255 Grapevine: cans for a cause

This October the Gordon College community will have the chance to fight hunger without setting foot off campus. The show, 255 Grapevine, an “event with an address and a certain zip”, will take place on Saturday, October 10 at 7:30 pm in the A.J. Gordon Memorial Chapel. The admission fee? Pay what you can or give a can—of food.

The theme of 255 Grapevine is home. Since August students, professors, alumni, and CET have been planning the show.

“In some way Gordon has been, is, or will be home to everyone in the audience,” says Norman Jones, associate professor of theater arts and director of the show.

Natalie Ferjulian, a senior communication arts major from Hudson, MA who is working to organize the can drive, says, “It’s a great opportunity for students, faculty, alumni, and perspective students to come together for an evening of fun and do good for the community. If the place packs out we could have upwards of 1,500 cans.”

Each can of food that is collected will be donated locally—either to the Gloucester Open Door Food Pantry or to the Accord Food Pantry in Hamilton.

Acts at 255 Grapevine include Gordon’s faculty, staff, students, and alumni who will be singing country songs, playing two grand pianos, dancing stomp, and much more. One act will feature Steve Hunt, Professor of Biblical Studies, singing with his group, “Hunt and the Homeboys.”

“The show will feature faculty members on different instruments,” says Mark Stevick, professor of English. “If you have had Hunt you have got to see him take a risk like this. I’m glad it’s not me. And that’s only the middle of the show—it only goes up from there!”

While Jones is pleased about how the individual acts are coming together he is excited about something more.

“I am particularly excited about making the purposes of the evening come alive; a greater sense of I belong to this place,” says Jones. “This is an event that will showcase talents but deliberately create an environment where everyone feels welcome. [The audience] will want to say happily and with conviction ‘Hurray for Gordon!’”

It is important to remember that the evening also goes beyond entertainment. Jones says that food pantries are hurting and this is a tangible way for the Gordon community to reach out and support a good cause.

Stevick says, “Everything that comprises the evening is going to be enjoyable. Some acts will be surprising. You don’t want to miss this—it’s going to blow the roof off.”

Gordon College Students Hear Rabbinic Perspectives on the Psalms

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It wasn’t the presence of a usual student, professor, or otherwise Christian speaker during convocation at Gordon College on Friday, September 11 and Friday, September 18. Instead, Jewish scholars and Rabbi’s, Dr. Jon D. Levenson and Baruch HaLevi spoke in a series that explored the psalms from Jewish perspectives.

HaLevi, who received his doctoral degree in Ministry at Oxford University, explored Psalm 145 in convocation on Friday, September 11^th. “As you read through the psalms, open yourselves up. All meaningful encounters occur in the dark where he [David] struggles,” said HaLevi. “‘God open my mouth so I can speak to you from the dark, constricting places in my life’. God is the rope to guide us through dark and narrow places.”

Levenson, a professor of Jewish Studies at Harvard University, offered the audience an explanation of Psalm 137; the controversial psalm that speaks of dashing infants against rocks. Levenson explained that this curse is not directed at babies but instead at the city of Edom which is portrayed as a woman.

Dr. Marvin R. Wilson, a professor of biblical and theological studies, said the objective of the series is to take a look at favorite psalms as well as some of the unknown psalms.

“I had never been to an event where a rabbi spoke. I have been learning a lot about Jewish history in my Old Testament class so it’s nice to hear their [Jewish] beliefs,” said Krysti Leach, a sophomore at Gordon College.

Zinsser’s 30 Year Old Book on Writing Still Speaks to Modern Reporters

When Natalie Ferjulian and Anthony Papia took their first Journalism class two years ago they used a reporters notebook and Microsoft Word as their main tools. Now, students enrolled in Journalism are blogging, making videos and podcasting. Technological advancements have changed the face of Journalism but Ferjulian and Papia agree that the writing advice in William Zinsser’s 30 year old book, On Writing Well, is still applicable today.

“Whether it’s a blog or a script, some of the fundamental things Zinsser says about being precise, clear, clutter free, using visual writing, remembering the human element, and sounding genuine are still relevant in whatever context,” said Ferjulian a communication arts major from Hudson, MA. Ferjulian has read On Writing Well 3 times and still refers back to it frequently.

Ferjulian and Papia both remember the chapters about clutter free writing the most. “Zinsser said clear thinking becomes clear writing...Now I ask myself, ‘why did I say it this way’ or ‘can I simplify what I am saying without losing its essence,’” said Ferjulian. “My favorite quote is “clutter is political correctness gone amok,” said Papia, a communication arts major Haverhill, MA.

Zinsser’s book has been revised and expanded many times over the past 30 years but people continue to purchase it. “This book is hilarious. I laugh out loud at points,” said Ferjulian. The fact that On Writing Well was written 30 years ago and the changing mediums of journalism haven’t swayed Papia and Ferjulian’s opinion of the book.

“His advice is still very much relevant. Today it seems like anyone can call themselves a writer, but the truth is that the public still knows a good writer from a bad one when they see it. Even though the book is a bit dated, the advice is still germane,” said Papia.

College Student Upset Over Online Tartan

On a typical Friday afternoon at Gordon College Natalie Ferjulian grabbed a sandwich in lane. Her next stop was the mailroom, however on her way something caught her eye. It was The Tartan, her college newspaper. She grabbed a copy, intending to read it while enjoying her lunch.

Last year Ferjulian read The Tartan weekly, keeping up with her favorite writers such as Maggie Roth and Dani Zorn. Upon hearing the news that The Tartan would no longer be printed and instead would be posted online, Natalie was deeply upset. When asked if she would be as likely to read the online Tartan she said, “absolutely not.”

Why this change in heart? Ferjulian said, “It is no longer easily accessible. Everyone goes to the mailroom and sees The Tartan but it isn’t a big enough deal to seek it out online.” She will no longer be able to eat her lunch while flipping through the paper.

This change will not just affect her reading habits; it will also affect her publishing habits. Natalie, a communication major, has had a multitude of articles published in The Tartan. She now feels less enthusiasm towards submitting her work. “It’s more exciting when it’s printed” she said.

Ferjulian isn’t the only student who may be less likely to submit online entries. “New journalism students especially will be impacted. You can’t send the newspaper to your mom anymore. Tangible things are more meaningful and personal,” she said.
On the upside of things, Natalie does believe that the shift away from paper will be more environmentally friendly.

Will other students be opposed to or even affected by the switch from print to online? How many students will read this very article? Natalie Ferjulian most likely will not.

My Reason For Blogging

Hello! My name is Natalie and this is my first blog ever! I'm from Arlington, VA however this is my second year attending Gordon College all the way in Wenham, MA. This year I decided to take a Journalism 1 class as a part of my Communication Major. Our first requirement was to create a blog so that throughout the semester we can post our journalism pieces and assignments. So, here I go!