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Show Bdate J. Novelist Alix Ohlin to speak at Westminster Author of The Missing Person' to' initiate Honors Program Guest Lecture Series, lead discussion TiffenyTam Business Manager As part of the Common Ground, Westminster presents novelist Alix Ohlin as the first speaker for the 2007-- 08 Honors Program Guest Lecture Series. The Missing Person, one of the common reads honors students read over the summer, is reviewed by the Philadelphia Inquirer as a radiant debut ... smart and original with a Southwest so perfectly imagined the reader can smell the dust. Ohlin is a novelist and professor of English at Lafayette College in Eaton, Penn. Her work has appeared in several periodicals, earning her recognition and praise among critically acclaimed novelists. She has also earned the Best New American Voices 2004 and Best American Short Stories 2005 awards. For Ohlins presentation, entitled Writing the Desert: A Love Story, a Murder Mystery, she will read excerpts from The Missing Person and lead a discussion based on issues raised in her novel. The lecture will take place on Monday, Sept. 24, in the Gore Auditorium at 6 p.m. A book signing will follow the lecture. The Missing Person focuses on Lynn Fleming, a graduate student studying art history in New York. The disappearance of her younger brother, Wylie, leads Lynn home to Albuquerque. According to the publisher, Knopf, the novel is a story of a homecoming and coming of age, of convictions shaken and regained, of reconciliation. unspeakable loss and hard-wo- n Ohlins novel was originally considered as a possible common read for the campus according to Richard Badenhausen, professor and director of the Honors Program. Edward Abbe s Desert Solitaire was ultimately chosen instead. The Honors Council, whose common read program is now in its fourth year, decided to use The Missing Person as the honors common read in conjunction with Abbey s novel. It was viewed as a quick, but satisfying read that possessed interesting characters and an intriguing story, said Badenhausen. It also raised a host of different questions that could apply to a range of disciplines, which is important to the interdisciplinary Honors Program. Incoming honors students were expected to read Ohlins novel over the summer in order to discuss it during honors orientation. The discussion session was led by upper-cla- ss honors peer mentors. Serving in this leadership role is one way upper-cla- ss honors students, who are finished with their honors coursework, can continue their involvement in the program as well as develop some leadership skills, said Badenhausen. Students have reacted well to Ohlins novel. In fact, in a formal survey of honors students, more than three-fourt- hs of them preferred the Ohlin text to Abbeys book, said Badenhausen. During the honors orientation discussion session, some topics included the connotations of labeling some of the characters and what the authors attitude towards the ethics of building a city in the desert was. Ohlin plans to meet with honors students on Tuesday, Sept. 25, to lead a discussion with students who have read the book eco-terrori- sts, Active students rewarded with more housing options Influx of on-camp- us residents allows a select few the chance to live in a Tiauna Anderson Staff Writer By the looks of the packed housing, students have found that living on campus is a plus while going to Westminster. Every bed is full for the first time since the Residential Village opened in 1998. seWhat many dont know, however, is the best-ke- pt cret among college housing: the residential houses. Westminster currently owns six residential houses on-cam- pus residential houses better jump in line. Students given the opportunity to stay in the residential houses go through a strict screening process. Director of Residence Life Cullen Green describes the houses as a huge privilege and said students must be traditionally responsible to be given the trust of keeping up a Westminster home. In addition to the same expectations present in the Residential Village, Green said those applying for houses must go through an additional application process college-owne- d home this years residents were excited to hear that they could purchase their own plant life for a garden in the yard. We told them they were more than welcome to add some flowers if they wanted, he said. "We are entrusting the students with a home and we want to make sure it is being taken care of." Cullen Green Director of Residence Life around campus, and all are occupied by students and staff. For those students tired of the halls filled with commotion and activity, these houses, which usually hold three to four residents, are the ultimate privilege available while going to school. how living Junior Kathleen Ware knows first-hain the homes can be. Residential housing is great. she said. I didnt realize how claustrophobic I was while living in Behnken with five other roommates until I moved in here. Ware has only two other roommates in an entire house to share. Instead of being cramped in a small bedroom for privacy in her last place, Ware said she loves all the space for her things and the luxury of having plenty of room to do her homework where she is now. Anyone finding that they want to take advantage of nd based on class standing, leadership involvement, volunteer service involvement, GPA and judicial record. Green also said students chosen for the houses are usually known by the Office of Residence Life and are active participants around campus. The majority of those chosen for the houses are upperclassmen who have experienced a couple years on campus. After meeting the application criteria, students must also agree to the largest rule. There are absolutely no parties permitted in the houses, he said. We are entrusting the students with a home and we want to make sure it is being taken care of. Residential houses seem to be in good shape this year. Students chosen to live there this fall are even looking to spruce up the yard. Green said that a few of 3 Although students seem happy at the residential houses, not everything is as convenient at the houses as in the Residential Village. The cost each month is the same, but parking can sometimes be tight. In addition to occasionally tricky parking, students are required to purchase their own Internet service if they want to use it at home, although amenities like cable television and telephone are provided. There are also other problems that come with residing in an older house. Ware said there were a lot of power problems when she and her roommates moved in. If we had a light on and decided to use a blowdiyer at the same time it would kill our power, she said. That problem has since been solved, and Ware also said the college has been great at helping them with their different struggles while settling in. Overall, she said, it has been much more comfortable than it was in the village. "It has been much more comfortable than it was in the Residential Village." Kathleen Ware Junior Students looking for a little more privacy and room may find exactly what Ware did when looking into residential houses; however, they will have to be prepared not only for an extensive application process, but also to 1 beat out plenty of other applicants. SEPTEMBER 18, 2007 |