Media Mentions

George Weigel, expert gardener and writer for the Harrisburg Patriot-News, recently visited local college campuses in search of the best “ogling” for mid-staters. Citing Messiah’s outstanding pots and hanging baskets, Weigel gave the campus a 3 out of 5. You can read his comments in the August 28 issue of the paper or at “Sitting in on Gardens.”

The Association of American College and Universities’ latest issue of “Liberal Education” magazine includes an article by Messiah educators, Douglas and Rhonda Jacobsen. “Religion in Higher Education: Historic, Personal, and Public” is excerpted from the Jacobsen’s most recent book, “The American University in a Postsecular Age.” In their article, the Jacobsens contemplate the emergence of religion back into the public square.

“Religion in Higher Education” is not available online.

A student’s senior project about the differences and effects of static and dynamic stretching preceding exercise activities is receiving some worldwide attention in publications and at conferences. College educators Scott Kieffer, association professor of exercise science, and Wendy Cheesman, assistant athletic trainer, assisted former student Jess Unick with the research.

Read a reference to the study at ShapeFit.

Heather Nicholson fell in love with Mexico when she visited on a spring break trip to Acapulco. When her grandfather passed away in February and she became more familiar with his Quaker heritage, she decided to spend a year volunteering with Casa de Los Amigos, a Quaker center for peace and international understanding, to honor her grandfather.

Read “An unusual trip to Mexico.”

John Fea, professor of American History at Messiah, analyzes the recent “Civil Forum on the Presidency” in which presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain responded to questions from moderator Rick Warren about how their faith might inform their administration. “Future historians,” Fea asserts, “will write about the 2008 election as the year in which the faith of the candidates was scrutinized like never before.”

In his August 19 “As I See It” piece for the Harrisburg Patriot-News, Fea ponders whether voters have really learned very much about the faith of the candidates, saying, “What was most striking about Warren’s event on Saturday is how McCain and Obama said virtually nothing about how faith will influence their presidencies.”

Read “Candidates duck issue on faith’s influence.”

Graduation rates at central Pennsylvania colleges and universities reflect national trends of fewer students completing STEM degrees, meaning graduating with science, technology, engineering, or mathematics degrees, according to an August 15 article in the “Central Penn Business Journal.”

According to Carl Erickson, chair of the department of engineering, Messiah has seen an increase in the number of students studying engineering, but he agrees that some students probably shy away from studying engineering because it seems too challenging.

Read “STEM graduate numbers decrease.”

Chris Heisey, former baseball standout at Messiah who was drafted in 2006 by the Cincinnati Reds in the 17th round, recently advanced to the Reds’ Class AA team, the Chattanooga Lookouts. Heisey, a center fielder, played his debut game against the Huntsville (Ala.) Stars, according to an August 17 article in the Lancaster newspapers.

Read “Heisey moves to AA.”

In an August 10 story in the “Philadelphia Inquirer” about challenges that rookie teachers face, professor Kevin Zook cautions, “One of the biggest mistakes I have observed in new teachers is the desire to be liked their students. They then err on the side of being too lenient and casual in their interactions with students.”

This is the third installment of advice for teachers that referenced Zook.

“Opening day: Start of new school year brings challenges for rookie teachers” is not available online.