Author: Casie Peterson

Professors: student course evaluation feedback typically biased

At the end of every semester, Westminster College asks its students to complete course evaluations that provides professor with feedback about the class. Though the intentions behind the assessments are good, some say the evaluations cause more harm than intended. "Course evaluations are a system that is as important as it is flawed," said Kara Barnette, an associate professor of philosophy.&...

Campus hookup culture affects college students’ emotional states

Approximately 70 percent of millennials "hook up" during their college experience, according to a study conducted by New York University sociologist Lisa Wade and her colleagues.England's research shows the term hookup is ambiguous and its meaning can change depending on context and the people involved."A hookup to me would be where you are meeting with someone for the sole intention of making out...

Westminster spirit team looks forward to another year of growth

Westminster College's spirit team has experienced continuous growth since its inception three years ago, and the team's captain and coach said they expect next year will bring even more improvements in skill level and size for both the college's dance and cheer teams. The spirit team is an umbrella term comprising the cheer squad and the dance team, according to Bri Miller, a senior communica...

Full-time students say working full time too is exhausting

Some students juggle a full-time course load with full-time work in order to make ends meet—a balancing act they said can be taxing on their mental and emotional health.Westminster College has a policy that limits students employed on campus from working over 20 hours per week. However, students who work off campus don't have to abide by this policy.Catherine Blakemore, a senior communication majo...

Westminster’s nationally-ranked Honors program transitions to Honors College

Westminster College's nationally-recognized Honors program will transition to an Honors College in the Fall 2017 semester—a change designed to attract prospective students who strive for academic challenges."The goal is ultimately to give students more opportunity, which is really the Westminster way," said Richard Badenhausen, current director of the Honors program.Those involved in the transitio...

Westminster College’s “vegan revolution”

Westminster College professors Nina and Michael Vought have made a widespread impact on campus, spurring a "vegan revolution" for many of their students. During May Term, Nina Vought, associate professor of theatre and chair of the dance program, co-teaches the "Vegan Revolution" and "Ecological Eating" classes with her husband, theatre professor Michael Vought. The classes are taught in...

Westminster theatre productions come alive behind the curtain

Though many hours of preliminary work, planning and supporting roles are necessary for any show to exist, an observer of a live theatre production only sees a fraction of that work—the cast, props and stage.  Harrison Corthell, a junior technical theatre major, plays the role of stage manager in some of Westminster College's theatre productions.  Corthell, like many theatre maj...