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Calvin University's official student newspaper since 1907

Calvin University Chimes

Since 1907
Calvin University's official student newspaper since 1907

Calvin University Chimes

Calvin University's official student newspaper since 1907

Calvin University Chimes

All content by Alden Hartopo
Photo by Nathan Stripp

Calvin supported water drive raises over 300 cases of water donations

Alden Hartopo
February 5, 2016

Senior Martin Cervantes successfully raised nearly 300 cases of water and 64 gallons jugs last Saturday for Flint residents affected by the ongoing water crisis. Around 50 students gathered on campus...

Letter to the Editor: Response to Indonesia and Religious Intolerance

Alden Hartopo
November 6, 2015

Last week, Chimes ran an article that targeted the Republic of Indonesia and offered what appears to be a critique of Indonesia as a religiously intolerant country and thus painted to readers an image...

Photo courtesy calvin.edu

Major renovation to Commons Dining Hall postponed to following summer

Alden Hartopo
May 14, 2015

A decision to renovate Commons dining hall has been postponed until next summer, pending a lack of specifications in the proposed project. Discussion for renovating the dining hall began in February...

Photo courtesy calvin.edu

Student senate raises nearly $50,000 internally to renovate library lobby

Alden Hartopo
May 14, 2015

An estimated $50,000 will be the price tag on the upcoming renovations in the library fireplace lobby, marking the final project of this year’s student senate. To finance the project, student body president...

Photo by Matt Lesky.

Editorial: Chimes transformed my college experience

Alden Hartopo
May 13, 2015

Around two years ago at this time I received an email from then editor-in-chief Ryan Struyk which would forever alter my Calvin experience. If I recall it correctly, it was a simple letter of encouragement...

Photo courtesy Calvin K4L: Student Alumni Association

Class of 2015 votes Matthew Heun as Professor of the Year.

Alden Hartopo
May 7, 2015

This year’s professor of the year award was given to engineering professor Matthew Heun, who was selected by the class of 2015 from a group of six finalists. Heun, who is completing his 13th year...

DeVries and Darmawan win student senate executive team race

Alden Hartopo
April 30, 2015

Ethan DeVries and Andrew Darmawan have won this year’s student senate executive team race with 41 percent of the vote (622 votes). Nearly 40 percent of the student body voted in this year’s elections. “Andrew...

Photo by Alden Hartopo

Three executive teams emphasize diversity, connection in senate debate

Alden Hartopo
April 23, 2015

On Wednesday, about 150 students gathered in the CFAC Recital Hall for the annual student senate electoral debate. Three executive teams will face off in this year’s student senate elections, while six...

Photo courtesy student senate

Campaign week sets stage for student senate elections

Alden Hartopo
April 16, 2015

Next Monday at midnight marks the start of campaign week where students running for student senate begin a week-long effort to persuade the student body to elect them into office. Candidates will be...

Far From Home

Far From Home

Alden Hartopo
April 10, 2015

Over 10 percent of the student body here at Calvin is considered international, and in many cases, the struggles of the international student are often overlooked. A lack of intentional dialogue...

Photo courtesy Silvana Handjojo

Rangeela act addresses reconciliation between Indonesia and Dutch colonizers

Alden Hartopo
February 20, 2015

Since its inception in 1995, Rangeela, the annual celebration of international culture and diversity, seeks to showcase stories and traditions from various cultures around the world. This year, four...

Photo courtesy Student Senate

Senate takes new approach in directing senate

Alden Hartopo
February 5, 2015

This year’s executive team Jona Eigege and Laura Sterenberg won last April’s election promising to refocus student senate both internally and externally. In addition, the executive team aimed to “reconnect...

Photo by Alden Hartopo

Local robbery places Calvin College on lockdown

Alden Hartopo
December 12, 2014

Calvin College was placed on lockdown last night as campus safety and the Grand Rapids Police Department (GRPD) worked to clear campus and search for the suspect of a robbery that occurred at the bus stop...

Photo by Michael Hsu

‘Hands Up! Walk Out!’ demonstrators march on campus

Alden Hartopo
December 4, 2014

As part of the ‘Hands Up! Walk Out!” national movement, members of the Calvin community were invited by the “We Are Calvin [Too]” collegiate group to march from the chapel patio to commons lawn...

Photo courtesy calvin.edu

External reviewers evaluate Calvin’s commitment to diversity and inclusion

Alden Hartopo
November 13, 2014

A new report issued by the Cultural Intelligence Center (CQC) found that, while Calvin has “some level of commitment to diversity and inclusion, the college doesn’t consistently put that commitment...

Calvin to list Ladies Literary Club venue for sale

Alden Hartopo
November 7, 2014

At their October session, the Board of Trustees approved a recommendation by the college to put the Ladies Literary Club building up for sale. The historic downtown building, which frequently hosts...

Photo by Jonathan Manni

Le Roy addresses student concerns at town hall

Alden Hartopo
October 16, 2014

At this semester’s town hall, President Le Roy addressed student concerns regarding Calvin’s master plan, smoking pits, hiring practices, zero-tolerance policy and LGBT housing. One of the first...

Photo by Hayley Cox

Chimes devastates student senate with 4-1 victory.

Alden Hartopo
October 16, 2014

Last Saturday, the Chimes staff soundly defeated the student senators 4-1 on the Phi-Chi fields for the second annual Chimes vs. senate showdown. The game started off with student body president Jona...

Photo courtesy calvin.edu.

Faculty Senate Update (9/22)

Alden Hartopo
September 25, 2014

The first faculty senate meeting of the year kicked off Monday, Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. in the Fieldhouse and saw President Le Roy as chair and English professor Jennifer Holberg as vice-chair. New faces to...

Photo courtesy calvin.edu

Campus master plan addresses future of Calvin facilities

Alden Hartopo
September 11, 2014

A major effort to establish a campus master plan is in progress under the guidance of the Facilities Task Force (FTF) as part of the Master Planning Steering Committee, a subcommittee of Calvin’s Planning...

Photo by Hayley Cox

Beets-Veenstra dominates with 11 point margin at 45th Annual Chaos Day

Alden Hartopo
September 11, 2014

In a major comeback after coming in sixth at last year’s Chaos Day, Beets-Veenstra (BV) emerged victorious in this year’s event. Trailing behind the Harry Potter-themed dorm was last year’s victor,...

Photo by Kate Parsons

83rd annual senate debate showcases competing executive teams

Alden Hartopo
April 16, 2014

On Tuesday night, the DeVos Center was home to the 83rd annual student senate debate. The well-attended event featured two executive teams running for the top position while also showcasing the two candidates...

Photo by Noah Prefontaine

Chimes staff prevents student senators from winning in any sport

Alden Hartopo
April 10, 2014

Last Saturday, Chimes soundly defeated student senate 3-0 in a best of five series of dodgeball games. The victory comes in the wake of last semester’s Chimes/senate soccer game, which Chimes also won...

Photo courtesy Calvin's Center for Social Research

Feature: Calvin’s Center for Social Research

Alden Hartopo
April 3, 2014

Located in 2041 Raybrook, Calvin College’s Center for Social Research (CSR) works to conduct social-scientific research on behalf of Calvin faculty, the Christian Reformed Church and a wide array of...

photo by Anna Delph

Residence Life to launch new ‘wellness’ floor

Alden Hartopo
March 5, 2014

A new floor, dubbed the “wellness” floor, is anticipated by residence life to be started as a pilot program at the beginning of the next academic year. Brandon Jacob, resident director of Noordewier-VanderWerp...

Photo courtesy calvin.edu

Calvin’s Volleyball Coach Warners to work with US national coach Karch Kiraly

Alden Hartopo
March 1, 2014

Coach Amber Warners, who led Calvin’s women’s volleyball team to win the 2013 national championship title, is set to work with legendary Karch Kiraly, currently the head coach of the U.S. national...

photo courtesy calvin.edu

Faculty Senate passes revised changes to political science curriculum

Alden Hartopo
February 27, 2014

On Monday night Faculty Senate unanimously passed a recommendation to revise the political science curriculum The proposal was constructed by the political science department and recommended to the Educational...

Photo courtesy calvin.edu

Provost Office launches new faculty comment form for students

Alden Hartopo
February 5, 2014

The Office of the Provost has launched a new online faculty comment form — available via Portal — for students to send feedback on courses and professors to academic deans. Evaluation forms cannot...

Bill Rasmussen, founder of ESPN to speak at January Series

Alden Hartopo
January 23, 2014

Known as the ‘George Washington’ of ESPN and the Father of Cable Sports, Bill Rasmussen started the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network in 1979. His vision started with a $9000 credit card...

January Series kickstarts the new year at Calvin

January Series kickstarts the new year at Calvin

Alden Hartopo
January 16, 2014

Featuring some of the biggest figures in the nation, including Pulitzer Prize winner Isabel Wilkerson, former U.S. Senator Olympia Snowe and New York Times bestselling author Bob Goff, the 2014 January...

Zachary Karabell to speak at January Series

Alden Hartopo
January 15, 2014

Designated as a “Global Leader for Tomorrow” by the World Economic Forum in 2003, Zachary Karabell has emerged as one of the world’s leading economists and is scheduled to speak at the CFAC on “Trend...

Calvin grad Kevin Schut will speak on “games and God”

Alden Hartopo
January 12, 2014

Kevin Schut will present on his book “Of Games & God” in tomorrow’s January Series. A 1996 graduate of Calvin College,  Schut is now a professor of media and communication at Trinity Western...

Former U.S. Senator Olympia Snowe to speak on bipartisanship at January Series

Alden Hartopo
January 8, 2014

With Gallup reporting a 13 percent job approval rate for the U.S. Congress in 2013, the legacy of the America’s legislative body has fallen into a political pitfall. The extent of the political polarization...

Photo courtesy calvin.edu.

Faculty senate delays vote on strategic plan one week due to pushback

Alden Hartopo
December 3, 2013

Faculty senate delayed a crucial vote to approve the new strategic plan one week to Monday, Dec. 16 at 4:45 p.m. after several faculty senators voiced concerns about the timeline for the document Monday...

Photo courtesy calvin.edu.

CAS professor Brian Fuller placed on leave

Alden Hartopo
November 20, 2013

Brian Fuller, professor of media production at Calvin College, was placed on leave effective Monday, Nov. 11. The communications arts and sciences (CAS) department notified students via email about the...

Photo courtesy Alden Hartopo

The Life and Times of a Third Culture Kid

Alden Hartopo
November 8, 2013

Not too long ago — at a dinner with friends — I was asked where I was from. I calmly responded that I am from Indonesia. After some short conversation my friend proceeded to ask, “I hope you won’t...

Photo by Hayley Cox

Chimes triumphs over student senate 4-2 in first annual soccer game

Alden Hartopo
November 7, 2013

It was an epic duel of the fates, destined to go down in Calvin College history. On Saturday, a soccer match pitted the college’s two historic student organizations against each other in a battle royale...

Needtobreathe rocks crowds at Calvin and debuts unreleased songs

Alden Hartopo
October 25, 2013

On Wednesday night Christian rock band Needtobreathe performed for their first time at Calvin College’s Covenant Fine Arts Center for its 2013 ‘The Stomping Ground Tour.’ The show started off with...

File photo.

Calvin jumps in national liberal arts college rankings

Alden Hartopo
September 12, 2013

This year, Calvin ranked 100th in the U.S. News and World Report and 61st in the Washington Monthly College Guide’s list of best liberal arts colleges. Last year, Calvin ranked 110th in the U.S. News...

Photo credit calvin.edu.

Princeton Review ranks Calvin No. 8 on LGBT-unfriendly list

Alden Hartopo
September 12, 2013

The latest from the Princeton Review’s annual college guide “The Best 377 Colleges” ranks Calvin as eighth in the “LGBT Unfriendly” rankings. It rose from last year’s position of 11th. However,...

In 2012, editor in chief Abby Zwart snapped this picture of Moses rushing out of the Chaos Day competition.

Schultze-Eldersveld residents clash with renowned Moses statue

Alden Hartopo
September 7, 2013

Several students from Schultze-Eldersveld, including one who jumped on top of a minivan, chased Calvin’s legendary Moses statue before Chaos Day Saturday morning, prompting the statue’s failure to...

File photo.

Prospective senators spark high hopes from senate

Alden Hartopo
September 6, 2013

Under the leadership of executive team David Kuenzi and Alicia Smit, student senate has high expectations for this year’s prospective freshmen senators. With less than a week left until the application...

Photo courtesy calvin.edu.

Dorms set to faceoff at 45th annual Chaos Day

Alden Hartopo
September 6, 2013

Tomorrow the 45th annual Chaos Day is set to once again spark one of the fiercest dorm-based sport competitions in the history of Calvin College. The stakes are high this year, with defending champion...

Photo by Anna Delph.

KHvR looks to end seven-year Chaos Day drought

Alden Hartopo
September 5, 2013

It has been seven years since Kalsbeek-Huizenga-vanReken (KHvR) last won Chaos Day, but residence life staff is confident in their chances of seizing the glorious first place this year. “We are in the...

Photo by Anna Delph.

Rooks-VanDellen seeks to end Schultze-Eldersveld dynasty

Alden Hartopo
September 5, 2013

After last year’s unsuccessful vie for the coveted first place, Rooks-VanDellen (RVD) is coming back with a passion for victory in Chaos Day this year. Much of this year’s hype comes from formidable...

20 Calvin professors sign letter to Congress urging action on climate change

Alden Hartopo
August 6, 2013

For a full list of professors who signed the letter, see the bottom of this page. 20 Calvin professors joined 200 evangelical professors from across the country in writing a letter to Congress urging...

Photo by Colleen Keehl.

Vande Kopple remembered by English department, Calvin community

Alden Hartopo
July 7, 2013

If you ask anyone about snowball fights at the English department's annual writers' retreat, one can easily remember the enthusiasm of one professor William Vande Kopple. His ardor for the sport has yielded...

Deadly earthquake in China leaves over 179 dead and thousands injured

Alden Hartopo
April 26, 2013

A 6.6 magnitude earthquake that struck China’s rural southwest Sichuan province left at least 179 dead and more than 6,700 injured, the Huffington Post reports. The earthquake struck shortly before 8...

Christian-Muslim violence kills five in Egypt

Alden Hartopo
April 11, 2013

Egyptian security officials reported a clash between Muslims and Christians early Saturday which left five men, four Christians and a Muslim, dead in a suburb of the city of Shubra el-Kheima, north of...

What the sequestration means for America’s future

Alden Hartopo
March 7, 2013

A week ago today saw President Obama sign into place an order for $85 billion in automatic spending cuts within the US economy, marking a series of drastic cuts to government funding throughout the nation. Only...

G-20 summit relaxes fears of currency war

Alden Hartopo
February 22, 2013

In the latest Group of 20 summit held at Moscow, the 20 finance ministers from the major economies of the world gathered to discuss and calm fears of a potential rising currency war. The financial leaders...

Analysts give positive outlook for US economy in 2013

Alden Hartopo
February 6, 2013

“Four More Years” was highlighted as the vibrant and victorious slogan as Barack Obama was re-elected as the president of the United States. Throughout his initial four years, the Obama administration...

Constitutional showdown lurks as states legalize marijuana

Alden Hartopo
November 14, 2012

“The Rocky Mountains just got a whole lot higher,” said Matt Ferner of the Huffington Post as Colorado becomes one of two states which have passed a historic referendum calling for the legalization...

OSCE alleges abuses in Ukrainian election

Alden Hartopo
October 31, 2012

As elections within Ukraine come to a close, several international observers, including the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), have delivered a staggering degree of criticism towards...

Former Boston University president dies at 86

Alden Hartopo
October 4, 2012

John Silber, president and then-chancellor of Boston University from 1977 to 2003, passed away at the age of 86 due to kidney failure in his Brookline home on Sept. 27. Known as America’s highest...

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