Farewell Ideafest Science Eurydice Feature: 2018 and faith opens Theatre series next prof concl. week page 4 page 5 page 5 page 7 April 26, 2018 Issue 6 Follow us online “Black and Yellow” and “Keychangers” take NCDC prizes Ashley Huizinga and Harrison Burns – Staff Finals Writers The NCDC finals were hosted at Dordt’s campus on April 21, making for an exciting Semifinals and packed Saturday evening as both Dordt and The 2018 NCDC Semifinals made for an Northwestern students flooded the B.J. Haan almost 3-hour-long evening of singing, button- auditorium to cheer on the final six groups in pressing, technical difficulties and story-telling the competition. The event ended just before about camels in the desert. 11:00 p.m. when 1st place was awarded to Held at Northwestern College on April 12, Dordt’s student band “Black and Yellow,” after the competition was pushed forward a day for a particularly powerful performance of “Lay Me safety’s sake as snowstorms loomed over the Down” by Sam Smith. weekend. A short line had already formed outside by Performers included six Northwestern acts and the time the doors opened at 8:30 p.m. In only six Dordt groups. minutes, the lobby contained a crush of people The acts began with a soulful rendition of cramming inside to snatch good seats. The Casting Crowns’ “Praise You in This Storm” by audience was immediately treated with blasting NW’s Matthew and Sam. As the final note rang, pump-up music and hundreds of glow sticks as the two judges took the mic to offer feedback they waited for the show to begin. and criticism—with a night-long emphasis The competition opened with an internet on criticism. Many audience members were meme-themed video of senior Austen Scammon displeased with the harshness of the critiques. and junior Rachel Roerig, the emcees for the “I would take negative comments from judges night, before they bounded onstage in flashy- that were actually qualified to judge,” said Dordt Photo by: Mary van Wyk soled shoes to kick off the show. The majority of sophomore and Paraguayan Jazmin Mendieta. the audience seemed to get the jokes—although “If you’re not qualified, then don’t try to tell “Hey Ya!” This included Dordt senior Brett Randolph as some convincing photos and a borrowed comments that go beyond your understanding of More technical difficulties brought on cheers kingfinch singing to the Lumineers’ “Angela” in wedding dress from the Costume Shop assured music.” from the Dordt attendees as Dordt junior Elayne a harsh, husky tone that rivalled the quality of the that many were left wondering by the end of the Next to take the stage was the Dordt band The Apol took the stage, wielding her Tech Services original track. Other fan favorites seemed to be night whether Sammon and Roerig were “just Aircraft. Technical problems at this point were knowledge to assist with something technical. Ed Sheeran’s “Perfect” by “The Keychangers” friends” or not. primarily due to “a faulty keyboard and lack of After a moment or two, Meribole and Apol (featuring senior and Diamond managing editor The three Dordt and three Northwestern equipment… and bad batteries in the battery succeeded in their mission, and their exit was Danny Mooers on piano, junior Brian Oh on finalists each performed two songs during boxes,” according to NW junior Jaaziel “Jaz” followed by an upbeat piano-and-DJ controller guitar, and seniors Sarah Bos and David Lee this round of the competition. The night’s Meribole. Earlier in the week, the NW worship version of Michael Jackson’s “PYT”—a song with vocals), and Bruno Mars’ “That’s What I performances added up to a total of twelve songs team had taken possession of the mics and that performer Casey Perez noted as being a big Like” by five-person band “Black and Yellow” that allowed each group to show off differing instruments for the weekend. But NW’s Tech part of her childhood. Perez was unfazed by the (featuring seniors Daniel Amin, Benjie Lee, ranges of music and a variety of different styles. Services took the trouble in stride and worked tech issues. Michel Gomes, Ariel Gomes and junior Ray From a somber, acoustic version of Miley with the equipment that Dordt had to offer. Despite faulty tech, intensely critical judges Badudu). “The Keychangers” especially drew Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball” performed by NW’s Other NW acts ranged from Suresh Portillo and what was often a lukewarm audience, all cheers for Lee’s and Bos’ interweaving voices Nick Heider to an uplifting recreation of “My with a lonely and heartfelt Spanish ballad, to groups of both NW and Dordt performers put as they flipped effortlessly between variations in Heart Will Go” by “The Keychangers” (which a submitted video of Nick Heider singing a their skills to the test with twists on both golden vocal keys. Continued on page 8 surprisingly acoustic guitar version of Outkast’s oldies and indie obscurities. Task Force considers changing name to Dordt University Tess Hemmila -- Staff Writer has been some difficulties in communicating Dordt’s tuition would not spike as a result of its namesake throughout the next academic internationally what “college” means in the change. year. Dordt College has a long heritage as a college, the United States. Another problem that Some students have expressed surprise at the The changes on campus would likely be but what would it mean if the school became a international students have with attending a possible name change. But although the school minimal in the early years of transition. The task university? college is that some countries do not accept is considering the potential pros and cons of force plans to transition the institution slowly Provost Eric Forseth brought the prospective accreditation from a college at the same level as transitioning to a university, the task force is into the university classification rather than name change before Student Symposium on they do a university. adamant that the school will not change the rushing through the process. Those involved in March 21. During his presentation, Forseth Specifically, college degrees are not seen name from Dordt. In fact, with the 400-year the decision have emphasized that they want to introduced his plans for the potential transition as equal with university degrees in Canada. anniversary of the Canons of Dort approaching, go through the process in the way that will most and the task force that he has created to handle This can create problems for some Canadian the school will be doing its utmost to celebrate benefit students. the possible change to Dordt University. The students, especially nursing students. task force includes Derek Buteyn, Brandon The task force believes that Dordt has moved Huisman and Sarah Moss. past its days as a college as it has continued to Some of the positive aspects of the change grow. Dordt is continually increasing its areas to university could include a rise in student of study and number of undergraduate and Ashley Huizinga enrollment, ease of communication with graduate programs. Because Dordt now offers Major: English Writing, Minor: perspective international students and a greater graduate studies, they argue that the school fits opportunity for students to be accepted into better with the “university” classification than Dutch graduate school. with the “college” classification. 3 years as writer and copyeditor, Huisman says that he hopes the change to One concern about the name change is the cost university, if it goes through, would be positive of rebranding the school. Among possible costs 1 year as editor for international students. would be new logo designs, new uniforms, new Advice: “If Dordt College as an institution was to look signs and new advertisements. Forseth and his into a mirror, what’s looking back is no longer a team propose to distribute the cost over multiple “Don’t adventures ever have an regional institution, but a university,” Huisman years so the expense would not be excessive end? I suppose not. Someone else said. and would not end up coming out of students’ always has to carry on the story.” Other countries use different words to classify pockets. their levels of education, so in some countries Another concern is how the change to (J.R.R. Tolkien) the word “college” can be confusing when “university” will affect the cost of tuition. discussing higher education. In the past, there However, according to the administration, page 2 · News · Mountain bike trail opens Counterfeit bills circulate Evangeline Colarossi and Danny Mooers-- Staff “We’re building something that can be Writers enjoyed by a wide variety of people,” Buteyn through Northwest Iowa told the Daily Grind radio show. Members of Zachary Sanford and Danny Mooers -- Staff Writers A new project in Oak Grove Regional Park the cycling group have tramped through the will excite local bike enthusiasts. Sioux County snow during the past months to mark out the residents have been working to create several intended paths with pink flags. The construction mountain biking trails in the park for all ages. may be delayed, but the idea is continuously Derek Buteyn and Eric Tudor, are two cyclists developing. that are part of the Sioux Country Off-Road The trails will cover underutilized places Cyclists group. Along with several other bikers, within the Oak Grove Nature Center. The they have been working since September of trails are to be added northern side of the park, 2017 to design the trails. The cyclists group which is mainly forestland. The trails will be is made up of a variety of bikers, those who eco-friendly, without additional concrete or just ride the occasional trail and those who do gravel.