Concert Entertain- Op: Zen Athlete’s Choir Tour ment in and the Perspec- cut short quaran- Art of tive on tine Quarantine COVID-19 page 2 page 3 page 6 page 6 April 6, 2020 Issue 5 Follow us online Student teaching in an online school Jaclyn Vander Waal—Staff Writer help out their cooperating teachers in as much as possible. Schools are taking many different After spring break senior Katie Bartels approaches, however, so it is difficult to create expected to stand in front of a classroom a standard for what each student teacher should of Sioux Center Middle School eight-grade be doing. language arts students. “That varies a great deal from teacher to Instead, she introduced herself to them for the teacher,” Starkenburg said. “We have some first time this past Monday via YouTube video. students who are the primary teacher for most Bartels, an elementary education major, is of their classes and subjects. Others are helping among 41 Dordt University student teachers teachers find resources to utilize and are who have had their educational training involved in communicating with students and dramatically altered by the COVID-19 virus their families. We have a few students whose outbreak. With schools suspending in-class schools are simply closed, and they are doing instruction, their educational platform has very little other than the other assignments and shifted from the classroom to online to fit the paperwork that goes with student teaching. The needs of their homebound students. wide range of experiences is part of what makes “I love teaching because of the relationship Contributed Photo this very complicated.” building and the communication between the where we all are alone on our computers.” teachers, and university supervisors during this Senior elementary education major Hayley teacher and student,” she said. “I will not be Dordt University student teachers are unsure time. Dordt is waiting on the state of Iowa to Visser also finds it difficult to effectively able to observe how my students are processing about how their student teaching experiences make final decisions on student teaching since give students feedback without developing a information or see first-hand how they are will unfold. They also are uncertain if they will teacher licensure is a state issue. He said these relationship. responding to anything. I hope to teach online meet state requirements. decisions take time and patience, which can be “When I provide comments to them, I want to in a way that is collaborative. I hope to create a Education professor Ed Starkenburg is staying difficult to accept during this pandemic. be able to connect with them,” she said. “I do community with these eighth-graders in a place in touch with cooperating teachers, student As of now, student teachers are expected to continued on page 3 Bore and peace: exploring Canceled on the court Sam Landstra—Staff Writer continue. boredom in the time of Earlier that evening, assistant coach Abby Ebby Prewitt knew her tournament was over Schultz led the team in a devotional on showing as soon as the commissioner stepped foot on the gratitude in every moment. She told a story of a social distancing court. Southeastern and Ohio Christian had just boy who suddenly passed away after collapsing finished their game and had gone into the locker on the court during a game, urging her players Emi Stewart — Staff Writer going to like what we see if we go towards rooms. Her team sat next to her on the bleachers to recognize the gift of basketball, of living each contemplation, and we aren’t sure that we have dressed and ready to play. day. We are not guaranteed anything, she said. “You know I’m bored when I start cleaning.” what it takes if we move towards creativity. And With resignation in his voice, Commissioner “It’s true.” Prewitt said. “I thought I was going Nebraska resident and former Dordt student so it’s easier for us just to distract ourselves.” Westra spoke and the Tyson Events Center fell to get up and play my game at nationals. But I Megan O’Gorman feels the pressure of He sees the word as a sort of catch-all, junk quiet. didn’t.” boredom. If there were not a viral illness drawer for many emotions. “The NAIA National Basketball Tournament After the announcement, Prewitt and her festering throughout the globe, she -- like all of “We’re not being accurate and naming exactly has been cancelled.” He said. teammates wandered onto the court to meet us -- could fill her day with errands and social what it is we’re feeling.” Digging a bit further Players looked around at each other. Stunned. their families. Still shaken, tears flowed for lost outings. However, that is not the case. She into the sensation of boredom often unveils Were they serious? Was it really over? Prewitt opportunities and hugs shared in their grief. resorts to dusting. deeper, root emotions, and he notes that “if buried her face into her hands and started to cry. continued on page 8 On March 12, the World Health Organization we’re honest, when we say we’re bored, what Her senior season had vanished in an instant, declared the outbreak of COVID-19 to be a we really mean is that we’re lonely.” stolen by the COVID-19 epidemic. global pandemic. Suddenly, establishments 2019 Dordt graduate Elayne Heynen agrees. A teammate approached her and placed a are closed to the public. Suddenly, employers “My desire to avoid boredom is really a desire hand on her shoulder. Another cradled her head. are imploring their staff to work from home. to avoid loneliness,.” said Heynen, who moved Sienna Stamness, the junior guard who lost Suddenly, millions of people have no option but to California after graduation. A new job is a much of her own season from two ACL tears, to be still, to sit with themselves, and to endure big transition in itself -- when paired with a new wrapped both her arms around Prewitt. long bouts of boredom. state and few established relationships, that This was supposed to be their year. For most, Netflix, Twitter, and good old jump proves to be an even more daunting one. “It was almost unbelievable at first.” Prewitt fashioned books can only provide so much “When I run out of things to do, I realize I don’t said. “All of us players have a bond that won’t relief. Eventually, we need to address boredom have any friends to hang out with.” be broken because no one else understood what and see it for what it truly is -- which is… what, According to Heynen, we often confuse that was like.” exactly? boredom with rest. When people are With two games already played on the “Boredom is that place that either leads to uncomfortable with the idea of being at rest Thursday morning, and eight others the previous distraction, or to contemplation and creativity,” -- for whatever reason that may be -- they may day, a sudden abandonment of the tournament said Dr. Justin Bailey, Assistant Professor of simply claim that they are “bored.” Heynen seemed out of the question. Any news of similar Theology at Dordt. “We aren’t sure we’re views this time through the lens of Sabbath. cancellations or postponements in the sports “Rest is something God commands us to do in world felt distant before that moment, small order to remind us of our own insufficiency and ripples in an ocean far away. our lack of time, and the fact that we actually “Never did I think that we would just cancel need God,” said Heynen. “Our current addiction it.” Coach Bill Harmsen said. “The rug was to caffeine is an indication of our desire to be kind of pulled out from under them.” sleep-optional people. We refuse to rest… and At 11:07 pm the night before, Harmsen that is a form of self-idolatry, in some ways.” received an email while in his hotel room Is this refusal to rest anchored by weighty mandating a restricted number of fans at the feelings, and not simply wanting to accomplish tournament. Each player would be given more tasks? It could be an indication of six tickets for immediate family members, underlying negative emotions that we don’t amounting to 126 people per team. wish to address, or rest in disguise, or the “I won’t forget it,” Harmsen said. instinct to create. Why does the prospect of Still, while dominoes fell in the NBA and Photo Credit: Emi Stewart continued on page 6 NCAA, he believed the tournament would Photo Credit: Ebby Prewitt page 2 News News page 3 Concert Choir ends tour early, but their song continues (cont.) Student teaching in COVID-19 throws a wrench in Sydney Brummel— Staff Writers The news of an early end to the tour brought “The air was thick with God’s presence,” From choir-themed Jeopardy to enthusiastic a variety of emotional responses from the Zuidema said. “We knew he was king, in all of karaoke led by the back end of the bus, the On Thursday afternoon, March 12, in the choir—students in tears, students in disbelief, it...We sang with all our might.” overlying feeling of heartbreak and uncertainty an online school senior research and design sanctuary of Sussex Christian Reformed or students who had already suspected that The choir and accompanying adults spent the was temporarily relieved by joking, laughter, continued from pg.1 City Christian School is really focusing on Benjamin Boersma — Staff Writer speaker system, creating a feedback loop and Church, NJ Dordt University Concert Choir this was a possibility.