The Waltonian

This photo was taken by Bryson Chollar, one of Dr. Bradstreet’s students, during his time as a student in the observatory

Scheduling for classes is something that every student has to do. Our General Education classes are always a pain for us to pick, especially if it is not something you have excelled at in high school. High schools always tend to give a negative connotation toward math and sciences. This makes picking college classes that much harder because you are trying to avoid sitting through another agonizing class. If this is you, fear not, because this is not the case for at least one of the sciences here at Eastern. If you need to take a Science, I suggest you take an Astronomy course with Dr. Bradstrreet.

In an interview with Dr. Bradstreet, I asked him why his class was so worth taking. Dr. Bradstreet said, “I think that every student should take an astronomy class in college because very few people ever take astronomy in high school.” He is always talking about how lucky an Astronomy student is Eastern. He boldly claims that no graduate Astronomy student even remotely has the chance to learn and study the sky and the universe that an undergraduate student at Eastern has. Over the past forty-eight years of teaching at Eastern, he has fundraised and built a state-of-the-art observatory and planetarium for his students to use. Dr. Bradstreet is one of the most passionate teachers I have had while at Eastern and he pours that into everything he does and has done for his students.

“A lot of students fail to recognize how great a blessing Dr. Bradstreet is to the Eastern community. He isn’t just a friendly face and a phenomenal professor, but he truly is one of the best there is . . . None of this would be possible without the persistence of Dr. Bradstreet who was such a big influence in the Bradstreet Observatory’s existence. He continues to create opportunities for his students that are unmatched by hardly any other university and we should be forever grateful for that!” Hailey Schreffler, one of Dr. Bradstreet’s students, said.

In the modern day, the Sciences and Christianity don’t mingle around each other too much. They’re seen as two separate entities. During every class, Dr. Bradstreet effortlessly teaches both astronomy and the faith as Eastern University strives for. Dr. Bradstreet is by far one of the best examples of faith integration in the classroom. He reinforces this idea by starting every class with a reading from the book of Luke and a small discussion about the verses he has read, and he says it is the most important part.

Dr. Bradstreet helps you to get to know the planets, stars and the universe. Still, more importantly, Dr. Bradstreets helps you get into perspective what our Creator is even remotely capable of (even though we never get it fully, but no one fully knows God anyway). Some of his students have seen this in his classes.

“I’ve learned more about God and had my faith strengthened more from cosmology and astronomy in learning about the universe and His creation than from any of my theology classes. Dr. B makes science and Christianity work together with no conflicts, which is amazing to learn about. You just can’t get that anywhere else,” Noah Weiman said.

“If you’re interested in learning the hard sciences, astronomy with Dr. Bradstreet is an essential class to take if possible. Just beware, your mind will be blown,” Benson Arnold said.

You might be asking yourself, is there any way that Dr. Bradstreet can make his classes any better? For all those who like crossword puzzles, the answer is yes. Dr. Bradstreet has created crossword puzzles for all of the vocabulary words for each chapter. Who doesn’t like a crossword?

The universe is full of things our minds can’t even begin to understand. For this reason, this class is not recommended because it is easy but rather because it is a chance to take a class that is out of this world.

In today’s time, your daily lives sadly rely on the internet way too much. Unfortunately, we have evidence of this from the recent power and Wi-Fi outages we experienced at this semester’s onset. With big networks such as ours, we must be safe and protected from any possible attackers.

Possible ways of protecting our network are already in place. This is what requires both the username and password when signing into the Eastern Full network. Even with this, there is still room for an attacker to penetrate our network, and that may be done through a virus. The best practice to prevent viruses is through antivirus protection software.

Currently, the school does not require any type of antivirus software to connect to Eastern’s network. However, IT at Eastern recommends that all students have some sort of antivirus software on their laptops. Coming up soon, more than likely at the beginning of next school year, there will be a mandatory requirement for antivirus software implemented on any computer to connect to Eastern’s internet. You might now be thinking that you have no idea how to get antivirus software. Eastern University is requiring the use of a specific software, and they have provided the means to obtain it. In a recent interview with Eric McCloy, he said, “Carbon Black is the required A/V [Antivirus] software. A benefit for students is that Eastern provides this software free of charge for all on-campus students.” In an email from last summer, McCloy also stated that “All EU students get [antivirus] free when they connect to EU’s network. In fact, it’s a full EDR solution (Endpoint Detection and Response) using Carbon Black.”

Eastern University sent out a link for Carbon Black installation to all incoming students. Any student who missed that email or wants a link can request one by opening a help desk ticket at https://whd.eastern.edu. Just ask for a “Carbon Black Installation Link.”

Now you might be asking yourself: will this software work on my device? Upon inquiries, this software is available for both Windows and Apple products. I further inquired for people who can only afford to have a Chromebook, and unfortunately, both Chromebooks and Linux devices will not work with the mandated software. To all who are now sad because of this, I am also mourning, as I am a big Linux user myself. For those of you using Chromebooks or Linux, McCloy did suggest a few solutions to this problem. Students have the option of ordering a Windows laptop through the bookstore. Instead of paying for it right out of their wallets, students have “the option to charge it to their student account and pay for it using their aid/loan package,” according to McCloy. They can also go to the local MicroCenter and purchase a refurbished computer for a lower cost than a completely new one. McCloy also provided another, even cheaper, solution: use one of the many public computers on Eastern’s Campus. You can find a computer at the following places, as per Eric McCloy: “The second floor of the library has 24, McInnis 319 has 9, McInnis 300 has 24 (when not in use by a class) and the 24-hour study lounge downstairs in HHC has two.”

Some of you may be wondering what will happen if your TV or gaming console does not have this software. After talking with McCloy, it does not seem apparent that any changes are going to affect your TVs or gaming consoles. McCloy said that this will be covered on their end.

One of the last things discussed was the possibility of ethernet access in each of the dorms, and there is confirmation that if IT rolls out and new system for the network, there will be access to do school while hardwired into the network in your dorm. This means that you can use the Ethernet connections in your dorm to access the internet and increase speeds.

By: Caden Coutz

Here at Eastern University, we have one main dining hall which we all refer to as the “DC.” Inside the DC, we have the ability to choose from 6 or 7 different kinds of food at lunch and supper time. A big option for food at the DC is the deli station where you can build your own wrap, quesadilla or sandwich. In case people have different views of what a sandwich is, let’s review what it is.

A sandwich is a type of food consisting of one or more fillings placed between slices of bread or another type of flat food product. Sandwiches are a popular and convenient meal option and can be made with a variety of ingredients including meats, cheeses, vegetables, spreads and condiments.

Being a person who values their food. I have created many different sandwiches at the deli and finally found the one that is above them all, and I am here today to reveal this sandwich to the rest of Eastern University and elevate your dining experience. I call this sandwich “The Cade.”

Let’s get to what consists of Caden’s sandwich. The foundation of this sandwich starts with potato bread with a spread of chipotle mayo. This is then followed with 2 slices of provolone cheese and a good helping of roast beef. After that, ask for both onions and banana peppers to go on top of the roast beef. Finish the sandwich with a light drizzle of honey mustard. Have the sandwich toasted, and then it is ready to eat. Get ready to have your dining experience in the DC raised to a new standard.

The Cade has been a sandwich in the making as it has taken about a semester and a half of eating at the DC for me to discover. Any alterations to The Cade take the beauty and purpose out of the sandwich. For the sake of the sandwich and your dining experience please if you get this sandwich keep it in the purest form as described above (with exceptions for any dietary restrictions).

Before writing this article I got some friends to enjoy and experience the sandwich for themselves, and I would like to share with Eastern some of the reviews I have been given. According to Tabitha Bolen 26’, this sandwich has changed her “relationship with dining here on campus.

I used to dread going to the DC, but now I’m excited to head up to the deli station! This sandwich tastes just like something you could get in a diner!” Bolen first expressed interest in the sandwich shortly after she noticed I got it for lunch one day at the beginning of the semester.

After experiencing The Cade for herself, Bolen told one of her friends, Ella Curcuruto, about the sandwich, and she also wanted to vouch for it. Curcuruto said, “Never before would I have described honey mustard and banana peppers as a transcendent combination, but here I am.

This sandwich is a creative, delicious take on a classic Rueben (my personal favorite sammie), and I am indebted to Caden forever for his brilliant invention.”If you have been reading this article and have been thinking you would like to try this sandwich for yourself, then you are in luck! You can order this sandwich at any time at the deli station, in the DC, but The Cade will be a special on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023, at both Lunch and Supper time.

Please feel free to reach out to give your opinion on the sandwich, avoiding trying to make any changes to The Cade. As I said above “Any alterations to The Cade take the beauty and purpose out of the sandwich.” Thank you for reading my article and I hope that you enjoy The Cade.

By: Caden Coutz

I did not know that Orthodox Christianity existed until I came to Eastern University. I visited an Orthodox liturgy and immediately fell in love with it. The beauty of the service and the kindness of the people stayed with me, and it is now the church I attend regularly. I was also thrilled to hear that there is an Orthodox Christian Fellowship on campus that allows non-Orthodox members to participate.

According to their website, “Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF) is the official collegiate campus ministry program under the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America.” The mission statement says, “OCF transforms the lives of college students by guiding them along the path to Jesus Christ through His Church, cultivating a campus community of worship, witness, service, fellowship and education.”

Orthodoxy in general is one of the three main Christian groups, along with Catholicism and Protestantism. Despite their long history, the Orthodox are a very small minority in the U.S., comprising about 0.5% of the population. They have a far larger presence in Central and Eastern Europe, and, to a lesser extent, the Middle East and Africa.

I asked Simon Kwilinski, vice president of OCF, to describe Orthodoxy. He replied, “Eastern Orthodoxy is a collective term for the Christian denominations descending from the ancient churches in Constantinople, Antioch, Jerusalem, and Alexandria. It is the historic Christian church, maintained through a line of apostolic succession beginning with the apostles.” The Orthodox Church claims to be the “one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church” referred to in the Nicene Creed.

The Orthodox Church that OCF attends is St. Philip’s in Souderton, about a 40-minute drive away from Eastern’s campus. It is one of the most beautiful buildings I have ever been in. The room where liturgy is held has walls covered in icons (paintings of Christ and saints, as well as Biblical stories). The service is almost entirely chanted by the exceptional choir, and many of the chants remain playing in my head for hours at a time. After liturgy, there is a coffee hour where parishioners mingle, share a meal and hold a conversation.

Fr. Noah, a priest at St. Philip’s, says, “St. Philip’s is an English language parish of the ancient church of Antioch (where the disciples were first called Christians – Acts 11:26) about 40 minutes north of Eastern University. We are blessed with a beautiful church facility, vibrant icons, a strong choir, robust educational programs, warm hospitality, active ministries, many growing families and lively fellowship.”

OCF meets Wednesdays nights at 7:00 for service in the chapel, often led by one of the priests from St. Philip’s. They also provide rides to St. Philip’s for Vespers on Saturday night and Liturgy on Sunday morning. First-year, Abigail Laird says that OCF is “The highlight of my week.” Kwilinski says, “OCF provides a community for Orthodox Christians on Eastern’s campus, while also creating opportunities for others to learn about Orthodoxy. We host speakers who give talks on theology and the Faith. We seek to bring students on pilgrimages to churches and monasteries.”

Kwilinski finished by saying, “Anyone is welcome to OCF, especially if they are interested in learning more about Orthodoxy. Feel free to contact me or come to our services.”

Sources: Pew Research, OCF

By: Caden Coutz

My name is Caden Coutz, and I am writing to bring attention to the beautiful works that God is doing within the Chamberlin Interfaith Fellowship, also known as CIF. For those of you who have never heard of the Chamberlin Interfaith Fellowship, it consists of 6 members who all together make up the 8th cohort of this fellowship at Eastern. We are then connected with Jewish friends up at Temple Beth Shalom, right outside of Boston, MA.

The striving goal of this fellowship is to honor the late Dr. Ted Chamberlin, who was once the Dean of Students here at Eastern University. One of the biggest attributes of Dr. Chamberlain was his willingness to explore the lives of others that may be different from his own. One of his childhood friends was a man by the name of David Feldman. David grew up Jewish as Dr. Chamberlin grew up Christian, and they grew up together. Looking back on their relationship, Feldman says that he “marveled at his [Dr. Chamberlain’s] ability to maintain a strong faith while relating to people from all walks of life.” After Dr. Chamberlain passed away in 2010, Feldman and Dr. Modica paired up with people both at Temple Beth Shalom and Eastern to form what is now the Chamberlin Interfaith Fellowship, which has been created to give students the opportunity and experience to learn about Judaism in order to strengthen our own faith.

We have been meeting as a club this semester to start learning about Judaism in preparation for our trip to the Temple that we took in the second weekend of November. We left Eastern early in the morning and arrived at Temple Beth Shalom in the early evening of the same day, where we were each greeted by our corresponding Jewish friends who made up the other half of the CIF Cohort. We were given multiple opportunities throughout the weekend to break into one-on-one groups so that we were able to explore Judaism by asking our own questions, and they were able to inquire about the Christian faith through us as well.

As one of the students from Temple Beth Shalom said, “I feel like I learned a lot about my own religion and practice even though I’ve grown up with Judaism in my life.” It showed us that by taking a step back and learning about different religions we can find a better purpose or appreciation for our own faith or religion.

Throughout the weekend, we also got the chance to learn about different practices they perform and when they do them. One of the biggest differences is when they conduct their services. As Christians, we typically wake up on a Sunday morning and go to a worship service. Sunday is also our day of rest, or our sabbath. Within Judaism, they will go to their worship service on a Friday night, which is also when their day of rest starts as well. Another difference is that they call their day or period of rest “Shabot.” These are just some of the aspects of both Christianity and Judaism that differ from the two religions.

While we were there we also got to attend their weekly worship service, as they refer to it as a “Shabot Service.” It was a great experience to see how they conduct their worship and see the difference between their form of worship and my own worship.

Toward the end of the service, Dr. Modica shared his gratitude on behalf of himself and the Eastern students. Within his speech, Dr. Modica talked about how important the Fellowship is and what it means to him. He also said, “The Chamberlin Interfaith Fellowship is something the world needs more of, to combat Anti-Semitism.” If we can bring more awareness to the Jewish community, it will help to make the world more inviting to Judaism.

Taking a look at the big picture of the weekend, the idea of unity is a clear lesson to be learned. Jessica Nielsen, an Eastern alum and member of the fellowship’s third cohort once said “Friendships formed between people of diverse backgrounds will not always form the same way.” Being able to have fellowship with different walks of life is such a rewarding experience and should be encouraged more often.

By: Caden Coutz

Computer science is one of three majors in the Math Department at Eastern University. When people think about computer science, they think of the classic stereotype. A guy sitting in the dark, staring at a computer all day long. People can also get the impression that a computer scientist, or a student majoring in computer science, is just a “gamer”. Both of these stereotypes can and are found within the field of computer science, but they do not define all computer scientists. When taking a closer look at computer science, you can see that the computer, although the most important tool, is not always the main focal point. Dr. Walter Huddell, a professor of mathematical science has said, “What the telescope is to the astronomer, the computer is to the computer scientist. Like the telescope, the computer is a means by which new universes of interesting problems are revealed.” This major does not just build computer skills, but it also can help a student become a better problem solver.

You might think that people study computer science for the money, but that is not always the case. They study computer science since it will be a large part of the future. If some people are doing it for the money, look on the bright side, they could be wanting to make more money to increase their monthly tithing at church, you never know.

In the world we live in today, technology is one of the most rapidly growing industries on the market and it is not showing any signs of decline in our future. With that in mind, why would you not want to be a part of one of the largest growing trends in the world, knowing that there will always be jobs out there for computer scientists? A good percentage of those jobs never require any visits to an office, unlike most normal jobs.

With a computer science degree, the possibilities of the profession increase enormously. You can get into a wide variety of opportunities. If you are a fan of sports, you can become a sports analyst and study the data science behind the sport of your choice. If sports is not your thing but rather gaming, you could be a software developer and develop the next state-of-the-art game. There are jobs out there to help people with computer problems; once you have your degree in computer science, you will be able to help others through their computer problems and then you will be a lifesaver to them, as I am to a lot of other people.

If I have not convinced you enough, join computer science just for the social aspect of the major. If you are extraverted and do not feel there is anyone like you in the department of your major, come join the most extroverted department at Eastern, the mathematical science department. We are always accepting new people.