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The task of planning and coordinating the move move of the Gustav Jeeninga Museum, with particular emphasis on the aesthetic installation and visuals of the renovations falls on Tai Lipan, the director of galleries. This responsibility has been taken up in addition to overseeing the Wilson Gallery and the Warner Sallman Collection.

Dr. David Murphy was named the director of the museum in 2017, following the retirement of David Neidert, who had run the museum since 1992.

In the fall of 2018, Lipan approached Murphy with ideas for improving the museum by moving it to the ground floor of York gallery, formerly occupied by the Gaither Exhibit that honored the achievements and musical journey of Bill and Gloria Gaither.

“We were sort of kicking around ideas early on, then when the Gaither Exhibition ended in the downstairs gallery, I felt strongly that we needed to do something more permanent and installed with that space,” said Lipan. “It’s expensive to have a rotating gallery like the Wilson Gallery.”

That thought was soon drafted into a proposal for AU administrators, which would turn into a request for the Falls Departmental Initiative Grant. This grant is part of an endowment by Glenn and Ruth Falls, which provides funding for departments to take on initiatives constructive to long-term growth.

The Jeeninga Museum renovations project received the full grant, greenlighting the months-long process that began this semester.

Giving Lipan the green light moved her to seek out inspiration from galleries across the world.

“I looked at the visuals of every museum known to man, because you can do that these days easily,” said Lipan. “It’s brilliant.”

While the budget gave Lipan room to improve the museum, there are still monetary constraints given the high costs of exhibits and displays. As an example, she said that the grant would have fully funded the cost of only one new case for the installation.

“I wanted to make sure that we could reuse the old cases,” said Lipan. “New cases just weren’t doable, nor do I think they’re necessary. I like to see how to problem solve our way out of needing that and reuse materials already there.

“I weirdly love remodeling kitchens, I like building and cabinets– built-in things– it’s what I do,” said Lipan. “So I feel weirdly capable of making this look good in the end.”

The construction will continue over the summer in anticipation of a fall 2019 opening.

The Jeeninga Museum renovations include more than just physical work on the case installation and display of artifacts, as Lipan and Murphy are in the process of updating the content for the reopening.

“I cannot tell you how many doctoral papers on Levantine pottery I’ve read in the last week,” said Lipan. “It’s a lot and it’s not anything anyone would ever, ever want to read.”

This approach is different from the Wilson Gallery, where Lipan first works with tangible objects and their physical arrangements, drawing from her sense of aesthetic.

“I believe in the visual as much as the content research,” said Lipan. “No matter how good the content is, if people don’t want to look at it then it’s not going to work, and vice versa.”

Many of the artifacts are in storage, and Lipan aims to eventually get every piece researched and displayed. This presents a unique opportunity for archival experience for students in public history.

“You have to learn the art of making it digestible to normal humans,” said Lipan. “Public history is a public-facing forum: you’re the liaison between all the academic content and people’s impression of it.”

Vol. 15 Andersonian Apr. 17, 2019

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South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg formally announced his campaign for the Democratic presidential primary on Sunday, April 14. More than 4,000 attended the train dock, with another estimated 1,500 in…

South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg formally announced his campaign for the Democratic presidential primary on Sunday, April 14.

More than 4,000 attended the train dock, with another estimated 1,500 in an overflow area with a large outdoor display, watching the event via livestream.

Before formally making his announcement, Buttigieg and his husband, Chasten, briefly spoke to the overflow crowd in the rain.

“I am impressed by the people standing inside,” Buttigieg said to the crowd. “I am moved by the people standing outside. This is what the beginning of a new American spring looks like.”

Buttigieg aimed to channel a message of hope and change.

“It is time to walk away from the politics of the past and towards something totally different,” Buttigieg said in his formal announcement speech. “So that’s why I’m here today. My name is Pete Buttigieg, they call me Mayor Pete. I am a proud son of South Bend, Indiana, and I am running for president of the United States.”

The event took place in the historic Studebaker plant in the city’s downtown in order to accommodate the inclement weather conditions, though the choice of location was intentional.

Thousands of high-paying jobs at Studebaker were lost after the automobile manufacturer folded, echoing the same tale of industrial decay felt across the Midwest.

Buttigieg has worked with industry partners to reinvigorate South Bend’s economy, turning the hollow industrial park into a tech incubator, a symbol of the 37-year-old mayor’s vision for America.

Buttigieg joins a crowded Democratic primary of 19 candidates, but has seen a surge in support after announcing an exploratory committee in January.

Since the end of March, Buttigieg has been gaining in the polls, firmly situated among other top contenders Beto O’Rourke, Sen. Kamala Harris and Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

Buttigieg was baptized and raised in the Roman Catholic church. He is now a member of the Episcopalian church.

He frames his 2020 presidential platform as “the exact opposite of Donald Trump,” drawing on his Midwestern mayoral experience and progressive values.

The motto for his campaign is: “It’s time for a new generation of American leadership.”

Buttigieg supports a single-payer health care system, unionized labor, a federal LGBT non-discrimination amendment and abolishing the electoral college.

In 2009, while working at management consulting firm McKinsey & Company, Buttigieg entered the Navy Reserve as a naval intelligence officer.

First elected as mayor of South Bend in 2011 at the age of 29 with 74 percent of the vote, one of his signature programs has been the “Vacant and Abandoned Properties Initiative.”

This program aimed to rehabilitate or demolish more than 1,000 properties in the city with the declared purpose of transforming these lots into productive assets and to strengthen neighborhoods.

Mayor Buttigieg has also led the city to invest $50 million into the previously neglected public parks.

In 2014, Buttigieg was deployed for seven months to serve in Afghanistan as a lieutenant, and he remained in the reserve until 2017.

During the 2015 controversy over Indiana Senate Bill 101, otherwise known as the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, Buttigieg publicly came out as gay. He went on to win his reelection later that year with 80 percent of the vote.

Vol. 76, No. 15 Andersonian Apr. 17, 2019

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The Flagship Enterprise Center has announced that Dr. Terry Truitt, dean of the Falls School of Business, will begin serving as the chief executive officer as of June 1. School administrators…

The Flagship Enterprise Center has announced that Dr. Terry Truitt, dean of the Falls School of Business, will begin serving as the chief executive officer as of June 1.

School administrators have not yet concluded who will fill Truitt’s position, but are examining the next steps of the process. The president, provost and faculty are working together to determine where to search and whether an interim candidate is needed.

The FEC wanted Truitt to start in March, but has worked with the university to accomodate students and faculty allowing him to see the current term to its end.

“For me to move from this role is very difficult for me on an emotional basis,” said Truitt. “It is probably one of the hardest things I’ve had to decide to do, but I do believe that I can serve the university better in the role that I’m taking.”

In a press release, FEC Chairman Dennis Carroll said that after a thorough search process, Truitt was recommended by the search committee and subsequently endorsed by the board unanimously.

“Dr. Truitt is committed to the FEC mission and we have every confidence that his experience, skill set, and humble, collaborative style will provide the leadership we need,” he said.

Truitt will be succeeding Charles Staley, who held the position from the formation of the FEC in 2003 up until his retirement at the end of last year.

The FEC is a public-private partnership between the city of Anderson and the university initiated in 2003 and was conceived to spark investment and create business opportunities in the wake of the withdrawal of General Motors.

The business incubator aims to educate and nurture entrepreneurs in the community by providing resources, networking and capital. Programs such as Bankable, a nonprofit lender started in 2005, helps grow businesses into being qualified for traditional bank funding.

The organization aims to be apolitical, and it has established this by having seven of the 11 directors appointed by the president of AU and remaining four by the mayor of the city.

With the move to the FEC, Truitt will maintain the same dedication to support university.

Given the symbiotic relationship between the city and the university, each community will benefit from the prosperity of the other.

“My focus there will be a lot more on economic development and how to help people at that level as opposed to helping people here as students,” said Truitt. “I’m still very much about enabling others to succeed.”

Truitt, who was born in Alabama in the Baptist tradition, was not at all connected to the Church of God, the university, or the city before coming to AU. After nearly 25 years, he has grown to really appreciate the campus community and the city as well as the Church of God.

“There are very compelling things about all three of those that are a part of me, part of my life, and a part of my heart in many ways,” he said.

Truitt worked seven years for Zales Jewelers as a regional business manager until attending Mississippi State University for his doctorate of business administration in 1992.

After finishing his studies, he began to look for teaching opportunities in higher education, and came across an ad for AU.

“I’d never heard of Anderson University before, but I thought it would be good for me to serve on the mission field for two or three years,” he said. “I came here to give up myself for a little bit.”

In 1995, he joined AU as a faculty member, and after two years was asked to serve as the director of the MBA program. “I agreed to do it for one year and I did it for six.”

In 2003, Truitt was selected to be dean of the Falls School of Business and has seen significant growth in the MBA and DBA programs.

Under Truitt’s leadership, a special emphasis has been placed on unity and he has kept a growing and increasingly diverse school as one department, even as far as bringing graduate and undergraduate students together.

“When I came here in ‘95, they were beginning to really have strong conversations about how they would grow and build things,” Truitt said. “I just love that.”

“I very much had a sense of calling to come here,” he said.

Truitt also was swayed by AU’s emphasis on teaching students to be the salt and light of the world. “Our intent is to do the best we can to model salt and light for our students and then find ways in which they can do the same.”

Vol. 76, No. 14 Andersonian Apr. 3, 2019

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The Alley Theatre’s production of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew premieres Thursday, March 14, at the Anderson Museum of Art. The production takes classic Shakespeare and gives it a narrativ…

The Alley Theatre’s production of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew premieres Thursday, March 14, at the Anderson Museum of Art.

The production takes classic Shakespeare and gives it a narrative twist, recounting the story of love and trickery underneath a big- top tent.

The comedy follows a plucky Lucentio in his pursuit of Bianca, a fair woman who cannot marry until her head-strong older sister, Katherine, finds a suitor. Lucentio encourages the rich man Petruchio to woo Katherine and in turn free Bianca to marry.

Directed by Kay Winter, an AU alum and teacher at Anderson High School, the presentation of the material has shifted focus away from the traditional theme of feminine discipline toward one of personal betterment.

“I wanted people to come to watch this and not think of it as a play about a man ‘taming’ a woman,” Winter says. “I wanted them to come and see it as I believe Shakespeare intended it to be—that all the characters in the play are reinventing themselves in one way or another.”

The addition of the circus environment emphasizes this theme of self-discovery. As Winter says the circus “is the one place where anyone can become anything they want to be.”

“Things have changed with the #MeToo movement,” Winter says. “I wanted to make sure that the audience could really tell that this isn’t about dominating another person—this is about reinventing yourself.”

Winter says that a local performance can provide an escape from campus.

“The Alley Theatre is an awesome experience for students to get away from campus and work with people who aren’t just AU people.” Winter says. “It extends their theatre family.”

The show is comprised of a local cast that ranges from first-time actors to seasoned professionals, and stars two AU students, Juli Biagi as Bianca and Isaac Derkach as Tranio. The show marks the first role in a Shakespeare play for the junior musical theatre majors.

“It’s been hard, of course, because it’s not language that we use nowadays,” says Biagi. “As you know what you’re talking about it makes it that much more exciting.”

Biagi said that the show represents and encourages women to be who they truly are.

“Putting on this show is actually empowering for women to be who they naturally are,” says Biagi. “I think it’s really interesting to learn the different ways that we’re making the show our own. It has been a really fun experience.”

Participating in Anderson community theatre has provided opportunities to grow and connect with thespians of varying ages and backgrounds, a striking contrast to productions put on at the university.

For Biagi, being involved with the Alley Theatre has exposed her to talented people who volunteer their time to the arts.

“Learning by experience from others is enriching my experience here,” says Biagi.

In addition to the Shakespeare roles, each actor has been assigned a complimenting circus role. For Tranio, played by Derkach, the trait of quick-witted deceit will be characterized through the sleight-of-hand of a magician.

“With the idea of a magician in mind, it gives Tranio a new life to me,” says Derkach. “It makes him more than just a servant. He is someone who is willing to go the extra mile for their best friend.”

Derkach said that the artistic location of the performance adds a different perspective.

“The museum is one of the most gorgeous performance venues that I’ve ever been in,” says Derkach. “There is the big dome and there is photography everywhere, so having the big loud colors of our production juxtaposed with all this photography that we’re surrounded by is just really visually appealing and cool to be part of.”

Derkach has worked with the Alley Theatre in the past, providing dramaturgy for last season’s production of Yasmina Reza’s Art directed by David Coolidge.

The job involved breaking down the script, contextualizing the history and identifying running themes for the cast and crew members of the show.

The theatre is an arm of Central Christian Church in downtown Anderson and has been in operation since 2014. Hosting a production of Shakespeare at the museum has been the traditional season closer for the company, harkening back to its first production, Macbeth.

Rick Vale is the artistic director of the company and plays the role of Bianca’s father Baptista. In April, Vale will be directing the Boze Lyric Theatre’s production of Marc Camoletti’s Boeing, Boeing at Byrum Hall.

This season has seen an increased collaboration between AU and the Alley Theatre, primarily through the cast of students, which included Sam Lynch and Skyla Bruno in William Inge’s Picnic in February. This is the product of the intentional professional relationship between both organizations coordinated by Vale and Coolidge.

“This year we made sure that students were available to audition,” says Vale, a retired professional actor from Seattle. “That has opened up a door that has been really great for us. It has been a very positive relationship. I’m just sorry that they have to go to school. If I could get them out of class, I could work with them all the time.”

When moving to the Midwest, Vale had not anticipated the activity or caliber of community theatre in the small city of Anderson, Indiana.

“It is surprising the amount of talent that is here,” he says. “Everybody who comes to theatre either here or at Mainstage is astounded by the high quality.”

The Taming of the Shrew marks the end of the Alley’s fifth season that began in November, which has been a season celebrating female directors.

The premiere of The Taming of the Shrew will be at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 14. AU students with valid ID can purchase discounted tickets for price $5. The regular price of admission per ticket is $10.

Additional showtimes will be at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 15, and Saturday, March 16, with a final matinee show at 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 17.

Vol. 76, No. 13 Andersonian Mar. 13, 2019

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Former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft will be delivering a public address on Wednesday, March 6, at 7:30 p.m. in York Performance Hall and speaking in chapel the following day, Thursday, March…

Ashcroft served as governor and senator for the state of Missouri before being nominated for the cabinet position by George W. Bush in 2000. He would head the Department of Justice between 2001 and 2005, at the height of the US response to 9/11.

President John Pistole says that it is an honor to host Ashcroft, calling him a “distinguished public servant.”

“He is a man of integrity and a strong advocate for Christian higher education who has ‘been there, done that,’” said Pistole.

Dr. Michael Frank, professor of political science, has been involved in arranging Ashcroft’s visit.

“We’ve been talking about bringing Ashcroft here for two or three years,” said Frank. “This turned out to be the right time.”

Frank says that, although most students do not remember the events of 9/11, the event has affected the way the U.S. handles issues of national security.

“I know that the average student attending AU right now has no recollection of 9/11,” he said. “But the impact that 9/11 has had on our intelligence community and our homeland security is profound.”

Frank encourages students to take advantage of the opportunity to engage with someone who was present in the decision-making process of some of the most important changes to the U.S. national security environment.

As attorney general, Ashcroft played a major role in several reforms, “not the least of which is the Patriot Act, which is very much the handiwork of Ashcroft.”

While Ashcroft was not in charge of the National Security Agency’s metadata collection program, as head of the DOJ he had to sign off on it as it would involve American citizens in contact with foreign nationals.

Both of these were deeply controversial at the time and they continue to be subject to intense debate and criticism.

“He was on the frontlines of some of the most controversial steps taken by the executive branch post 9/11 in order to create a more homeland for U.S. citizens,” said Frank. “I hope that our students really address that. How do you make a decision about the trade-off between our rights to privacy and our needs for security?”

Ashcroft joins a long list of distinguished public servants who have visited AU in the last two years, including Eric Holder, James Clapper, John Brennan and Robert Mueller.

There will be a student briefing session for department majors offered during this visit, which is a unique opportunity that Frank intentionally makes for students. One hour of each visitor’s schedule is dedicated to answering questions from students studying national security.

“Students get unprecedented access to key policymakers,” Frank said. “You would have to be one of the best of the best students at one of the elite universities on the east coast to get that kind of access. Here, our students get this in the middle of central Indiana.”

These encounters provide a real benefit for students. Senior officials typically portrayed as larger-than-life in the news are often times humanized through these experiences.

“Eric Holder was making jokes with our students,” said Frank. He also said Holder was impressed by the students and has spoken highly of AU.

“It’s really important that students realize that they can actually hold their own sitting in a room with that kind of person,” said Frank.

“There is a sense of confidence from being able to experience something that is going to benefit students in the long-run.”

Mikki Moore, a junior national securities and criminal justice major, was one of the selected students for the briefing session with former Attorney General Holder last September.

“He was really laid-back and humble,” Moore said of Holder.

“I think one of the biggest realizations for me is that they are human too,” she said. “They’re just like us. You know, someday that might be me or that might be one of my classmates.”

Moore remembers the most influential things she learned from Holder.

“One of my favorite things that he said is that your worldview impacts everything that you do, so you have to think really carefully about what you want to be remembered for,” said Moore. “That was something that really influenced me in how I have been trying to make my decisions, not only career-wise but also in my personal life.”

Moore believes it will be interesting to compare her experience with Holder to her experience with Ashcroft.

“I’m looking forward to comparing and contrasting the two,” she said. “It’s a crazy opportunity to meet two different attorneys general.”

Vol. 76, No. 12 Andersonian Feb. 27 2019

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The AU admitted students event is returning to Student Orientation and Registration, SOAR for short, after a number of years billed as Raven 101. The change follows Student Life handing it back to…

The AU admitted students event is returning to Student Orientation and Registration, SOAR for short, after a number of years billed as Raven 101.

The change follows Student Life handing it back to the admissions office. SOAR will be offered on March 9, April 27 and May 18 with afternoon celebration events, and a last registration-only day will be on August 2.

The initial change to Raven 101 was made when former First-Year Experience Director Lisa Horst came to AU. Andrew Lehr now holds this position.

“Our admissions counselors were all actively involved with Student Life last year,” says Paula Blount, the admissions visit team manager who has been at AU for four years. “Lisa’s team put out a great survey to get feedback last year.”

“It’s been great to work with Student Life and talk through things that worked last year and what didn’t work, finding things to tweak.”

The new program will blend elements from the registration-focused Raven 101 and the residence life experience of Admitted Students Weekend.

These changes reflect a growing emphasis on campus life and cultural diversity, culminating in a fair highlighting all of campus life.

Some of the breakout sessions will send students and parents into tailored sessions, such as a spiritual life and an all-parent panel.

Morning sessions will show videos to introduce the faces and personalities of faculty involved in campus life and other services. This has previously been executed through individual presentations.

“We want to do that intro video at the beginning of the day,” says Blount. “When it’s time for the Campus Life Fair, they’ll remember ‘Hey, I saw Mike Thigpen in that video, I want to stop by his table.’”

“It takes a lot of departments and a lot of people on campus,” she says. “We’re excited to partner with these different departments.”

Vol. 76, No. 11 Andersonian Feb. 20, 2019

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Each spring, Impact Your World week offers students opportunities to engage in community service and inspire spiritual growth. This year’s featured guest speaker is Shane Claiborne, an activist and…

Each spring, Impact Your World week offers students opportunities to engage in community service and inspire spiritual growth.

This year’s featured guest speaker is Shane Claiborne, an activist and author who emphasizes a ministry of nonviolence and service to the poor. Claiborne is the founder of Simply Way in Philadelphia, which is part of the New Monastic movement.

Campus Pastor Tamara Shelton is responsible for organizing Impact Your World week and booking speakers like Claiborne.

“I anticipate that students, as well as faculty and staff, will be challenged by Shane’s way of life, worldview and activism,” says Shelton.

This year’s focus on involvement includes a shift from chapel services to service projects through Community Builders, which is a campus ministry that seeks to get students off campus and into the city of Anderson to help others.

“One of the ways that we impact our world is to serve those around us,” says Shelton. “Not only does serving together help meet some of the needs of the community, but it also draws us together as a community.”

Community Builders, formerly known as Operation Foundation, is currently coordinated by senior Dave Bailey.

While this year’s spiritual life theme, “Flourish,” is not explicitly tied into Impact Your World week, Shelton stressed the connection between positive influence and the concept of flourishing.

“We have come to discover this year that flourishing involves growth and transformation,” says Shelton. “Impact Your World week is another opportunity for us to grow together.”

The Thursday convocation, titled Impact Anderson, is a platform for local ministries and organizations to reach out to AU students and spread their message. This year will bring in Dr. Kimberly Majeski, former campus pastor who is currently teaching Biblical studies, and her ministry Stripped Love.

The organization, founded in 2010, supports and advocates for victims of sex trafficking, and aims to love and minister to women in the sex trade. The Polaris Project, a private organization committed to combating and preventing human trafficking, has classified the I-69 corridor from Indianapolis to Muncie and the Highway 31 corridor between Indianapolis to Kokomo as “red zones” for trafficking.

Shelton has a passion for organizing Impact Your World week and encouraging students to engage in community service and spiritual growth.

“These weeks provide a time for us to intentionally engage with our spiritual journey, individually and as a community, in unique ways,” she said. “It is exciting to put various opportunities in place and then sit back and see what God does.”

Monday, Feb. 18

6 p.m. service with Shane Claiborne

Tuesday, Feb. 19

11 a.m. chapel with Shane Claiborne

12 p.m. lunch with Shane Claiborne

Thursday, Feb. 20

11 a.m. chapel with Dr. Kimberly Majeski (Stripped Love)

Saturday, Feb. 22

9 a.m. service project with Community Builders

Vol. 76, No. 10 Andersonian Feb. 6, 2019

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A polar vortex is a low-pressure area that expands from the northern arctic and into the south, leading to an outbreak of cold temperatures. Last week brought these extreme conditions in full swing…

The polar vortex on Wednesday, January 30 produced wind gusts up to 36 mph, had sustained winds of around 27 mph and a low of negative 13 degrees. This falls well below the historical average for the end of January in Anderson, which has hovered around a high of 35 degrees and a low of 20 degrees.

The decision to close the campus due to weather is a rare occurrence, and significant caution is taken regarding the safety of students and university employees. AU’s risk management team assesses situations that pose safety concerns and consult senior faculty including President John Pistole, Provost Marie Morris and Dean Chris Confer.“We want all of our students to be safe and secure at all times,” says Confer.

The decision to close the school was made late Monday afternoon after closely monitoring weather updates until the forecast was certain.

The official announcement that AU would be closed was made public on January 28 through a publication on the university’s website, which was then shared over social media and the local news.

Notification of the shutdown was disseminated to students through the Anderson U app on Tuesday.

The university offered shuttling services for students, consisting of four vans that ran students from residences to the Marketplace for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

While the campus itself was closed, university dormitories and apartments were still occupied, which left plenty of time for community building.

Concern for students brought some faculty members back to campus, to complete administrative tasks and check on the well-being of the students.

“I spent most of it with my wife and daughter as they also had the day off,” says Confer. “However, I did come to campus, and I walked through the halls to make sure that things were okay.”

Dr. Morris, who lives close to campus, also came to work in her office.

On the day of the shutdown, Resident Director Dillon Lockwood extended an impromptu invitation to residents of Fair Commons to join him in his apartment for pancakes, coffee and good company.

“I’m sure if people were in their rooms all day, they would feel restless unless they already had stuff planned,” said Lockwood. “I thought it would be really fun to open my apartment up.”

Lockwood has been looking for more ways to get involved with his residents, hoping to host more students in the future.

“I like making pancakes, so I sent an email to the whole building of Fair Commons. I had a movie going on in the background as well,” says Lockwood.

With the help of his RA staff, Lockwood shared tips in advance of the polar vortex for conquering the cold and preparing vehicles for the weather.

“We knew there was a storm coming up, and Ashleigh Allison reached out to me talking sending out some tips on how to safe, stay warm and keep your car in good shape during times like that,” he says.

This is the third such shutdown due to extreme cold since 2010, the last time that the university was closed for these conditions was almost exactly five years ago, on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2014.

Lockwood was a freshman living in Smith Hall at the time.

“I feel like it was a lot warmer in 2014 than it was this year,” he says. “I remember it being the colder the day we had classes than the day we didn’t.”

While Lockwood does not remember any organized activities in the dorm that year, he distinctly recalls the strong sense of community he had with his fourth floor peers, and the winter weather that brought them closer together.

Vol. 76, No. 10 Andersonian Feb. 6, 2019

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On Wednesday, Dec. 3, AU welcomed Kelly Ayotte to campus. Ayotte is a former senator representing New Hampshire where she sat on the Committee of Armed Services and the Committee of Commerce, Scie…

On Wednesday, Dec. 3, AU welcomed Kelly Ayotte to campus.

Ayotte is a former senator representing New Hampshire where she sat on the Committee of Armed Services and the Committee of Commerce, Science and Transportation, among others.

President John Pistole, as administrator of the Transportation Security Administration, reported to the commerce committee for Congressional oversight.

The former senator is an expert on issues of national security and previously served as the first female attorney general for the state of New Hampshire.

Ayotte met with students as a guest in a national security class and in a briefing session with department majors.

A public address was held in Reardon lobby, and she shared stories of her friendship with the late Senator John McCain, her experience as a Republican woman in Congress, the importance of bipartisan leadership and her role as sherpa of Justice Neil Gorsuch’s confirmation process.

Vol. 76, No. 8 Andersonian Dec. 5, 2018

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Freshman roommate assignments can be a daunting experience laden with anxiety and questions about who the invisible hand of residence life “matched” you with. Many fear the worst: for all they know, that match could be the type of person who streams video late into the night, constantly has their significant other over or leaves the room a messy warzone of dirty laundry and food wrappers. This person could very well become your worst enemy, or, if you are fortunate, your best friend.

The story of Eli Cooke and Aaron Hughey began as many AU students: meeting for the first time over the summer before their freshman orientation. Living on the second floor of Dunn, their room became adorned with band flags and bean bags as the two bonded over a shared passion for music.

“We’re both introverts, so it took a second at first, but we both opened up and became good friends,” says Hughey.

The random room assignment resulted in a blossoming bromance.

“Eli’s the best kind of weird,” says Hughey.

“Aaron is really mellow,” says Cooke. “He takes care of me way more than I take care of him. Sometimes he cleans out my fridge.”

Their mutual desire to make music sparked the idea of a collaborative project, which lead to weekly jam sessions and is finally coming to fruition as a creative record after three semesters.

“When I moved in and saw Aaron’s guitar, I looked at him and said, “Let’s do a heckin’ collab,’” says Cooke.

“It started out as a joke,” says Hughey, “one of those one-in-a-million ideas we could do.”

The still-untitled duo Cooke and Hughey hope to release this year is titled “And They Were Roommates” in reference to the popular Vine. The project will be a split EP with Cooke and Hughey each contributing around five of their own songs.

“A split was the easiest way to go,” says Hughey. “We don’t have the pressure of having an entire album and doing everything by ourselves.”

Between classes and extracurriculars, Cooke, a music composition major, and Hughey, an English major, have been frequenting Orangehaus Records.

The university provides many resources as a platform for aspiring songwriters and musicians, including the recording studio of Orangehaus Records. Nestled in the second story of Fine Arts is a door with a bright logo proclaiming its home. A mere two-minute walk from Dunn, the two have taken to this studio to work on their project.

The studio functions as a space for songwriters and musicians to learn the ropes of the recording industry, from recording to mixing, promoting and publishing music under the house label.

The student-run company is one of few university-affiliated professional labels in the country, and has given a platform for artists including Jon McLaughlin, Joshua Powell and Jansen Hogan of the WLDLFE.

The multi-instrumentalist roommates have been recording since September and describe the project as emo indie punk and math rock.

Hughey says that the experience of using Orangehaus has been humbling.

“We’ve been blessed with having, hands-down one of the best studios anywhere, close by,” says Hughey. “I’m glad that we have the opportunity to make the most of it.”

Vol. 76, No. 6 Andersonian Oct. 31, 2018

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The fall production of “Violet” will open this weekend for homecoming and set the stage for meaningful conversations on heavy topics. The story follows a young woman, Violet, who suffers from a hor…

The fall production of “Violet” will open this weekend for homecoming and set the stage for meaningful conversations on heavy topics.

The story follows a young woman, Violet, who suffers from a horrible disfigurement because of an accident during her childhood.

With a heart full of hope, she leaves her small hometown in North Carolina to find healing from a televangelist in Tulsa, Oklahoma. As she travels through the deep south, she encounters two soldiers, Monty, a white paratrooper, and Flick, a black sergeant.

By the conclusion of her journey, Violet learns the meanings of beauty, love and courage in ways she was not expecting.

The show also contains a rotating ensemble cast that will accompany Violet, who is played by junior Juli Biagi, at each of the various stops as she travels by bus.

Biagi will be joined by sophomore Noah Robinson as Flick and junior Connor Thompson as Monty. The three musical theatre majors have developed chemistry that they convey through their performances.

“My favorite experience with the show has been working with my two co-leads,” says Thompson. “They’re very good friends of mine, and we have a lot of time on stage.”

While the cast has found comfort in working with each other, the play still contains difficult material for the actors to express.

“Violet is this really strong really, really tough person. She’s very real and very raw,” says Biagi. “I was worried that it might be too much emotionally to handle every night, but it’s been pleasantly surprising to play her, because I love her personality and ability to persevere.”

Doris Betts wrote the original short story, “The Ugliest Pilgrim,” in 1973 to tell a story about beauty. Violet struggles seeing herself past her own physical disfigurement, but learns to see herself and others for who they truly are, no matter their scars, age or color of skin.

Those parallels are made by the romance between Flick and Violet, as Flick tries to convince Violet that her appearance does not define her.

“Because Flick is an African-American soldier, he can identify with being looked at as less than everybody else,” says Robinson.

The 1997 musical adaption, with music by the acclaimed Jeanine Tesori and lyrics by Brian Crawley, emphasizes this message by further establishing itself in the middle of the civil rights movement, four months after the ratification of the Civil Right Act of 1964.

Violet is a significant selection for AU’s theatre program, not only for its contemporary nature, but also because of the way it presents serious issues.

The production contains adult themes and moments including charged racial slurs as it addresses issues of race and religion in a raw and honest light.

Director David Coolidge and conductor Dr. Fritz Robertson have presided over extensive dialogue between the cast and faculty over the use of offensive content such as the “N-word” and other profanities.

During this process, students have connected with each other and with the material, relating it back to their own personal experiences. The university aims to prepare young Christian artists for the entertainment industry, and Coolidge says that they have seen the cast grow spiritually as they have engaged with “Violet” and its themes.

Despite the potential reaction such content could draw from audiences, Coolidge hopes to use “Violet” as a catalyst for campus conversations about life on the edges of faith and artistry.

“We don’t choose challenging material for shock value, it’s carefully thought through and embarked upon with the very best of intentions,” says Coolidge.

Noah Robinson, who plays the black lead, wrote a personal letter to the administration in support of keeping the word in its context as a means to educate.

“‘Violet’ might bring up things that are rough to see, but it’s such a powerful show, and I think it’s one that needs to be told,” says Biagi. “Our cast is phenomenal. I’ve never been in a show, and I’ve never heard of a show, that’s quite like this one.”

“The theater often stands as a mirror for society. At times it reflects what we’d rather not see and other times offers a glimpse of what could be possible,” says Coolidge. “Our intention with ‘Violet’ is to provide an open door to begin the messy work of truly working through issues of race, faith and sexuality with honesty, empathy and openness.”

“Violet” premieres Saturday, Sept. 29 with a matinee at 2:30 p.m. in Byrum Hall. A talk-back session will be held after the premiere at 4:45 p.m. with patrons who wish to continue the dialogue over themes addressed as well as any others who may have missed the show but would like to participate.

Additional showtimes include evening performances at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 29 and Sunday, Sept. 30. The production will return the following weekend with shows on Friday, Oct. 5 and Saturday, Oct. 6 at 7:30 p.m. and will close on Sunday, Oct. 7 at 2:30 p.m.

AU Students, faculty and staff are provided two free tickets. Ticket prices vary from $5-$12.

Further information about Boze Lyric Theatre performances and bookings can be found by contacting the Byrum Hall box office at (765)-641-4140.

Vol. 76, No. 3 Andersonian Sept. 26, 2018

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As students return to campus, many have noticed a number of changes and new landmarks on campus. Among those, the move of the Human Resource offices to the first floor of Decker has been one of the…

As students return to campus, many have noticed a number of changes and new landmarks on campus.

Among those, the move of the Human Resource offices to the first floor of Decker has been one of the most significant. The name of the office has additionally been changed to the Office of Work-Life Engagement, to fit within a larger vision that university leadership have been working on.

Changes within HR have been led by Tim States, who began his new position as director over the summer. He says that the office is shifting its focus from only compliance and payroll to shaping employee experience and workplace culture, reflecting a shift in the discipline of human resources to fulfill a larger purpose in the organization.

“We see our objective as integrating work, life and the mission of AU,” States says. “Moving the office and changing the name to Work-Life Engagement are two pieces of a larger strategy of making AU an outstanding place to work.”

Formerly with ITS, States spent 20 years working outside of the university before joining the staff, which he says brought him to appreciate the importance of personal empowerment and purpose in an institution.

“Being an outstanding place to work means being a people-centered place to work,” he says. “Our hope as a department is to continue building on what has already begun in that direction.”

Dr. Marie Morris, university provost, has been at the head of developing the map for the recent campus transformations.

“Our strategic plan has four main themes,” explains Morris, “Outstanding student experience, forward thinking, fiscal strength and an outstanding place to work.”

The university has brought on new staff members, including development officers Brian Martin and Linda Imel and Executive Director of Advancement Services Amy Reed as part of this greater institutional plan.

“Hiring new people opens up opportunities to have those who bring a fresh perspective or ‘new eyes,’” she says. Morris hopes that these “small, but noticeable” changes enrich the university experience for both students and employees.

More of the minor changes on campus have been part of beautification and making improvements to classrooms. Larger, overgrown shrubs have been removed to enhance safety and security on University Boulevard, and furniture from the Flagship Center has been moved into classrooms.

“It helps with institutional pride to have our campus look good,” says Morris. “Even the smallest of improvements can make a difference.”

Rice Hall has also found new life as its lobby has been repurposed into a rehearsal space for productions in the School of Music, Theatre and Dance.

Some improvements are still in the making, however, such as the coming website redesign and the prayer labyrinth.

The Centennial Prayer Labyrinth is currently under construction by the International Plaza beside York Performance Hall and will be dedicated at Homecoming. Campus Pastor Tamara Shelton says that the site will serve as a physical gathering place to pray and worship together.

“This institution began with Noah and Enoch Byrum praying over this valley 100 years ago as they sought to relocate the Church of God Publishing House,” says Morris. “Little did they know what would come of those prayers.”

Vol. 76, No. 2 Andersonian Sept. 12, 2018

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Indian Old School album release show, purchase and stream War Songs today!

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The Evening of Excellence for the AU School of Music, Theatre and Dance is a showcase that celebrates and honors exceptional students at the university. The night is a culmination of a year of hard…

The program was held this past Sunday night, April 22, in York Performance Hall. The auditorium was filled with the families and friends of students and was sponsored by the Elsie K. Perdiue Endowment Fund.

Dr. Christopher Holmes, associate professor of music, was the master of ceremonies for the Evening of Excellence.

“It’s exciting to be able to come together here so close to the end of the semester to honor these students and to bring this semester to a great conclusion,” says Holmes. “This is really the one time we as an entire department get to come together and celebrate our musicians, dancers and scholars.”

Students are selected through the Concerto and Aria Competition, which requires submissions and auditions before a selected group of adjudicators. The aim of this competition is to provide a rewarding opportunity for students as well as to recognize and highlight exceptional musicians and composers within the department.

“The goal of the event is to recognize the students within the department that not only have outstanding performance and compositional work, but outstanding academic work as well,” says Holmes.

The performance winners for the 2017-18 Evening of Excellence were Rachel Wolfe, Angela Shaver, Clare Lillig and Brenna Green.

Kameron Mechling was the winner of the composition award, and his string-quintet piece, “Wanderntraum,” was premiered by the AU Festival Orchestra and conducted by Dr. Richard Sowers.

The four sophomore female performers were incredibly honored and grateful to be selected for the Evening of Excellence.

Wolfe was the first performance of the night as a soprano vocalist. She performed two vocal solo pieces: “O mio babbino caro” by Giacomo Puccini and “Must Winter Come so Soon” by Samuel Barber.

“The experience of performing was amazing,” says Wolfe. “I had some nerves before I went on stage, but once I started singing, it felt extremely natural.”

Following Wolfe, Shaver performed Benedetto Marcello’s “Concerto in C minor,” which is a musical composition comprised of three movements written for the oboe.

“I am so thankful God gave me this wonderful opportunity,” says Shaver. “It was a confirmation that I’m doing well and that I’m on the right track.”

Lillig performed two soprano vocal solos with the selections of “Bester Jüngling” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and “Volta la terrea” by Giuseppe Verdi.

Lillig is a vocal performance major and also has a complimentary major in dance. This event, she says, brings together her peers in music and dance. “I have friends in my dance major who don’t realize that I can sing,” says Lillig. “It’s actually kind of fun to be like, ‘Hey, I can also do this.’”

“It’s a good night to see how talented all of our friends really are,” she says.

The show ended with the performance of “Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54” by Robert Schumann, a piece which Green has been practicing since June of last year.

“It was surreal to play with a full orchestra on a piece that, up until recently, I had played only with my teacher,” says Green.

Performing the piano concerto for an audience was a first for Green, and she says that she will cherish this “wonderful memory of my college career.”

The student composition that was selected was that of Mechling, a junior music major with a focus in composition.

The piece, “Wanderntraum,” was selected for its clarity in notation and idiomatic writing. Mechling composed in a way that effectively communicated the score and was written with an understanding of the uniqueness of each instrument. The piece featured a viola, cello, double bass and two violins.

For Mechling, winning this first composition award is a step forward in his desire to compose music professionally. Composers, he says, submit their works to competitions in order to be recognized and have their pieces performed. This competition in particular is significant because he was able to meet the quintet and work with the conductor.

“This is home,” says Mechling. “People I know got to be a part of this piece that I created.”

Sitting in the audience with his family, Mechling says that he experienced a different perspective of the piece–not that of a composer, but as a participant.

“Performance is the reason why we compose music, we write so it can be heard,” says Mechling. “It’s something that will outlive you.”

Vol. 75, No. 16 Andersonian Apr. 25, 2018

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