How could Calvin’s campus look in the fall? Public health profs make predictions based on COVID-19
McKinley Anderson, Campus and Community Editor
April 20, 2020
Calvin’s campus could look different in the fall, said public health professors Erica Boldenow and Kristen Alford. Because there are not projections for how COVID-19 will continue to spread by September, there is no way to know how different the campus will look. Alford said there could be changes in ...
Survey to help find grad ceremony alternative
Joshua Polanski, Managing Editor
April 15, 2020
Calvin University will not hold the graduation ceremonies for the class of 2020 on May 23, due to executive orders and governmental regulations. According to Le Roy, student senate appointed a group of seniors to create a survey of possible alternatives for the graduating class of 2020. Le Roy wrot...
How coronavirus impacts clinicals, research and internships for students
Lauren DeVries, Features Editor
April 15, 2020
Many students need internships or work experience to graduate. Nurses need clinicals, biology students need research and many students need internships. Summer is a valuable time for students to complete these requirements but coronavirus may halt these opportunities. Nursing Clinicals Calvin nursing students need...
Calvin opens Prince Conference Center to healthcare workers, GRPD free of charge
Juliana Knot, Editor-in-Chief
April 14, 2020
Calvin is opening the doors to the Prince Conference Center to Spectrum Health employees and the Grand Rapids Police Department for free. Both of these professions are in close contact with members of the public who may have the coronavirus and are at risk of spreading it to their families. One ...
Despite pandemic, enrollment remains stable
Garrett Strpko, Arts and Entertainment Editor
April 13, 2020
Although COVID-19 has created plenty of uncertainty about the future for many, enrollment for the fall of 2020 is still on track, according to Vice President for Enrollment Strategy Lauren Jensen. “As of this Monday, April 6 we had 325 deposits, which is where we projected to be,” Jensen said in...
Faculty granted extension of reappointment clock due to COVID-19
Katherine Benedict, Sci-Tech Editor
April 13, 2020
Faculty working towards tenure or a five-year renewable term are now able to postpone their job review for one year. Automatic approval will be granted to those who apply to have their reappointment clock extended. The Professional Status Committee submitted a report on the matter to the Faculty Senat...
Livestreamed Lord’s Supper: How churches are celebrating Holy Week in a pandemic
Harm Venhuizen, Religion Editor
April 11, 2020
Churches around Grand Rapids and across the country have instructed their congregations to gather in their homes before a livestream with whatever bread and juice they can find to celebrate the Lord’s Supper. That’s because this year’s Holy Week — the final week of Lent that recalls Jesus’s ...
Faculty senate approves new grading system for Spring 2020
Juliana Knot, Editor-in-Chief
April 7, 2020
Faculty senate voted this afternoon to approve a new grading structure for the spring semester. Courses will still be graded, but students have the option of making two courses pass/fail within 10 days of receiving the final grades. Grades must be posted by May 28 at 5pm. Students must consult wi...
Students start petition to move spring semester grades to pass/fail
Ethan Stafford, Campus and Community Editor
April 6, 2020
Amidst the COVID–19 outbreak, a petition has been filed with the Calvin administration to allow students the option to choose between a letter grade and pass/fail. The petition started after the switch to online classes due to the closing of campus. The goal of the petition was to get 1,000 signatures—just unde...
How Calvin Prison Initiative students’ educations are affected by COVID-19
McKinley Anderson, Campus and Community Editor
April 6, 2020
As Calvin students on the Knollcrest campus are adjusting to online courses, so too are the Calvin Prison Initiative (CPI) students at Handlon Prison. Stacia Hoeksema, a social work professor teaching SOWK 370 at CPI, remarked, “It does add an extra layer to say, ‘Let’s go online,’ when [C...
Calvin student’s company to raise bail out funds for inmates
Joshua Polanski, Managing Editor
April 5, 2020
Forgive Everyone Co., a company founded by Calvin student Skyler Rich, is giving a portion of its prison bailout efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. The virus presents heightened risks to prison systems. Inmates are unable to practice social distancing. There are also a higher rate of at-risk adults because of the long sent...
Presumed positive COVID-19 case on Calvin campus
Joshua Polanski, Managing Editor
March 26, 2020
An on-campus student has a presumed case of COVID-19, according to a campus wide email. The student is isolated in a residence hall suite. According to the email, “there are other ‘presumed positive’ situations like this noted for members of our community off-campus as well.” “Anyone wit...