just as much maturity, professionalism, and know-how. We were able to discuss serious issues to come to resolutions and just brainstorm new ideas for our clubs. This sort of camaraderie is something I will always remember about my four years and has been a critical part of my education outside of the classroom.

GAP

Tuesday, January 24, 2012 by Sarah Russell

Grace Acceptance Process.

During my time at AU and specifically as an RA, I have had a number of conversations with other students about life struggles, addictions, and issues. Since Anderson does hold stipulations surrounding specific lifestyles, sometimes students refrain from seeking counsel in fear of repercussions. Because we want each student to experience restoration, a group called the GAP has now formed. The GAP was created to fill the gap between Student Life and Counseling Services. It is a place for students to come who are broken and seeking biblical truth and community. The GAP meets once a week and is run by trained student leaders. No other school in the area has started a group like this. I am really excited to see the impact the GAP will have on this campus.

More to come, promise :)

The Search For Internships

Tuesday, January 24, 2012 by Brennan Bowman

Second semester creates a sense of urgency to find an internship. At some point, in almost every student's four years at AU, they have to do complete a practicum, internship or at the very least, some sort of experiential learning program. At this point in the semester, it seems like everyone is searching for that perfect summer internship or possibly job.

As a senior, the internship I find is all the mroe important because it will most certainly lead me to my future job in the fall. While it is tempting to be picky, I have realized that God will lead me where He wants me. This means that I am applying anywhere and everywhere I can. Looking for those personal connections and contact points are so important. I have applied as of now at about seven places. Yesterday I got my first response asking if I could do a phone interview with a company in Nashville, TN. I greatly look forward to this interview and hope that this may be where I land for the summer. The key to finding a good internship is to start looking early and to call on as many contacts as possible. The relationships in any industry is what gets you places alongside with hard work and previous experience... and sheer dumb luck may play a small role as well.

#AUBlackout2012

Monday, January 23, 2012 by Joy Mills

Last night at approximately 11:48 p.m., the lights flickered off across the campus of Anderson University. Girls in Rice Hall could be heard shrieking and screaming as their laptops, cell phones, televisions, microwaves, research papers, homework, and refrigerators all came to a screeching halt.

In other words?

The power went out in Anderson, Indiana last night. And college students flipped!

But honestly, it wasn't bad! I found it much more fun hanging out with people without the addition of technology. We used flashlights, ran into doors on our way to the bathroom (OUCH), and just sat talking in the hallways with each other. It was the perfect break from everything in our lives. I think it was Divine Intervention. Haha.

On Twitter last night and this morning, #AUBlackout2012 was a common trending topic to be seen on my Twitter feed! Some deemed it the new "Icepocalypse," like last year. Remember that? The ice and snow? It was terrible!

Luckily the power came back on this morning at 7:30 a.m., just in time for class...

Yay. ;)

Haha. Luckily the professors were compassionate, and have eased the transition from an entire night of darkness to a day full of homework and studying!

Only at AU, folks. Only at AU.

Inside a Snow Globe

Monday, January 23, 2012 by Lizzie Loveland

As I write this, I am vaguely aware that my new snow boots are a bit damp, cramped, and overly warm for hours of library homework. My borrowed jacket hangs behind me, also slightly damp, and my fingers still hurt from being exposed to the cold two hours ago. The first thing I thought when I awoke this morning, was to layer, because I wouldn't be able to simply go out in my Carolina fashions of tank tops, skirts, and sundresses anytime in the near future. I have a pale rose flowy top- its open to my cream lace tank top layered over a mocha camisole, with dark jeans. It's definitely clothing for the fifty degree weather and above- and no matter how hard I try, I simply cannot seem to purchase Indiana-suitable clothing, or remember to layer and wear it out. Therefore, I left with that ensemble, plus my favorite silk wedges of the century: they are espandreals, and they are light pink silk with intricate beading of different colors- pink, cream, mocha, and white are the dominant patterns on the shoes. They most likely appeal to me because the silk and the lace ribbon make me feel like I'm wearing pointe ballet shoes- something that will always intrigue and delight me. Anyways, I have no idea as to what the actual temperature was when I left for my 8AM Christian Counseling class, but I do know that I was a bit chilly even with my Northface-fleece over it all. After three hours of class, I left to go to chapel today to the surprising winter blessing of a blizzard. Kind of a sick joke, really. I think I may have even been caught yelling up at the sky (resembling a lunatic I'm sure) "God, take it back! Please! I promise I won't complain about South Carolina’s heat ever again!" As if to retaliate a silly act with a silly reply, I slipped on the way back from class with one of my dear friends Jordan, and at least his comical nature appreciated the silliness of my absurd fall.

I suppose that what it lacks in tangible comfort, it makes up for in beauty. I must admit that I was intrigued by snow, especially snow globes. I don't quite remember what brought on my obsessive fascination of the souvenirs, but I do remember collecting them as a child. I was so silly, I used to carry one around- I believe it had a pony and horse farm inside it, and I would shake it up and watch the serene little pasture scene become inundated by teeny white sprinkles. Snow. It was so much prettier and compliant in the confines of a glass ball- one that I egotistically could shake at my whim. I suppose that its appeal, like most, was the utopian idea of the thing. Inside the glass ball, I simply watch the snow fall on the little farm, consequence free for the porcelain scene inside. No farm hands have to bring the ponies in and blanket them, no one trudging through ice and snow, paying extra for hay to supplement the lost grass, no problems- just pretty snow. It's kind of like life. God makes the "snow fall" if you will- "on the just and the unjust" alike. We may struggle or strive under the new conditions- or we may drink hot cocoa and go sledding and fall on our butts and laugh hysterically. It's simply what we make of it. But if you step back into God's grand perspective, you can see a really serene, pretty picture. The Lord's hand is on every one of those little fingerprint-individual flakes, and so, I think they are beautiful. I also must admit that while I was reading His word on my bed today, the effortless dusting of snow added to the cozy ambiance. So for now, I continue my life, from the perspective of a snow globe.

York Performance Hall

Friday, January 20, 2012 by Joy Mills

The spring semester is already running full-steam ahead at a speed of, hmmm, I'd say 140 miles per hour!

There's so much to be done, so much to be learned, and so little time to do it!

Ahhhh!!!!!

Okay, I have recovered now.

I'm actually really excited for the things that are going to happen in my second semester here at Anderson University. One of these things is the construction being done on the York Performance Hall. It is a large edition to the music school. It will include a brand new performance hall.

BRAND NEW.

Every morning when I wake up, I am able to look out of my window in my room at Rice Hall and see the building going up slowly but surely. It's truly an exciting thing for me to watch, because at some point, I will be playing inside of it.

For musicians, there's something magical about a stage--whether new or old. I like to think that every stage--every piece of wood or cement that I play on, has a story. That's one of the numerous reasons why being a musician is so incredible. Moreover, I'll be excited to be able to utilize York Performance Hall to enhance my music ability.

In other news, the weather here has been CRAZY! One minute it's snowing, the next it's raining, and then after that some strange concoction of bitter winds and gray skies shows up.

Almost on a daily basis, I am thankful for how compact and small Anderson is. During strange and scary weather patterns, I can walk from class to class without freezing or being swept away! It's one of the greatest features about Anderson University.

However, I can't wait for summer! I'd love to see some sunshine.

Let's Go Team :)

Thursday, January 19, 2012 by Sarah Russell

When I was little, my favorite shirt to wear was a pink tee that said, "Cheerleading, my first love." Anyone that knows me as a twenty-year-old college student however, identifies me instead as someone who loves football. Now I realize that these two sports are very different from each other, polar opposite in fact.

Growing up with two older brothers, I was always the little sister cheering for them on the sidelines. Whether this was for basketball, football, track, or baseball, I reveled in encouraging them to succeed, and celebrating when they did. I found other little sisters my age to accompany me, and before I knew it we had uniforms, pom-poms, and t-shirts.

Another cause of living with two older brothers was always being surrounded by manly things, such as the sports of football and basketball. As I grew up, I cheered competitively for quite a while, but eventually decided to pursue my love for basketball in high school, and football once I got to college (thanks to intramurals).

Recently, I have gained a desire to be out on the court again, but as a cheerleader. Even though I definitely do not fit the mold for a stereotypical cheerleader, I do have a hidden love for the sport. I decided now would be the time to chase that dream, because after college I will not have the opportunity again! Fortunately, the coach here at AU and the squad were willing to let me join, so here marks the short yet delightful journey of being an AU cheerleader. :)

mezzo-piano

Thursday, January 19, 2012 by Joshua Powell

Last night we found ourselves in the profoundly gratifying throes of a classic college weekend. I've only just today been back in Anderson for a week, and one of the things I missed most heinously was playing with the band. With some frosty December forethought, I planned ahead to get us back out on the road as soon as we all returned to our Indiana hub, so we barely had time for our one reunion practice before we returned to the gigging grind.

An unfortunate venue cancellation resulted in a free Friday evening, which I used in the grandiose style of a borderline introvert to finish off the Harry Potter series. While I sat in a crowded room of boisterous friends in pursuit of some card gaming victory, I quietly pursued the Deathly Hallows with Harry and saw You-Know-Who vanquished at last, a perfect victory to an epic saga. I recognized the oddity of reading at a social gathering, but everyone seems to understand when they find it's your first time through Hogwarts.

Saturday, however, was not so socially repressed. After attending the annual ULC return gathering for student leaders, I burned a stack of fresh EPs to distribute, girded myself with my heaviest coat, and set out to rendezvous with the five other members of our nostalgic little ensemble. We traversed the winter-lit country roads to the hole in the wall, New Castle, where we unloaded gear to the echoing news of no PA system. Before I got too salty about it, I shook off the creeping attitude of pessimism and helped to assemble our makeshift platform in the mezzo-piano fashion we were dealt.

With no microphones or amplified acoustic, we yelled our harmonies and danced all the same in the corner of the delightfully accomodating Mike & Joe's establishment for a handful of graciously attentative listeners. Any time free food or drink is offered to college students, it's a blessing, and theirs was of a superior caliber. Having befriended the small audience, we thoroughly enjoyed our evening and loaded back into the crowded yellow Aztek buzzing with caffeine and excitement about the other seven dates on our calendar. Isaac, the guitarist, and I followed up the show with the only acceptable post-show activities: Taco Bell, a snowy amble over Anderson's iconic blue bridge, and a horror film rental chased by the Office just because you can't go to bed on that stuff.

Spontaneously Walking By Faith Has Never Failed Me

Wednesday, January 18, 2012 by Lizzie Loveland

After a God-filled break at Safehouse Outreach Atlanta and attending the Passion Conference, I feel like Christ has completely re-directed my life, and I am thrilled to be back at AU. My father had bought the tickets in advance, and was under the honest impression that college started Thursday on the 12^th, so even though my flights were delayed all day long, I still felt secure that I would get home with a day to spare. Unfortunately, college started the 11^th, and I got in on January 11^th around 1AM. Therefore, I was bound to the duties of re-arranging my class schedule and unpacking- which left me helplessly trying to prepare before I had to “wake up” at 7AM and get ready for an 8AM that morning. The day mercifully seemed to fly by, and in my exhaustion, I wisely chose to join my Martin 3 East dance party and heart-to-heart until midnight as a playful christening of the new semester.

Thus far, I’ve wrestled with the agony of trimming down my class schedule to only 18 credit hours, and when you wish you could major in everything, it can be quite the task. On top of all of that, it is snowing. Last year, the wintry tidings gave off the false impression of a cute Christmas card landscaping, I quickly learned, however, that it’s pleasant exterior remains in the confines of Christmas cards. So I’ve managed to run in between buildings like a confused squirrel on a cross street to keep warm. Ah, winter.

The exciting part of my life has been that yesterday (Friday) I arrived late to my Courtship and Marriage class due to an unprecedented long line getting my books, and so, I settled for a discreet seat in the back closest to the door. It was the seat next to Kara Myers, a transfer last fall, whom I have been hoping to get to know better. As class was closing, I cordially asked her what her plans were for the three day weekend. She replied that she had been hoping to go as a youth leader on a ski trip, but didn’t have a ride out to Wisconsin, so she would probably have to settle for the mundane dorm life weekend. Immediately, I responded, “I have a car, let’s go.” “What?” She asked (probably confused as I was only an acquaintance that happened to be sitting next to her). “Nah, I mean it, I prayed that I wanted to be living for God and that I wanted Him to use me this weekend- I would love to take you and help out.” So she excitedly agreed and we exchanged numbers, she called the youth pastor and got a thankful affirmation of our need to be leaders, and an hour later, we were on a four hour journey.

I am so grateful for the trip with Kara, I feel like I know her very well (after four hours of quality bonding time) and I am absolutely in love with any opportunity to work with youth ministry. Kara and I are sharing a cabin full of beautiful girls of faith, and have so far enjoyed some great small groups, the wise preaching of Dave Percy, a delightfully passionate worship band (that uses hand motions! Praise God!), and some snow sports- to which I have been nervously participating in. In fact, my girls’ team “the sassy snow bunnies” actually won the sledding competition on this seemingly suicidal hill on this frozen tundra of a camp. I even sledded BY MYSELF- face first, and here I am still blogging- I’m not even ashamed to say that I prayed before getting on that terrifying death trap of a sled. I am so blessed to be here, and I’m so glad that I love God- because my life is a whole lot better than trying to just live for this world. The spontaneity that He brings to my ENFP soul has been delightful, and I am just excited to see what other adventures He takes me on. As of now, I want nothing more than a significant life glorifying God and going on His glorious adventures.

In Christ alone, we find our joy!

~ Lizzie Joy Loveland

It's Friday, Friday!

Wednesday, January 18, 2012 by Joy Mills

It's Friday! The day is winding down. It's been a hectic day, full up to the brim with new experiences from my second day of spring semester classes.

For starters, I am very thankful for the drop/add option on our school's scheduling system called AccessAU. On this system, AU students schedule their classes. But if something goes wrong and a class needs to be added or dropped, students can just swap one in for another.

It's actually really convenient, and I was so relieved that I could utilize it to my advantage today!

This semester I am once again enrolled in many music courses. My music theory professor announced to the class that this particular semester for music majors tends to be the toughest.
While this is scary, I am eager to learn more from the music faculty as a whole, and to become a better musician with every passing day.

Some may say that music majors don't seem to have as much bookwork as the average student. But honestly, we have so much practicing and memorizing to do--the type of practicing and memorizing that doesn't accompany most majors.

But it's what we love to do, so we do it with fervor and dedication.

My goal for this semester is to really take hold of all of the wonderful resources at AU! The professors are so open and easy to talk with. I look forward to learning more from them, and hope to have some good classroom stories to share with you in the upcoming weeks.

Have a happy MLK weekend!

All Smiles

Monday, January 16, 2012 by Sarah Russell

Sometimes routines are a very good thing, as they maintain consistency and stability. But oh, the beauty of newness. It's like getting a pair of glasses and seeing the world in full color for the first time. It's the feeling after you buy a new pair of Nikes when you've worn the old ones to the ground. It's rekindling a relationship that has been nonexistent for years. It's new, fresh, clean.

As the new year begins, it seems that everywhere you look is another fresh start. A new year to write down on papers, a new month, new classes, professors, peers, and a new daily routine. This is an exciting time for me, because I love change! The simplicity of going to class a different time than I'm used to, and seeing a new set of faces on my way to class just puts me in a good mood.

During this first week of classes, AU obtains that crisp atmosphere of joy. As the first classes are usually spent going through rules, expectations, and syllabi, I am reminded of why I love this university. I walk into the classroom and automatically know people. There is no fright of not having classes with friends or being lonely. Not at AU. Even if you don't know anyone right away, the small size of the classes will ensure that you get to know someone quickly, and they will most likely be nice. As silly as that sounds, there have been numerous times when I have specifically appreciated the friendliness of this campus. I have visited friends at other state schools, and I found myself yearning to be back at Anderson. When you walk past someone that you don't know on this campus, you'll most likely trade smiles or a greeting. When an interaction are necessary with professors or other employees of the school, it's almost always going to be a friendly one.

We're all smiles here at AU, it's good to be back :)

Green Shirt

Monday, January 16, 2012 by Joshua Powell

So it's Black Friday last year and H&M has this whole rack of V-neck T's, (how many single letters can I incoporate into a coherent sentence, eh?) and they're all lined up in this dizzying array of multicolored cacophony. Instantly, their hook is deep-set in my unsuspecting lip. There's something about the juxtaposition of the textured azure and the forest, the forest and the dandelion gold, the gold and the indigo, the indigo and the stark white of color's blaring absence. I'm seeing the exact same simple garment, replicated infinitely, cloning itself again and again while some disembodied palette master gradually drags the indicators along the parallel lines of hue and saturation. And they have me right there, I need these shirts.

I select a few that are particularly eye-catching and tote them tentatively to the dressing room. "Do you really need to try on a T-shirt?" you ask, and I answer firmly that it's all about the fit, don't you know that? Come on. Yes I do. So I do, and I am pleasantly rewarded for my shopping efforts with a shirt that sports an appropriately lank collar, fits tightly across the shoulders, and hangs effortlessly in a shroud of deep green cotton. Now, my collegiate wallet budget is as threadbare as anyone's, so I compromise on my impulses and just purchase the one, leaving the mall-front with a content smile and six dollars less in my pocket - another reason that particular store is a favorite amongst our age demographic, I would postulate.

I'm back at home and wearing the shirt, an honest favorite, but it just doesn't strike me the same, see? The green was intentional - I like to think that it helps bring out my otherwise less-than-shocking eye color, but it doesn't have that same electrical pull that I felt drag me down into the hooks and hangars of its origin. Why? Because now it's just green. It's not so gloriously arranged in relation to the fiery contrast of burnt orange and the arctic offset of its pale blue counterparts. Obviously I can't wear six different shirts at the same time (or else I shouldn't if I hope to maintain any of my friendships) but I'm still disappointed in the singular pointedness of my just-green shirt.

H&M marketed me to death. It harkened to my memory the time that I made an impulse purchase on a variant of Old Spice deodorant because it was advertised as smelling like "palm trees, sunshine and freedom." I actually have no idea what the heck sunshine is supposed to smell like, but for a Florida boy in the strait of Indiana's seasonal chill, that hit home. Now I've started to understand some of my own catches and blindspots to the expansive Mad Men world of marketing. (By the way, I will never recommend that show because there are zero likable characters.) I know that all of the color variants won't look the same when singled out, and that deodorant for four dollars works the same for two dollars, even though I don't really regret that purchase either. But all that is to say why I'm looking forward to my "Principles of Marketing" class with Professor Wiese this semeter. Because now I have a green shirt.

First Week Craziness

Monday, January 16, 2012 by Emily Congdon

After nail biting passes, gasp inducing shots, and a killer finish, the Anderson Ravens lost to Hulman by one point. The guys on the team played really well and showed a lot of skill. The game was super fun! The student section cheered and stomped and rooted the men on all through the game. The only thing that I missed was the Dunn Drum line from the football games. They really made the football games fun. And since I know some of the guys, I also got to play some mad beats of my own!

The games are a lot of fun, especially as a student. It was a black out and everyone got all dressed up in their finest black attire to support our men's basketball team. Many of our students were sporting our school's spirit shirt.

Another major development from Anderson: it snowed! And it stuck! It looks like a winter wonderland! It's not as much snow as I'm used to, but to those of our students who are from California and Arizona, it's more than enough. They would rather stay inside than grab a few lunchroom trays and go sledding. Hannah and I on the other hand can't WAIT for the other few inches we're supposed to get. We're heading down to the valley for some major sledding!!!! Oh yeah!

Back to School

Friday, January 13, 2012 by Brennan Bowman

December brought winter break. It means that for a month, students are sent all over the country to their homes. This also means that for a month, we are separated from those whom have become our family at school. Yes, time away is great but usually January 1 means I am missing my friends greatly.

Finally back at school means a whole new start to all my new classes which means a different schedule, different friends, and new opportunities. Already second semester is shaping up to be a very stressful one with 19 credit hours. I am trying to cram in all of those last classes second semester senior year. Yet while classes are going to be demanding, there is a new life and excitment on campus. CAB is in full swing with the 1st event of the year called "Bowling and BDubs." Everyone is making weekend plans with those whom they haven't seen in a month. I plan to spend this upcoming weekend dancing with many of my friends in the AU Swing Club. We will be travelings as a group to Purdue to take lessons and just enjoying being back with the people we love.

It's Beautiful Day In the Neighborhood...

Friday, January 13, 2012 by Emily Congdon

Actually, it was rather cold and wet and rainy when I arrived back on campus yesterday. But back I was in Raven country! And I was so glad to be back. I've missed all of my friends and the crazy stuff that we generally do on a daily basis. I've even missed my classes, odd, I know. But that is how much of an impact AU has made on me and how much I love being here and how amazing our community is.

Today, January 11, 2012, was the first full day of classes and not only was it crazy hectic, but it was super fun too. I like all of my classes, and my professors are great. I'm particularly looking forward to American Civ. with Prof. Dirk. Even on the first day, I've found him to be completely relatable and sympathetic to our student predicament. The texts look really interesting too. He takes the time to really get to know us, even if we're a huge class. My roommate and I are also taking it together, so it should definitely be an interesting semester! I can't wait for all of the adventures and crazy shenanigans we're going to get into!

Speaking of crazy shenanigans, tonight is a basketball game and we're playing Rose Hulman... THE RAVENS WILL BE VICTORIOUS!!! And it's a black out, my very first one! I'm super pumped!! Woot! Woot! Gooooooo, Ravens!!

Round 2

Wednesday, January 11, 2012 by Joy Mills

Greetings! I am now back at my dorm desk officially for the start of the spring semester. I had a wonderful, WONDERFUL winter break. I got to spend so much valuable and cherished time with my family. I also was able to catch up with friends from high school whom I hadn't seen in ages. It was very refreshing. After such a glorious break, I even believe I have a new appreciation for the word "home," and feel I more fully understand how important it is to remember where you come from in order to get where you want to go.

However, before I continue, I suppose the biggest change I should inform you about is....

I got my hair shaved off! It's a big adjustment, but I like how easy it is to take care of. I've wanted to get it cut this short for a long time, and on a whim I just went out and asked my hairstylist to do it.

And she did!

But moving away from the topic of hair, I am taking 18 hours of classes this semester. Just typing that scares me! I'm enrolled in a ton of music classes, and I also have LART (a liberal arts general course) and math...which I'm terrible at! But I'm looking forward to learning more and more as the days pass by. I've always been one who loves to learn.

I am excited to get this semester going, and can only pray that God will lead me closer to what He wants for my life so that I can glorify Him.