Author: Diane Brunsting

Travel restrictions and advisories may change frequently. Please be aware of travel restrictions to and from China issued by the U.S. government, as well as policies and guidelines affecting Trinity students, faculty, and staff.

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Travel Warnings
• U.S. embassy and consulates in China suspend visa issuance
• U.S. Department of State China travel advisory
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Coronavirus Disease 2019 Information for Travel

• Stay home if you are sick
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick
• Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue and then throw the tissue in the trash, immediately
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
• Clean and disinfect surfaces that are often touched
• Take care of your health overall. Staying current on your vaccinations, including flu vaccine, eating well, getting adequate sleep, and exercising all help your body stay resilient
• Consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) travel website for any travel advisories and recommended steps to protect yourself if you plan to travel outside the United States

As a Christian institution committed to treating all individuals as image-bearers of Jesus Christ, we stand in prayerful support for students, faculty, and staff whose home communities, families, or churches have been affected by the outbreak.

Avoid making assumptions about individuals who you believe may or may not have come into contact with someone who is carrying the virus. In some cases, public reactions to the virus have been sensationalized, and there have been individuals at institutions of higher education who reported encountering discrimination and harassment due to biased assumptions and overreactions. We treasure our international community members, our racial and ethnic diversity, and everyone who may be affected by this situation. We want to remind all members of our community to stand together in support, encouragement, and respect.

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The world needs Trinity students—as well as our dedicated faculty, alumni, donors, and partners. And Trinity’s work in Pignon, Haiti, demonstrates how the College gets everyone ready to make a difference throughout our world.

This three-year pilot project brings together those who share a vision to empower the people of Haiti. It encompasses a diverse group, including Trinity’s Honors Field Research Team and its faculty advisors, Many Hands for Haiti (MH4H) and Ozinga Inc. In the first year of the program, a 15 member team spent two weeks in Pignon conducting research.  “This is true interdisciplinary, problem-solving research,” said Provost Aaron Kuecker, Ph.D.

The Honors Research Team plans to return to Haiti on May 5. Before then, the team will meet with their counterparts who conducted research last year, and hold working sessions with leaders from MH4H.

The second year of the program will expand on last year’s efforts, according to Dr. Craig Mattson, Ph.D., professor of communication arts, and Dr. Lenore Knight Johnson, Ph.D., assistant professor of sociology, co-directors of the Honors Program.

“We are looking to build upon the exploratory work of the first team, which served as our pilot group but also developed important directions for the research,” said Knight Johnson. “As project stakeholders, we draw from the insight and interests of our partners. What is MH4H needing in terms of exploration into its work? At the same time, we are an outside research team meant to offer an objective perspective on the strengths and growth areas of the organization. We hope as we continue to grow this partnership, we can find ways to strengthen the good work of all three institutions – Ozinga, MH4H, and Trinity.”

The seeds of the partnership were planted in Fall 2016 when several Trinity students expressed interest in a humanitarian trip to Haiti. Kuecker reached out to Tim Brand, executive director of MH4H, an organization with years of experience in Haiti, and Aaron Ozinga ’03, president of Ozinga Materials & Logistics Inc., who has also been involved with helping the people of Haiti for years.

In its first year, Mattson and Knight Johnson led a team of 13 students and recent graduates on the trip to Pignon. Among the specific projects, the team focused on “The First 1,000 Days,” which helps mothers understand the importance of quality care, nutrition, and medical needs of newborns and young children. Trinity’s researchers conducted interviews with community members and staff members at MH4H to discern people’s attitudes towards the First 1,000 Days program.

“This experience represents a true liberal arts education,” said Josiah Rosario ’18, who participated in the research.

According to Mattson, this project has been the richest experience of collaborating with students he has ever had. “Getting into the work of research with Honors students in a very open-ended situation, and flattening out the hierarchy between mentor and mentee, professor and student has been the most rewarding part of the experience,” said Mattson. “Also, getting to know Haitian leaders and seeing their hopes for their country and kin.”

In order to prepare for the trip last May, the Honors Field Research Team met twice a week during the spring semester to read about Haitian culture, understand America’s intervention in Haiti, study Creole, develop a research framework, and consult with intercultural practitioners. In the fall, Trinity hosted a Haiti Honors Stakeholders Conversation in the Grand Lobby in Ozinga Chapel, where those who participated shared their experiences and insights. As Ozinga said during the panel discussion: “We have the responsibility to reconcile the broken world around us.”

WARNING!

This troll stencil is not for the faint of heart. You will likely fail. Carve at your own risk!

Scared yet?  You have been warned!

Download this troll stencil template and test your pumpkin carving skills. This is for high-level carvers looking for a challenge.

Here are some pointers from the pumpkin carver who dared to take on this challenge:

• Use a sturdy carving kit for this stencil.
• Reserve 3.5+ hours to carving.
• Make sure your pumpkin is at least 9.75” tall.
• Print your template.
• Fill-in the back of the print-out with pencil.
• Begin with carving out the top of the pumpkin.
• Scoop-out the seeds and hair but be sure to leave most of the meat.
• Tape the stencil with painters’ tape on all sides. The edges will crumple some.
• Use a pen to trace the outline and press firmly. When approaching a crumpled edge, carefully pull apart the crumpled paper without distributing the tape and continue tracing.
• Peel-off the tape and remove the template. You should see a faint outline of the troll. Use a pen and trace over the faint outline to get a cleaner image of the troll on the pumpkin.
• Carve-out the eyes first and work your way to the edges from there.
• When finished with the carving, remove the top and carefully scoop-away any loose pieces. Use scissors to remove any dangling hair.
• Use two, 4″ flashlights in your pumpkin to get the most shine.

Happy carving! ?