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Help raise funds for Trinity Christian College Scholarships and brighten the day of a student all at the same time!

The Trinity Women’s Organization (TWO) is offering Gourmet Taffy Apples as a special treat for students this October.  Order deadline for this fall delight is October 15.

TWO also offers a variety of other care packages, including pizza parties, birthday cake, cupcakes, exam week packages, and more.  To order gourmet apples and more, visit their website.

Trinity Women’s Organization is a volunteer organization of women dedicated to encouraging and uplifting students while raising funds for student scholarships.

Even today’s students know something about the Tab, Trinity’s first and homemade, student union. After all, it is memorialized by a rock and plaque placed near the original site outside the Dining Hall, describing its use from 1967-1987.

Some have heard the story of its construction by students and a young Philosophy professor, Pete Steen (who also served, with his wife, as dorm parent) mostly between the hours of 11 p.m. and 2 a.m., with entirely donated materials (concrete from Ozinga and boards dissembled from the Jousma hunting lodge).

Once built, the Tab (short for “Tabernacle”) served as a burger and hot dog joint, card-playing den, guest lecture hall, music venue, Sunday evening worship service gathering spot, and a place for students and faculty sometimes to meet outside of class.

(One student, Perry DeCastri, having arrived inadvertently at the Trinity in Palos Heights instead of the one in Deerfield, joined a game of hearts and graduated four years later with a degree in biology!)

During the Tab’s early years, about 20% of the student body was Canadian. Canadian students came to Trinity because of the Reformational philosophy taught here, which tried to carry forward Abraham Kuyper’s insight that Christ’s lordship is comprehensive, extending to all of life. (They also left their mark in sports history when Trinity’s hockey team defeated the University of Illinois 2-1 in 1968.)

So it made sense to call the Sep. 22, get-together in Mississauga, Ontario, the Tab Gathering. The invitation for the gathering went out to Canadians of all eras and to Americans who attended Trinity during its first two decades. About 55 people attended, mostly from southern Ontario (Toronto, Hamilton, St. Catherines, London, etc.) but also from Chicago, Philadelphia, Michigan, and Alberta, Canada. They were joined by former professors Mary Vander Vennen, Thomas McIntire, and Calvin Seerveld, with his wife, Ines. They were greeted by a Trinity team, including Pres. Kurt Dykstra, Provost Aaron Kuecker, Director of Alumni & Family Engagement Brad Laninga, and several faculty members, mostly to listen to stories about heritage but also to answer questions about Trinity today.

After an informal time of greeting and catching up, Dykstra gave an opening welcome and prayer and then invited all to begin the catered dinner. After dinner, alumni came forward to tell stories about places on campus that were important to them–the Tab, of course, but also the Fireside Chapel, classrooms, and residence halls–and stories about what in their Trinity education has stuck with them through the years. This included a professor’s care, a permanently dusty chalkboard, the first appearance of a future spouse, the care for language, hands cramped from taking notes, and an exciting vision of the reach of faith into more of life than most of us had imagined.

A question-and-answer segment followed, with alumni thankful for the opportunity to pose questions about Trinity’s educational program today to Kuecker and Professor of Philosophy Aron Reppmann, Ph.D., and Professor of English Karen Dieleman, Ph.D..

The final surprise was a 10-minute reading of Psalm 71 by Seerveld, with introduction and commentary that doubled as a benediction for those in the room and those at Trinity, more broadly, trying to carry on the work of the Lord in higher education. Then the Serveelds distributed a book of talks that Cal gave at Trinity from 1993-2018, including the present benediction. Someone started the doxology, “Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow.” It was a fit ending to a night of many blessings.

–Dr. Michael Vander Weele ’73, Professor of English

Want to dance? You can now take ballet classes right on Trinity’s campus. Ballet 5:8, a local non-profit dance education organization, has opened a satellite studio at the College.

Every Tuesday night, Trinity’s Classroom Building takes a step outside of its traditional role as an academic center to host ballet classes. The company offers ballet classes for dancers of all ability levels and is still accepting students.  According to Julianna Slager, Artistic Director and Resident Choreographer for Ballet 5:8, students who attend the class can expect “a fun and challenging class that will give you a good workout, and also leave you feeling uplifted.”

Ballet 5:8 is a young but well-established dance education company that serves dancers of all styles and ability levels in the Chicago South Suburbs area.  According to its website, the company’s goal is “to make high-quality dance training accessible to students… in a uniquely nurturing environment where students thrive.”  Slager says that Ballet 5:8 achieves this mission by teaching students “how to find their identity in Christ and how to worship through work.”

The addition of Trinity as a satellite campus for Ballet 5:8 has been an excellent way for this nonprofit to spread its influence and expand its mission.  “We believe in working together with other organizations to provide services that enrich our communities. Our residency at Trinity does this, and we’re so blessed to be able to be on campus this year!” said Slager.

All Ballet 5:8 classes at Trinity are held on Tuesday nights in Room 215 of the Classroom Building.  Dancers should plan to attend whichever class best fits their age: Pre-Ballet for three- and four-year-olds from 4:30-5:15; Elementary Ballet for five- and six-year-olds from 5:15-6; Ballet 1A for ages seven and up from 6 to 7; and Teen/Adult Ballet for ages 14 and up from 7-8.  Ballet 5:8 offers the first class free. Classes are $15 each for the public and $5 for current Trinity students with a valid ID. More information can be found here.

Ballet 5:8 hopes to see you there next Tuesday night!

Jonathan Chase, Trinity’s guest speaker on Sep. 21, was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome at 14. He knew he was different, and unfortunately, students at his high school did too. He was bullied and cast out of the usual social structure for being different, said Chase, speaking on the topic of “Breaking Out of the Bubble,” at a luncheon hosted by Trinity’s Education Department through the Alexander DeJong Center for Special Education.

This experience prompted Chase to begin to moving forward, with the understanding that his view of life was always going to have a distinct perspective. This led him to research, writing, publishing, and presenting his findings so children with autism, their parents, friends, and communities can benefit from his first-hand experiences and understanding of how autistic people can grow to maximum independence.

According to Chase, autism is a term that is applied to a very broad spectrum of individuals, and it is important to remember that autism impacts and affects each individual’s view of everyday experiences and conversations in completely different ways. Chase demonstrated this by giving the example of the casual and over-used vernacular of one person passing another and asking, “How are you doing?” To most people, that calls for a simple answer, usually a response of “Fine.” However, a person with autism may process the question literally and respond with a detailed answer such as, “Well, I’m a little nervous today. My cat is sick and I’m just getting over a cold.”

Having autism may result in experiencing the world in a unique and personal way. While this can apply to many areas, individuals with autism tend to experience change differently. Since life is rarely predictable, individuals with autism may find that change can be tougher to handle.

Chase describes his experience with autism as having a different life clock.  Understanding this was vital to a successful mentoring of other individuals with autism. For example, he didn’t get his driver’s license until he was 27. This resulted in part from the well-intentioned people in his life who protected him from experiencing failure. The steps in completing his driving lessons were challenging for him, because as a person with autism, he had not experienced many opportunities to fail. Oftentimes, parents with children without autism allow their children to fail in their everyday lives in school, in relationships, and sports, whereas children with autism are often protected from these experiences. This results in children with autism not learning how to deal with failure. And as Chase noted, “Humans fail all the time. Every day we fail in several things we do. From those failures, we learn that failure is part of our day and our life and accept it and move on. Individuals with autism should be allowed do the same,” he said.

Chase offered attendees several tips to understand how to support those with autism to succeed in adulthood. As we mentor, parent or befriend a person with autism, it is important to not only learn about their individual traits, talents, and goals, but also to understand how to support an adult with autism in such a way that maximizes their possibilities and independence.

Chase suggested:

1. Plan long term (So change can be gradual and not frightening)
2. Start early (Make sure you communicate what is coming and why)
3. Take small steps towards being uncomfortable (So they understand that its part of everyday life)
4. Push yourself in small ways. (Planning, communicating, guiding, and allowing some failure along the route is OK)

Chase emphasized that individuals with autism often lack the opportunities to safely fail that others take for granted. Small bits of failure slowly built into their lives can help them transition successfully to adulthood. “Everyone has to do something uncomfortable every day, even people with autism,” he said. This statement underlined his focus that small steps taken over time make a difference towards success. As he ended his lecture, he closed with a powerful reminder that not only applies to people with Autistic Spectrum Disorder, but to everyone: “Being uncomfortable can’t kill you.”

Jonathan Chase is a Portland, Ore., resident, autism activist and professional bass player. He is a board member of the Autism Society of Oregon (ASO). He also lectures on ways to improve the lives of those with Autism and has also authored “From Surviving to Thriving, Classroom Accommodations for Students on the Autism Spectrum.” Learn more about his work here

Friday, September 21, 2018 marks Trinity’s annual Stardust Jazz Night, an evening of wonderful talent and beautiful jazz music.  This year’s concert will feature the musical talents of Trinity’s Jazz Ensemble—a group of student instrumentalists—and the Kevin Brown Quartet—a professional jazz band from the Chicago area.

According to Kyli Ayers, ’21, who was involved in planning the activities surrounding the Stardust Jazz Night, “the concert is a valuable Trinity tradition because it gives students a chance to experience a new or different type of music for a night.” This event is a great way to cultivate appreciation for jazz.  “Plus,” added Ayers, “it’s a great chance to hear professional musicians, which isn’t an opportunity that comes around every day.”

In addition to the love of jazz and the experience of listening to professional musicians, Stardust Jazz Night will once again feature refreshments and the opportunity to dress up for a more formal occasion. An hour of pre-concert socialization takes place starting at 6 pm.

All Trinity students are encouraged to attend this event, one of Trinity’s most beloved traditions, which will be held at Kallemeyn Theatre in the Art and Communication Center.  More information about Stardust Jazz Night can be found here.

A new organization on Trinity’s campus called Cooperativity: Science and Religion Club launched its first event, a discussion entitled “Does Animal Testing Further the Kingdom of God?” on Sept. 12. This friendly debate presented two well-explained arguments on the topic.

Dr. Robert Boomsma, Ph.D., Professor of Biology and Chair of the Science Departments, argued that animal testing was ethically and morally acceptable, under the right conditions. While asserting that animals deserve respect as part of creation, the crux of his argument fell on the idea that we are created in the image of God; animals aren’t. “That effects a different relationship with God, and I think it affects our moral responsibilities, as well,” said Boomsma.

Boomsma’s fellow panelist Dr. Cini Bretzlaff-Holstein, DSW, Associate Professor of Social Work, Director of the Social Work Program and Department Chair, took the opposite stance. She countered that animal testing is not morally justified because animals have God-given rights and belong to God rather than humans. She argued that our role as humans is not to dominate animals but to care for them. “This care is a reflection of God’s empathy and compassion, a fulfillment of God’s plan for us as humans,” she said.

In an interview after the discussion, both professors reflected that this event was a positive and encouraging experience. Bretzlaff-Holstein remarked, “Being invited to be a part of this conversation means a lot because my colleagues and I respect what each person brings to the table, and we’re even able to find some commonality.” Boomsma echoed this sentiment, saying “There were two people here—both Christians—who had different views, but we were able to sit down and talk about it. And it shows that we’re really not as far apart as what it appears.”

The debate about animal testing was a thought-provoking cross-disciplinary event. Cooperativity president Emily Homman ’20, said that the event was exemplary of what the organization hopes to do in the future. “We have two books to interpret God’s plan for us,” said Homman. “One is the Bible, and one is creation. Cooperativity is about bringing them together, so we can get a whole picture of what God is doing and what God wants us to do.”

Cooperativity’s next event, “The Language Around Climate Change,” is scheduled for Wed., Sept. 26 in the Vermeer Fireside Room with Dr. Bosscher and Dr. Keeley-Jonker.

–By Emma Darcy ’19

This year, the United States observes the 231^st anniversary of the signing of the Constitution on September 17, 1787. Trinity commemorated Constitution Day with student readings from American founding documents and important speeches:

— Caleb Last: The Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776; and The Constitution of the United States, Sept. 17, 1787

— Sarah LeMahieu: The Bill of Rights, Dec. 15, 1791

— Alex Herrera: Frederick Douglass, “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” July 5, 1852

— Evie Dykhouse: Abraham Lincoln, “The Gettysburg Address,” Nov. 19, 1863; Amendments 13, 14, and 15, 1865-1870

— Caroline Lostutter: Anna Howard Shaw, “The Fundamental Principle of a Republic,” June 21, 1915; Amendment 19, Aug. 18, 1920; and Amendment 26, July 1, 1971

— Matt Koerner: Gerald R. Ford’s remarks upon taking the oath of office, Aug. 9, 1974

— Kynasia Hughlett: Barack Obama’s First Inaugural Address, Jan. 8, 2008

The event was sponsored by HAS (Historical Association of Students—the History Club) and the Departments of History and Political Science.

Trinity is proud to announce a 100% pass rate on the Learning Behavior Specialist II: Behavior Intervention Specialist Exam for cohort 4! Cohort 4 consisted of 9 graduate students eligible to sit for the exam. All 9 students passed the exam the first time taking it, and will now have the LBS II: Behavior Intervention Specialist endorsement added to their teaching license.

“I’m proud of the students for, yet again, achieving a 100% pass rate on this exam,” said Dr. Sara Baillie, Director of the Graduate Program in Special Education- Behavior Intervention Specialist. “I am optimistic for this group of students to continue their education throughout the next year in their practicum sites.”

As part of the Master of Arts in Special Education: Behavior Intervention program, most students take two exams. The LBS II exam is taken after the first year in the program, leading to the endorsement. Secondly, the students who complete the entire program will be eligible to sit for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst Examination® (BCBA) in August 2019 after graduating in spring 2019.

Congratulations to all members of cohort 4 on their accomplishment!

If you like to scrapbook while supporting a good cause, the Grand Lobby of Ozinga Chapel is the place to be this weekend.

On Friday, Sept. 14 and Saturday, Sept. 15, Trinity Women’s Organization (TWO) is hosting its annual scrapbooking event. This time of fun and creativity begins Friday evening, from 6 pm to 10 pm. It picks up again on Saturday for an all-day event from 9 am to 9 pm. Saturday participation includes lunch, dinner, treats, goodie bags, and even prizes! There will also be vendors and scrapbooking classes available to help participants fill their scrapbook with high-quality pages.

Anyone in high school or older is welcome to attend by purchasing a scrapbooking table of either four feet or eight feet in length. These tables, which vary in price depending on the size and day of use, will provide space to lay out supplies and create scrapbooks. In accordance with their passion for serving Trinity, TWO offers a special discount for current Trinity students: only $25 for the entire day on Saturday.

The annual scrapbooking event is not only a perfect opportunity to express your creativity, but also an excellent way to help TWO support Trinity students through the gift of scholarship. More information about this event can be found here.

TWO is a volunteer organization of women who endeavor to make a difference in the lives of Trinity students. Its mission is to “encourage and uplift students while raising funds for student scholarships.”

Trinity’s Theatre Department is proud to announce the Third Annual 24-Hour Theatre Project, a fun and engaging challenge for various members of the College’s community. The project begins on Friday, Sept. 21 and wraps up with performances on Saturday, Sept. 22 at 8 pm and 10 pm.

The 24-Hour Theatre Project is a novel trend in the world of theatre, but it has quickly become an annual staple for many high school and college programs across America.  In this activity, theatre-makers work together to create brand new plays—from writing to rehearsal to performance—in the span of 24 hours.  This is a major challenge, but one that brings with it much excitement and entertainment, according to participants.

For Trinity’s third annual event, current students from all majors, alumni, staff, and faculty will come together to write, direct, act, and provide technical support for six original plays.  These plays, which will be written overnight on the evening prior to performance, will all respond to a photograph taken by a member of the Trinity community.  Last year’s photographer, Claire Sukamto ‘19, said, “Being the inspiration for multiple plays that each had an interesting and unique point of view really blew my mind.  It showed me new perspectives and interpretations I had never thought of before.”

Not only does the 24-Hour Theatre Project connect to Trinity students; it also extends a hand of hospitality to high school students in the surrounding area.  Trinity has formed a partnership with multiple high schools in and around our Palos Heights, Ill., campus to place several students on the project teams, both as actors and as techs.

“This project offers people the chance to practice creative problem-solving while investigating how to understand and tell a dramatic story well,” said Dr. John Sebestyen, Associate Professor of Communication Arts and Director of Theatre at Trinity.  “It expands our perspective, experience, and understanding.”

All members of the Trinity community are encouraged to attend either performance on Sept. 22. More information is available here.