Calvin University Chimes

Calvin successfully raises $25 million for debt relief

Joseph Matheson
May 9, 2014

Calvin announced earlier today that they have successfully raised $25 million over the last eight months for the express purpose of reducing the college’s long-term debt. The original goal, set by president...

Editorial: Extremely tentative plans for the future

Joseph Matheson
May 8, 2014

There’s a peculiarity about human existence that we’re all familiar with, articulated best by Soren Kierkegaard: “Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards.” This is...

Daniel Herrick chosen as Professor of the Year by graduating class

Joseph Matheson
May 8, 2014

The professor of the year award for 2014 was awarded to philosophy professor Daniel Herrick. The award from the outgoing senior class was presented in the traditional fashion Wednesday by surprising him...

Editorial: Storytelling shapes the way we see the world

Joseph Matheson
May 2, 2014

Everyone has that one story, maybe about that time when you were six and you got lost in a department store, or when you and your best friend climbed a tree and your best friend fell out and you had to...

Wake Up Weekend highlights animal advocacy and vegan food

Joseph Matheson
April 24, 2014

This Friday and Saturday a succession of events, including talks, demonstrations and meals, will highlight animal advocacy and vegan cooking. Together, the events, which will take place on Calvin’s...

Editorial: Honors program an example of community of excellence

Joseph Matheson
April 24, 2014

This Wednesday was Honors Convocation, an opportunity to recognize the achievements of students who have demonstrated academic excellence, including myself and 60-odd honors graduates. Certainly academic...

Editorial: Plants and gardening are the seed of a peaceful, harmonious mode of existence

Joseph Matheson
April 10, 2014

I have a longstanding argument with some chemists over whether plants or animals are better: I argue for plants, they think animals are superior. The joke, of course, is that neither plants nor animals...

Calvin approves proposal for new community garden

Joseph Matheson
April 10, 2014

A proposal for a new community garden located on properties off of Hampshire Street (west of the gym) was recently approved by the Planning and Priorities Committee (PPC). David Dornbos and David Koetje,...

Editorial: man vs. nature

Joseph Matheson
April 3, 2014

In his poem “Marginalia,” Billy Collins says, “If you have managed to graduate from college / Without ever having written ‘Man vs. Nature’ / In a margin, perhaps now / Is the time to take one...

Editorial: Self-care critical in college

Joseph Matheson
March 20, 2014

The chances that you, the reader, got more than eight hours of sleep last night is, at best, 50 percent. I’m going to refrain from guessing what the chances are that your eating habits are healthy, that...

Editorial: Towards a feminist conception of masculinity

Joseph Matheson
March 12, 2014

Few people discuss masculinity as a gender to the same degree as femininity, and when they do, the focus is on the toxic aspects of contemporary masculinity. Toxic masculinity has been a serious problem...

Editorial: Home is a physical location

Joseph Matheson
March 7, 2014

Until last September, I had never had my own room. Well, that’s not entirely true. When I was 10, I lived on the landing above the stairs to the second floor, which I technically had all to myself; I...

Directions for further discussion on historicity of Genesis

Joseph Matheson
February 27, 2014

Connor Sterchi’s recent article regarding the historicity of Genesis has sparked some conversation on what seems to me to be an issue with which Christians are still struggling. I am so far happy to...

Editorial: Olympics a celebration

Joseph Matheson
February 26, 2014

The Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia this year were, as always, preceded and accompanied by critical commentary on the importance of the Olympics. Criticisms included concerns over human rights violations...

Editorial: Why do we jump in the Sem Pond?

Joseph Matheson
February 20, 2014

This past Friday, I jumped into the freezing, slimy, bacteria-infested waters of the Seminary Pond for the fourth year in a row, earning myself a coveted Golden Towel and, of course, undying glory. But...

Ray Kurzweil searches for immortality

Joseph Matheson
February 20, 2014

Raymond Kurzweil, chief of engineering at Google, is hopeful that humans will have pushed back human mortality before he grows much older. Kurzweil, a longtime proponent of futurism and transhumanism...

Editorial: Swedish fish

Joseph Matheson
February 14, 2014

Swedish Fish are a brand of candies. They are not produced by Swedes, nor do they contain fish or fish byproducts. They contain primarily sugar, invert sugar (like antimatter sugar) and corn syrup, leaving...

Editorial: Unsolicited advice

Joseph Matheson
February 7, 2014

As you may know, one of the trademark jobs of the editor in chief of Chimes is writing a brief letter to all of you each week, which typically takes the form of a short piece of heartfelt advice from the...

Prioritization plan passed by board of trustees

Joseph Matheson
February 4, 2014

In light of recent financial difficulties, the board of trustees recently passed a prioritization report outlining Calvin’s plans for meeting its financial goals for the next three years. The plan was...

Civil rights leader John M. Perkins leads Calvin in honoring Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Joseph Matheson
January 20, 2014

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, John M. Perkins, one of the foremost evangelicals involved in the civil rights movement and the president of the John M. Perkins Foundation for Reconciliation and...

Linda Smith talks on sex trafficking in the United States

Joseph Matheson
January 17, 2014

Linda Smith’s January Series lecture, “Renting Lacy: A Story of America’s Prostituted Children,” is an extension of her dedication to fighting sex trafficking, which was born on a trip she took...

Calvin Chimes welcomes Joseph Matheson as new editor in chief

Joseph Matheson
January 16, 2014

Hello, I’m Joseph Matheson, and I’ll be the new editor in chief of Chimes, starting tomorrow. I’m a senior and I’ve been on Chimes as an editor since my freshman year, which has been an exciting...

Open Doors reports an increase in persecution of Christians worldwide

Joseph Matheson
January 16, 2014

According to a report released by Open Doors, a non-denominational Christian organization, the number of Christians killed for their faith in 2013 nearly doubled from 2012, due in large part to increased...

New enrollment numbers highest in six years: minorities up, CRC down

Joseph Matheson
July 21, 2013

More than 1,000 students are enrolled in Calvin’s class of 2017 --- the highest numbers since 2007 --- despite news of the college’s recent financial difficulties and prioritization process, a recent...

Former gift planning director named vice president for finance

Joseph Matheson
June 4, 2013

Calvin College appointed former gift planning director and acting chief financial officer Sally Vander Ploeg as vice president for administration and finance Tuesday. Vander Ploeg began as acting chief...

Michigan House passes bills requiring drug tests, school attendance for welfare

Joseph Matheson
May 2, 2013

The Michigan House has approved measures that would deny welfare benefits to recipients with truant children or recipients who fail drug tests. Both bills (House Bill 4388 and 4118, respectively) were...

Grand Rapids implements marijuana decriminalization

Joseph Matheson
May 2, 2013

Nearly six months after Grand Rapids voters approved a measure to amend the city charter to make marijuana a civil infraction rather than a misdemeanor, the city has finally implemented the amendment. Delays...

Michigan legislators introduce bill to decriminalize marijuana

Joseph Matheson
April 26, 2013

Legislators have introduced a bill to decriminalize marijuana in the state of Michigan with bipartisan support. The bill was written by Democratic Rep. Jeff Irwin, and several Republicans have supported...

Budget deal faces some hurdles

Joseph Matheson
April 26, 2013

Michigan lawmakers hope to pass a final budget for the state by June but face a few stumbling blocks, including education funding, transportation funding, film incentives and Medicaid expansion. The House...

Grand Rapids hopes to remove dams from Grand River

Joseph Matheson
April 18, 2013

Joining a larger trend of Michigan cities improving their waterways by removing dams, Grand Rapids is planning a $27 million project to remove dams and improve the waterfront of the Grand River. This project...

Urban developers consider removing S-curve of U.S. 131

Joseph Matheson
April 11, 2013

A growing group of local urban advocates are pushing to replace the S-curve of U.S. 131 that passes directly through downtown Grand Rapids with something more sustainable, aesthetically pleasing and economically...

Police raids on medical marijuana dispensaries lead to arrests

Joseph Matheson
April 11, 2013

Several medical marijuana dispensaries in Grand Rapids have been raided and arrests have been made as police enforce a Michigan Supreme Court decision that medical marijuana dispensaries are illegal. The...

Homeless students in Michigan rise 66 percent in four years

Joseph Matheson
April 5, 2013

The number of homeless students in Michigan has increased 66 percent since the 2009-2010 school year, from 22,600 during the 2009-2010 school year to more than 37,500 homeless students in Michigan during...

Amash talks drone strikes and gay marriage at Wealthy Theatre

Joseph Matheson
March 28, 2013

The Wealthy Street Theater hosted a discussion on controversial issues of national security and civil liberties. The discussion was organized by the American Civil Liberties Union with Justin Amash, the...

Plan to raise money for Michigan roads bogged down

Joseph Matheson
March 6, 2013

Michigan politicians are attempting to put together a plan to provide additional funding to road maintenance. Lawmakers are hoping to raise nearly $1 billion a year for Michigan roads, but they haven’t...

Sequestration cuts will have serious impact on Michigan

Joseph Matheson
February 28, 2013

The looming government spending cuts known as the sequester could have serious impacts on the Michigan government and economy. The $1.2 trillion federal cuts could result in millions or billions of cuts...

Labor unions file lawsuit challenging Michigan right-to-work law

Joseph Matheson
February 22, 2013

A coalition of labor unions has filed the latest challenge to Michigan’s recent right-to-work law, arguing that if the law applies to unionized state employees, as it currently does, then it is in violation...

Michigan farmers may face migrant labor shortage

Joseph Matheson
February 22, 2013

Michigan farmers may face a shortage of migrant workers during the upcoming harvests this year. A variety of factors, including last year’s poor harvests and anti-immigration laws taking place in the...

Wealthy Street Bakery to open new location

Joseph Matheson
February 15, 2013

The popular Wealthy Street Bakery, a fixture of the Wealthy Street community, has plans to open a new location in the Ottawa Hills/Boston Square neighborhood. The owners of Wealthy Street Bakery, David...

Art.Downtown. looking for artists

Joseph Matheson
February 8, 2013

Registration for those wishing to participate in Art.Downtown., an event created by Avenue for the Arts to showcase the art scene of Grand Rapids, begins today, Feb. 8. The event itself, involving over...

Grand Rapids man starts own card game company

Joseph Matheson
February 7, 2013

Matt Jarrells, a resident of Grand Rapids, recently launched Blanket Games, an independent card game company, to sell A-List, a card game that he invented himself. The company handmakes all copies of the...

Eastown Community Association to host annual breakfast meeting

Joseph Matheson
February 6, 2013

The Eastown Community Association will be holding its annual meeting, in the form of a pancake breakfast open to the public this Saturday at the Calvin Christian Reformed Church at 700 Ethel Ave. The...

Snyder sends right-to-work to Supreme Court

Joseph Matheson
January 30, 2013

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder has asked the Michigan Supreme Court to give an advisory opinion on the constitutionality of the new right-to-work law that he signed into law last month. Snyder hopes...

Dwight Armstrong points out problems but doesn’t give solution at January Series

Joseph Matheson
January 19, 2013

Dr. Dwight Armstrong, in his talk “Feeding the World and the Future of Farming,” highlighted the challenge of feeding the rapidly growing world population, a challenge which often receives little attention,...

Proposal aims to decriminalize marijuana in Grand Rapids

Joseph Matheson
October 24, 2012

On the ballot in Grand Rapids on Nov.6 will be a proposal to decriminalize the possession of marijuana. The proposal would make possession of marijuana a civil infraction instead, subject to a slight fine...

Red Jet Cafe hosts event for The Rapidian

Joseph Matheson
October 24, 2012

On Nov. 5, local business Red Jet Cafe (located at 1431 Plainfield Ave) is hosting a fundraiser for ultra-local newspaper The Rapidian. The Rapidian is a newspaper focusing on providing news specifically...

East Hills Council presents neighborhood plan

Joseph Matheson
October 24, 2012

Neighborhood activist Gabriel Works offered a nine-point plan for neighborhood improvement in Grand Rapids to the East Hills Council of Neighbors’ annual meeting. Her plan emphasizes community solidarity...

Grand Rapids announces 26 miles of new bike lanes over the year

Joseph Matheson
September 6, 2012

Grand Rapids has announced plans to add 26 miles of new bike lanes across the city over the next nine months because of rising citizen demand. These bike lanes will be implemented in two phases. The...