Haunting metaphor Arts Sports Cross Country gives District 9 Outlook A breakthrough defies the odds rare power in HIV prevention at Mercer Vol. 53,56, No. 174 TheThe student newspaperBagpipe at Covenant College since 1955 Thursday, October 1, 2009 Inaugurated: Derek Halvorson Familiar Advancement Office face now president of Providence Christian College By Daniel Tucker dence required Halvorson, his wife, son and daughter to move to Ontario, just outside of Covenant alumnus and former faculty Los Angeles, California. Halvorson recalls member J. Derek Halvorson was inaugu- having to leave Lookout Mountain being rated as president of Providence Christian very difficult for his entire family. College on Saturday, September 19. Halvor- “Being among fellow Reformed Presbyte- son left Covenant to take the position after rians and indulging in fascinating academic serving as Director of Constituent Relations and spiritual conversations – that’s a wonder- and Regional Director of Development at ful community to be a part of,” Halvorson Covenant from 2003-2009. Covenant’s new Mandarin course is taught by Ling-Mei Petcher (above). GARRETT REID Agreeing to serve as President of Provi- see HALVORSON, page 6 Looking to the East Classes in Arabic, Chinese grow in popularity By Sarah Dollar lunch, and Petcher agreed. “I noticed that a lot of the people com- The foreign language department has ing to the table had really strong abilities gradually broadened the range of language in Mandarin,” Petcher said. The level of courses offered to students. Among the new interest was so high last year that she decided and growing additions are classes in Arabic to approach Vice President Jeff Hall about and Mandarin Chinese. offering an official class. Arabic courses, taught by adjunct profes- When asked why these languages were sor Emil Ayoub and education professor chosen, Sandy Shaw, professor of modern Daphne Haddad, have been available for languages, said it was because of their “stra- the past three years. Chinese, in its first tegic importance in the world, the number of year, is being taught by professor Ling-Mei native speakers of these languages, and their Lim Petcher. Several years ago, assistant possible use in missions in parts of the world modern languages professor Diana Cochran approached Petcher about overseeing a see LANGUAGES, page 2 MAX BELZ Former Covenant President Frank Brock and Dr. J. Derek Halvorson talk Mandarin table in the Great Hall during before Halvorson’s inauguration ceremony on September 19. Y.A.C.H.T Club Anchors in Chattanooga Soup Kitchen By Lauren Hartzell Chattanooga’s homeless. Sophomore Laurel Brauer likened the interest in the people to dispel any trace of a Brother Ron greeted the students and foreign culture of the shelter to that of a patronizing attitude. On Saturday morning, September 19, showed them around. As the Kitchen’s nursing home. “I’m not homeless. That’s where con- 3 members of Covenant’s Y.A.C.H.T. club Footman, Brother Ron tends the feet of “Their situation is so different from descension might be perceived,” she said. strapped energy bars to their water bottles those in the homeless community, giv- mine,” she said. “Will they be here for “That’s where I was intimidated. But once and took off into the pouring rain. Students ing footbaths, massages, socks and shoes. awhile, or are they passing through? Are you sit down and start talking, you get past crossed the finish line at the Community Students mingled for 2 hours with 50 plus they trying to get work? I don’t know.” that.” Kitchen on 11th Street. Their goal: meet people in the Kitchen’s Day Center. Brauer said she wanted her genuine see YACHT, page 2 Read The Bagpipe online! Visit bagpipeonline.com to comment on articles and read papers dating back to 1999. 2 Thursday, October 1, 2009 NEWS The Bagpipe Arabic, Chinese Y.A.C.H.T. club seeks to mobilize courses growing students to combat homelessness in popularity from YACHT on page 1. but don’t know where to start,” said Snipes. Y.A.C.H.T.’s “organic” approach centers from LANGUAGES on page 1. Y.A.C.H.T.’s acronym stands for Youth on friendships, he said. “It’s not about meet- Against Complacency And Homelessness ing someone, talking to them for 15 minutes where there needs to be more Christian Today. Junior Brandon Snipes and Senior and feeling good. We want students to find witness.” John Stodghill said they modeled Cov- creative ways to love.” David Pickering, currently enrolled in enant’s club after the club in Shane Clai- Opportunities to plug into the Commu- Arabic, agrees with Shaw. Pickering had borne’s book “The Irresistible Revolution.” nity Kitchen’s Day Center include min- previously been taking Arabic through a The book describes Claiborne’s jour- gling, board games and music. “We have computer program, but enjoys the class ney from working with Mother Theresa in to find someone who can play their organ,” much more. Calcutta to working with a mega-church Snipes said. “Professor Ayoub makes a point to in Chicago. Claiborne’s goal was to stir the The club hopes to meet every other teach us Christian vocabulary alongside imaginations of Christians into creative Thursday for discussion and every Saturday the generic words. Things like ‘Bible’ and service. in Mac Circle at 9:30 for service projects in ‘Exodus’, as well as other words which Y.A.C.H.T.’s goal is to mobilize the Chattanooga. Christians frequently use but which prob- student body to combat homelessness using Next semester, said Stodghill, Brandon Snipes KATE HARRISON ably would never make it into an Arabic existing institutions in the Chattanooga Y.A.C.H.T. will have official club status, textbook,” Pickering commented. area, Stodghill said. Current club meetings and students will be able to participate for John, or check out their Facebook group, Though the foreign language depart- brainstorm ideas for outreach, he said. practical service credit. Y.A.C.H.T. CLUB. ment has not specially promoted these “A lot of students have a heart to serve Want to know more? Email Brandon or classes, they have been more successful than anticipated. There are currently 13 missions.” due to student interest and the faculty’s no immediate plans for further expansion. students studying Arabic and 11 students Covenant has also recently created new desire for foreign language majors, French Their goal now is to strengthen the current studying Chinese. Shaw believes that these majors in its language program. Previ- and Spanish were expanded into majors courses into a strong program. courses are popular because of their “exotic ously, Covenant had only offered minors in two years ago. nature” as well as their “potential use in French, Spanish, and German. However, The foreign language department has With reporting by Zach McElrath When Helping Hurts Corbett and Fikkert’s new book already on third printing by Joanna Mikhail of the Chalmers Center. “Fikkert and Cor- al different radio programs. The Chalmers bett lay out basic principles for involving Center is also producing a Webinar series This past summer, professors Steve the poor in addressing poverty.” which will go through the book chapter by Corbett and Brian Fikkert of the Cove- When Helping Hurts lays out a rational chapter. If you join the Chalmers Center nant’s economics and community develop- framework for reaching beyond the mate- fan page on Facebook you will be able to ment department published a book titled rial symptoms of poverty into its spiritual see all the dates and links for the radio When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty roots. Corbett and Fikkert present a bibli- programs, which run through December. Without Hurting the Poor…and Yourselves. The cal understanding of poverty, drawing This book is a product of the teaching book is rapidly being embraced by the heavily on Christ’s word and deed mission and hard work of the Chalmers Center for American church. After only three months in proclaiming the gospel and declaring more than ten years. Covenant College has on the shelves, Moody Publishers has the coming of the kingdom of God. played a large role in its creation, bringing ordered a third printing. When Helping Hurts is designed to be a together professors Corbett, Fikkert, Mask The first sentence of the first chapter learning tool, and can be studied either and Wescher (and many others) to develop asks this question, “Why did Jesus come individually or in small groups. The this curriculum and a philosophy of ho- to earth?” Jesus described his ministry by Chalmers Center is using this book for listic ministry that is changing the lives of reading from Isaiah 61, “The Lord has their introductory course “Foundations thousands of people around the world. anointed me to preach good news to the and Principles of Holistic Ministry.” The For more information about the book poor.” When Helping Hurts also answers the course can be taken by distance learning visit www.whenhelpinghurts.org. It question “Who are the poor?” You might or through self-study. The book will also is available for purchase now in the Tuck be surprised at the answer. be used this spring in CDV210: Theory of Shoppe, as well as from Amazon and other “We all know that poverty is an issue of Community Development. online booksellers. our time, both domestically and interna- Professors Corbett and Fikkert have tionally,” says Tom LePage, senior director been interviewed about the book on sever- Have a faculty quote you’d like to see published? Faculty Quote of the Week: Email it to [email protected] “Women are like swords in ‘The Lord of the Rings.’ They’re very cool, you want to have an excellent one, but they’re not people.