The Waltonian

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Ryan Mitchell

Erin Hillman

Jensen Okimoto

On April 9, three Eastern students will present their research to members of the PA state legislature at the state capitol for the Undergraduate Research at the Capitol Pennsylvania conference. Erin Hillman and Ryan Mitchell will present a project entitled “Examining Suburbanization and Land Use Pattern Changes via ArcGIS in Delaware County, PA.” The research was completed in the fall of 2015 under the supervision of Dr. Hays from the Biology Department.” Jensen Okimoto will be presenting an astronomy project called “Light Curve Analyses of the Short Period, Totally Eclipsing Binaries V449 and & V463.” Okimoto completed all the data analyses for this project, and Dr. Bradstreet was the research advisor.

The conference in Harrisburg provides opportunities for PA state legislators to have a look at the undergraduate research being done in Pennsylvania universities. Other colleges, such as University of Pennsylvania, Villanova University, and Millersville University, will be sending other students. All schools may send two research projects.

If you directed a play, the first thing you would consider is how to tell your story. Our Director of Theater at Eastern University believes the story is told through the characters, and an actor has to enter into the mindset of their character for the story to flow naturally. I have never met a director who puts more focus into the characters than Professor Tibbels.

I decided to try out for the spring play because I wanted to explore what it means to be an actor. I had the privilege of meeting Professor Tibbels in Actors’ Lab, and I remember how welcoming both she and the environment were. During the lab, we did improvisation and acting games, came up with ideas for the spring play, and grew as individuals, while connecting with other people through stories.

Professor Tibbels received a Bachelor’s Degree at Eastern University. She moved on to graduate with a Master of Fine Arts in Acting from Columbia University. Her former acting teacher directed her attention back to EU for the open position of Acting Director. Professor Tibbels has been acting for 23 years; she reflects, “acting is where I belong.” During her studies at Columbia, she dreamed of being a full-time actress, but later decided to pursue a larger role in the theatrical process, so she took on directing and teaching roles during her three years at graduate school at Columbia. “I have a heart for telling a larger story as a director, because you get to be a part of the cast,” she explains. “You are involved with the production of lights, meeting with costume designers, and choosing the music.” Her journey with Christ has led her to consider how “faith and art complement each other.” She thought, just as God is a creator, she could be one too. She wants people to know the truth: it is good to express your emotions, and through that expression, a play can reveal God’s glory.

I have the privilege of being in Prof. Tibbels’ spring play production, Rhinoceros. This absurdist comedy, written by French playwright Eugene Ionesco, captures and critiques a society’s view on men and monsters.

Prof. Tibbels has a great passion for helping others and seeing them grow through her directing position. Her choice to journey with God deeply impacts the lives of her students. Professor Tibbels is an outstanding person, and we are fortunate to have her at Eastern University.

Supreme Court Justice Anthony Scalia died on Feb. 13 in West Texas. He attended a private party at the Cibolo Creek Ranch, south of Marfa, Tx and died of a natural cause. His death has left an empty seat on the Supreme Court bench, which President Obama is attempting to fill. The President is the only one who can nominate a new Justice. With this said, who to nominate has become a tough decision for Obama, because Republicans from the House of Representatives and part of the Senate Judiciary Committee have decided to refuse to vote on any of his nominations, leaving the decision to the next President. However, Obama is proceeding with nominations. There has been a rumor that he has decided to pick California Supreme Court Justice Mariano-Florentino Cuellar.

According to CNN, “President Ronald Reagan chose Antonin Scalia precisely because of his conservative views, just as President George W. Bush selected John Roberts and Samuel Alito for exactly that reason.” It is likely that a new republican President would do the same. It is also likely that Obama will pick candidates for their more liberal views, and it is certain that a future Democratic President would. The decision of the ninth Supreme court Justice could go either way – we just have to wait and see.

Sources: Cnn.com

Welcome back to yet another stimulating and action-packed semester! This term, at Windows on the World, many bright and interesting speakers will be here to speak about what it is that they strongly believe. Windows on the World is different from chapel, as it is designed to foster intellectual curiosity from experiencing different subjects you may have never given deep thought before. It also creates a space where students and faculty can view various perspectives on ideas that are prominent in our current world. This term we have many interesting speakers you should take a look at below, and if you want more information check out the Eastern website which details the questions the lectures will delve into. Give Windows on the World a try this semester and gain inspiration from listening to the notions of the world.

Jan. 29 – “White Allies in the Struggle for Racial Justice,” Dr. Drick Boyd, Associate Professor and Department Chair of Urban Studies at Eastern University

Feb. 5 – “Moving from Outrage to Action,” Rev. Dr. Jo Anne Lyon, General Superintendent of the Wesleyan Church

Feb. 12 – “12 Years a Slave: Race, Film, and Biblical Hermeneutics,” Rhonda Burnette-Bletsch, Professor of Christian Studies at Eastern University

Feb. 19 – “Living Peace: Believing and Practicing Non-Violence in an age of Terror and Mass Shootings,” Dr. Charles Howard, University Chaplain at the University of Pennsylvania

Feb. 26 – “Spring Recess Commissioning Service,” sponsored by The Office of Faith and Practice

March 11 – “A New Heaven and a New Earth – For God So Loved the World,” Dr. J. Richard Middleton, Professor of Biblical Worldview and Exegesis, Northeastern Seminary at Roberts Wesleyan College

March 18 – EU’s Annual Faith Forum: “The Sin of Certainty: Why God Desires Our Trust More than Our ‘Correct’ Thinking,” Dr. Peter Enns, Abram S. Clemens Professor of Christian Studies at Eastern University

April 1 – “Theologically Engaged Anthropology: What Can Theology Contribute to Cultural Anthropology and Ethnography?” Dr. Derrick Lemons, Assistant Professor of Religion at the University of Georgia

April 8 – “God as Sustainer: A Concept Assented to But Not Often Believed in Practice,” Dr. David H. Bradstreet, Professor and Chair of Astronomy & Physics Department at Eastern University

April 15 – “Homeschooling and the Common Good?” Dr. Jeffrey Dill, Affiliate Faculty, Templeton Honors College at Eastern University

April 22 – “Beyond Prayer: A Call-to-Action in the Wake of Mass Shootings and Terrorism,” Melissa Helmbrech, JD, Director of Strategic Partnerships at The Sider Center