Masland Library Blog

As October looms on the horizon, the whispers and rumors of Homecoming start flying through the campus. Days of Homecomings past are remembered fondly for most, perhaps not so fondly for some, but all with a recollection of the excitement and energy that whizzes through the college. For some of us, this will be one more Homecoming to add to the several that we've already been to. Some might think, 'why bother going? Been there, done that!'. But I'm here to give you seven awesome reasons as to why you should gear up and attend Homecoming 2014 with gusto!

1. The Tenth Avenue North concert.

Tenth Avenue North is a totally awesome band, and anyone that's into Christian music will most likely agree with that statement. My personal favorite is 'Hold My Heart', and I've got a ticket purchased and fingers crossed that they will play the song at the concert! Tickets are only ten dollars for students, an incredible discount! Student Life has all the steps you need to get a ticket of your own, as well as one for any family or friends that you would love to jam out to!

2. Athletics.

For sports fans all through campus, there's plenty of opportunity to go out and support our fellow Highlanders all throughout the day! From soccer, to volleyball, to baseball and more, Cairn has athletic games happening all throughout the day! Grab a buddy, bring a soda and go cheer on your fellow classmates!

3. The Walkway Fair.

In my opinion, this is one of the biggest events of Homecoming. The giant and awesome fair that happens on and around the walkway goes from 11am to 4pm, and has everything from a giant ferris wheel to a rock wall and more! Delicious goodies and fun games abound throughout the fair, and it's the best chance to grab your group of friends and wander around, having a blast and creating memories that will last a lifetime!

4. Discussion Panels.

For those of you who have an intense desire for learning and really want some enduring questions to struggle with, these discussion panels are for you. For the first panel, Dr. Jonathan Master will be interviewing three of our very own professors, Dr. Marti MacCullough, Dr. John Master, and Dr. Bob Wenger! They'll be questioned about their experiences with Cairn, their faith, and more! You can even submit your own interview questions by followingthis link! 

The second discussion panel focuses on Cairn's outreach to urban areas and cities. Especially if you're in a relevant major, this will be a panel you will want to be at. Cairn alumni are already out and about making a difference in the urban world, and this is your chance to see how! By following the above link, you can submit questions for this interview as well!

5. Build-A-Boat.

Build-A-Boat is a fantastically fun event to attend, especially if you don't want to suffer the wet fate of the riders yourself. All the laughter, all the fun, and none of the mess! Get together with friends at the pond to watch as racers try to paddle their home-made boats across the pond to get the golden oar! We've had boats made from plastic play house doors, plastic tubes, wood planks, and more! You will laugh, grin and cheer as the racers paddle and flounder in their quest for the golden oar!

6. Historical Tours of Cairn.

For alumni and current students alike, the multiple tours and historic memorabilia that are on display are really intriguing and exciting to see. Especially as we start fresh, having just passed the blessing of our centennial year, it is amazing to see all that has passed in one hundred years and gaze at all the work that God has done in our very own college. For me, I always enjoy seeing were we have come from, and look forward to where we are heading next.

7. Arts@cairn.

As one of the final events in the evening, this is a great opportunity to cool down and relax after such a busy and exciting day. Pre-registration is necessary for the event, but it's easy, online and free! People will gather in the lower BLC to have an artist reception with Victor Atkins. It's a wonderful chance to get to meet with the artist, admire his works and delve into the mind of the one that created such beautiful art. It's an exciting chance to get to know the 'how and why' of his creations. There is always a meaning and intention behind a piece of art, and this is your chance to learn directly from the artist what his intentions were!

As you can see, Homecoming 2014 is going to be a blast. It's a wonderful time to enjoy family and friends, and it's the chance to really rejoice with the community that God has provided us with. I wouldn't miss this for the world! I know I'll be going, and I hope you will be too!

For a full time schedule and preregistration forms, check out this link!  There's so much more that I didn't list, so take a look and start making your own list of what you want to see and do! Hope to see you on October 4th!

~Rachel

As the vote on the Scottish referendum approaches, the vote to stay or go has drawn near to a 50/50 split. For decades, many of the Scottish people wished to be their own country, separated from England and the Queen. But becoming an independent country is no easy task; there are many details that must be considered in order for independence to be a wise choice. Although Scotland already has their own educational system, health care, and police force run independently of England, questions such as the economy and currency, energy, oil and gas, pensions and welfare, citizenship and immigration, military, and the possibility of obtaining EU membership, must be considered.

Scotts desire to have more control in what takes place within their own government. Currently, with the UK’s system of government and parliament there is devolution (the delegation of power to a lower level) this gives Scotland a certain amount of control within their country. Many Scots are currently arguing that they do not have enough power and that the only way to truly make the best decisions for Scotland they need to have their own government system in place. Others argue, that a No vote for the referendum is better, for with it, they are not giving up the possibility of gaining more control, but rather, from a no vote a greater devolution would take place. 

As of this point, the current polls are:

No - 47%

Yes - 46%

Don’t Know- 7%

                

There is much or the UK’s system of government that I still yet to fully understand, there are so many different approaches that countries can set in place to be run successfully. Although I may not understand all of what is taking place, it has been fascinating keeping up with this news through the use of The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Wall Street Journal that are both located within the library, along with the BBC’s website. Having both of these newspapers and many more at the library are a wonderful resource to expand out of the “bubble” of college and keep connected with all that is taking place in the world.

Welcome to Cairn! It’s exciting isn’t it? All of the new people, new places, new sounds, new surroundings can be so exhilarating….. or, if you are like me when I first arrived, completely overwhelming! You suddenly feel like you were thrown into a Twilight Zone setting where you are expected to attend all of your classes, EVERY chapel, do all of the readings, papers, projects for EVERY class, oh and keep up a healthy regime of eating right at EVERY meal and exercising in the gym at the MAC. Not to mention all of the activities that help build community so of course you are obligated to go EVERY single one because who doesn’t want to be part of community?!

Stop. Take a deep breath. Count to ten. Let it out.

Before you get too far into the semester, let me offer you some tips that I have learned (and am still learning!):

Number 1: You don’t have to do it all. Yup I said it. Obviously homework is a must because without it we wouldn’t learn but don’t feel like you have to attend every activity this school has to offer. Think of them as options. If you like music, attend the music events that seem interesting to you. Or maybe you like to participate in sports, there is always a sporting event you can attend and cheer on the Highlanders! Intramurals are also a great way to be involved in sports. You get exercise and community; two for the price of one!

Number 2: Sometimes you have to use your chapel skips. They give us nine for a reason! Maybe you had a long night of studying and really need that 50 minute break in your schedule to recuperate. Take that time by yourself to refocus on the reason why you are doing all of this. Seek God’s strength to help you through. Pray, read the passage of Scripture that is most encouraging to you, and even sing songs that help draw you closer to God.

Number 3: The Library is here for YOU! Remember all of that reading and those papers you need to write? The Library is a great place to accomplish it all! It’s quiet all the time (unlike the dorms) and the Library staff are here to help you with researching topics and finding books.  There are even whole rooms set aside to help keep you focused on your task. Have a question? The student workers and Librarians will do their best to answer them! There are no “stupid” questions and we love to help!

(P.S Did you know we have a movie collection??? Stop in during the Library’s hours and pick up a movie to unwind from all of the homework you are working on!)

]Here’s to you Freshmen in having the best first semester of your college career!

Pray often, Laugh a lot, and hold on tight because college flies by quickly!

~Jenny