There are some noticeable new additions all around CU’s campus this year. But the additions that are the least noticeable may be the most important ones.

Campus safety has installed new surveillance cameras and a new emergency telephone. While these additions aren’t always the most eye-catching or crowd pleasing, they are the ones that keep our campus safe.

For several years, there have been emergency phones on CU’s campus. These blue colored emergency phones are located in various indoor and outdoor locations around CU.

 Outdoor emergency phone locations include the commuter parking lot, the parking lot outside the Bernice Hansen Center, and the back of the Bernice Hansen Center near the pond.

Other indoor emergency phones are located throughout campus buildings.

The newest emergency phone is located near Leonard St. just off the path surrounding the pond.

“The Leonard Street side location was elected due to the new pond walkway and because of the distance away from the center of our campus”, said Richard Honholt, Director of the Department of Campus Safety.

Each phone can be identified by blue paint or blue reflective tape.  Also, each phone is equipped with instructions for use and emergency contact numbers.

“We are trying to reasonably dot the campus with interior or exterior phones for use in emergencies,” Honholt said.

CU’s campus safety department is taking a proactive approach to prevent incidents before they happen by adding new systems of surveillance cameras.  Honholt has played a very active role in obtaining surveillance cameras for the CU community’s safety.

“When God placed me here about 7 years ago I felt we needed to install surveillance cameras,” Honholt said. “The technology is readily available and inexpensive, so we put it on the list,” Honholt said.

Since then, CU has purchased and installed cameras as donors or individual department budgets have allowed.

”We’ve been really creative with the budget,” Honholt said. There are currently 6 buildings and 2 special areas on campus equipped with cameras. CU is hoping for more funding for more surveillance cameras in order to ensure that the entire campus has camera coverage.

Bryan Johnston, the Director of Information Systems Operations Services and Support and his team assisted Honholt in selecting the camera units.

Information Systems also provided the labor for wiring and installing the surveillance equipment in the various buildings.

”We trained Richard Honholt in how to operate the systems and now he runs them,” Johnston said.

Each camera system has its own monitor that displays what the cameras are capturing. The footage caught by each system of cameras is fitted with DV+R recording equipment so footage can be monitored and reviewed if necessary.

“The camera system locations were determined by the security needs of the staff departments and students,” Johnston said, “Places that are secluded or have minimal foot traffic are monitored by cameras.”

Students interviewed were unaware of the security cameras and new telephone on campus. “I didn’t know,” said CU sophomore Melissa Vanleeuen, “but I feel safer now!” 

Another CU student, Jon-Michael Jones had not heard of the new safety additions on campus. “I feel safer being on CU’s campus knowing they have installed the new security system,” Jones said.

“It is important for our community members to understand that surveillance cameras are not big brother or sister interfering or spying on our community or our community citizens,” Richard Honholt said.  Rather, these surveillance cameras are for practical use to prevent those with ill intent and for use in post incident investigation.

Breathe Conference Returns

The annual Breathe conference is returning to Western Michigan.

“Breathe is a Christian writer’s workshop intended to equip and encourage,” said Cornerstone professor, Cynthia Beach, who is part of the planning committee.

The Breathe conference is for beginners as well as advanced writers, and all levels are invited to come. To encourage young writers in college to attend, Breathe is offering three scholarships to students at Cornerstone, as well as other Christian colleges such as Calvin, Aquinas, Kuyper, Hope and Cedarville. Students who receive these scholarships can attend the conference for $25, instead of the normal price of $125. 

 The conference started three years ago by the Writers’ Guild, a group of West Michigan writers serious about spirituality, including Beach and Ann Byle, another Cornerstone professor. Beach said it began as an “outgrowth of love for writing.”

 Beach said Breathe offers a “warm and tender atmosphere” where writers can improve their skills, but -just as important- connect with other writers. Unlike most writing conferences, Breathe is quite small, with around 50 attendees, on average. This gives it the added benefit of being much more personable.

 People attending this conference will have the chance to meet with the planning committee, workshop instructors and even the keynote speaker, Cecil Murphey, a bestselling author. The leaders at this conference have “no delusions of grandeur,” Byle said, and they “aren’t any different from other writers -just farther along the path.”

The goal of the conference is for writers to find renewal and encouragement. Beach said that it is hard for many beginning writers to believe that they have talent and skill. She hopes this conference will “add value to their writing” and allow them “to say yes.”

The Breathe conference offers 20 different workshops to choose from. These workshops include “Jump Start Your Writing Career,” taught by Byle, “Book Proposals: The Long and Short of It”, “Agenting 101”, “Clean Up Time: Taking a Second Look at Your Manuscript”, “Marketing Your Book: What Publishers and Booksellers Want to See”, and “The New World of Making Books: The Benefits of Self-Publishing.”

Breathe also offers very specialized workshops such as, “Devotionals and Bible Studies: Mining the Bible for Nuggets of Truth” and “I Think I Can, I Think I Can: Writing for Children, Ages 0-8.”

 The planning committee for Breathe has made sure to keep up with new trends in writing and has included workshops like “Taking Your Book One Step Further with Discussion Questions” and “Lights, Cameras, Action! Preparing Yourself for Media Interviews.” Each conference attendee can select up to five workshops to attend.

In addition to the workshops offered, there will also be two keynote addresses from Murphey. Murphey has published more than 100 books and is best known as the author of “90 Minutes in Heaven.” Murphey will be speaking about spirituality and writing.

His first address will take place Friday, Oct. 16 at 6:30 p.m. and is open to the public for $10. His second lecture is only for registered conference attendees and will be given at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17.  

The Breathe conference will take place Oct. 16-17 at Harvest Bible Chapel of West Olive. The church is located at 15020 Stanton, West Olive, Mich. The cost to attend both days is $125, but students with an ID can attend for only $75. To attend only one day, it is $75.  For more information and to register, visit their website at www.breatheconference.com.    

            Lucy Williams found herself praying the same prayer as many of her peers who graduated this past spring.  “Lord, please help me find a job.”

             In this economy, employment straight out of college is few and far in-between.  With the help of Cornerstone University Career Services, however, her job was found right outside the line for the cafeteria. 

            One day after lunch, Williams saw a booth set up for St. Christopher Camp and Conference Center.  She met the director of the program but had to run to class. “I came back later and he remembered me! Someone had given him my name and he handed me an application.”

            St. Christopher is on Seabrook Island in South Carolina.  It has 300 acres of beach, salt marsh and maritime forest on the Atlantic Ocean, about an hour south of Charleston.  It began as a summer camp for disadvantaged boys and is now a year round conference facility.  Williams works at the children’s summer camp as a naturalist (one who studies nature).  She graduated from Cornerstone in 2009 with a degree in environmental biology. 

             “During my senior year I was really nervous. I had been praying a lot about getting a job,” she said.  After meeting the director of the program, she applied and found out she got the job in March.  Williams moved to South Carolina the second week of August and began her job on August 19th.  She did not know anyone is South Carolina before taking the job.

            A lab assistant for Professor Roy Gates during her sophomore year, Williams has always loved biology.  She also really enjoys being in the company of children and the great outdoors, so this job was truly an answer to her prayers. 

            “It is cool when I can introduce a kid to something they have never seen before. They get really excited about it, especially the dolphins!” she said.  Williams and the 13 other naturalists teach hands-on science classes on topics ranging from aquatic life to sand dunes.  They spend a day out in a boat casting large nets out and learning about different types of marine life they catch.

            Students who are entering grades three through 12 come for weeklong sessions. The Naturalists do not live with the campers, as a counselor would.  Instead they teach them during the day, play games and have camp fires at night.

            St. Christopher is a Christian camp and Williams, along with the other faculty, have staff worship once a week. They are also encouraged to grow in their walk with the Lord and read their Bibles together and on their own.  “It is great having accountability with those who work with you,” Williams said.

            Williams would encourage students to stop by the booths set up in the Corum.  She felt very encouraged by the way she got the job and hopes that more students can find employment in such a way. 

            “Having organizations and companies come in is a great idea because you actually get to talk to a real person.  They are there for you.”  She recognized that most students just walk by the booths and tables but tells that students should take the time to see what’s out there. They may just find their dream job.

            All of Lucy Williams’ passions have combined to land her a job on the beautiful, seacoast of South Carolina.  Her love for the environment, biology and children has come together in the form of a job she found a few steps away from Cornerstone University’s cafeteria.  Williams will continue to live in South Carolina until May and then reapply to work at St. Christopher for another season.

By Longan Nguyen

Leadership Journey, a program for incoming Cornerstone students, has been replaced after seven years by a new program called Terra Firma.

Terra Firma, meaning “solid ground” in Latin, is a program to help new students build a firm spiritual foundation for the start of their college career. Chuck Swanson, vice president for Spiritual Formation and dean of community life, was one of the key speakers at Terra Firma.

“First, it became clear that students were entering CU with less and less of a biblical foundation, which was a needed foundation for Leadership Journey to work,” Swanson said.

“We decided to develop a program that would provide a good biblical foundation for all of our students,” he said. “Second, we needed to find ways to cut the costs of this experience, and much of the expense was tied to the purchase of the Leadership Journey curriculum.  We believed we had a good team to put together the curriculum and a program to reach the learning objectives for this program.” 

Swanson explains the difference between Terra Firma and its predecessor, including the focus on what he calls the “Four C’s.”

“Leadership Journey was a program that primarily focused on the development of leadership skills and understanding the role of self, others, action and community,” he said. “Terra Firma focuses on developing a foundation as a follower of Jesus with an emphasis on Christ, community, character, and culture.”

Both programs focus on service, but Terra Firma stresses discipleship. Swanson thinks the new program is better because it more readily aligns with the mission, identity, and vision of CU under the leadership of Dr. Stowell.

Though the program itself has changed, the framework is still similar and still counts for course credit. All incoming students are separated into groups, typically ranging from 12 to 13 people, and everyone involved in the Terra Firma program will spend half a week days at the Grace Adventures campsite, a week before classes start.

Every Terra Firma group is led by a “sherpa” (inspired by Tibetan culture), guides who have already experienced the program the year prior. Each group also has a Cornerstone University Facilitator, or “CUF,” who lead group discussions and grade assignments. Some facilitators who are currently Cornerstone students called Student Cornerstone University Facilitators, or “SCUFs.”

In addition to CUFs and sherpas, “sirdars” are also appointed to lead sherpas and help coordinate the program.

“[Sirdar] tasks include preparing for the sherpas to come, planning and setting up Lawn Olympics, and constructing and organizing the new spiritual pathways,” Hannah Straul said. Straul is a junior who was a sherpa last year, and got the Sirdar position for this school year.

Like Leadership Journey, Terra Firma groups will be part of a designated volunteer project that will meet throughout the year. Groups will meet with their affiliated organizations bimonthly, while gathering to having group discussions on the weeks they aren’t volunteering.

Meredith Laden, a sophomore who applied and received the position of sherpa, appreciated both of the programs as a freshman last year and a sherpa this year.

“I loved my Leadership Journey experience and I knew I wanted to be involved my sophomore year as a sherpa,” Laden said. “My sherpa was very influential and helpful during my freshman year, so I wanted to be that for the incoming freshmen.”

Throughout the week at Grace Adventures, chapel-like events called “mosaics” were held with key speakers.

“The mosaics challenged me and reiterated everything I’ve been taught at CU so far about what it means to follow Christ, what true Christian community looks like and how we as Christ-followers can positively affect our culture,” Straul said.

“I had an awesome experience mainly because of my SCUF, Kyle Szucs, and my sherpa, Mandi Muha,” Josiah Daniels said. “My group, Ember, was also the greatest group ever, probably.”

Daniels, a freshman, will be volunteering with his Terra Firma group at Sabaoth, a ministry that mentors to the inner-city youth of Grand Rapids.

“Terra Firma was really enjoyable and I am excited to see the potential of this entering class become a reality,” Swanson said.

By Aleka C. Thrash

Rosetta Stone online language learning tools is accessible to the entire Cornerstone University community and can be used as a supplement to taking a language course or in preparation for a global experiences.

“It’s a great opportunity us to give students, faculty and staff an option to learn foreign languages” Michael Pasquale humanities division chair, and associate professor of linguistics said.

“If student are going on a mission trip they can include [learning the language] as part of the preparation process,” Pasquale said.

Rosetta Stone is offered at a discount to those interested including: traditional undergraduate, Professional and Graduate Studies (PGS), Grand Rapids Theological Seminary, faculty and staff. 

“Rosetta Stone is something that is online so it’s easily accessible to our students who are geography dispersed or student who what to access whenever they want, when every they have the time,” Trevor McCready, director of instructional technology said.

According to McCready the idea to offer an online language program, originated from the Professional and Graduate Studies (PGS) division.

“Looking at [how] it was possible to bring language to student’s partiality going on global trips that may not a have a requirement to take a language course,” said McCready.

Rosetta Stone is used by the United States Military, companies involved in global business practices, State Department and offers one of the best technology-based platforms for learning languages.

“We looked at Rosetta as being a quality name in terms of their success in helping people learning language, so we pursued that and were able to bring it to campus,” McCready said.

Although the language program is not offered for credit, it can be used as a supplement to courses offered or in preparation for global experiences. 

“This gives us access to language we don’t currently have, it’s not in competition to our courses I think it just complements,” Pasquale said.

With Rosetta Stone, Cornerstone is able to offer many more languages that may not available through traditional study.

“We don’t have a Italian class but a student can do the Rosetta Stone and a learn basic understanding,” Pasquale said.

Rosetta Stone is an interactive online program and each language comes with lessons at multiple levels of difficulty. 

“Rosetta Stone gives an option to help [students] while taking Spanish courses, it’s a lot cheaper than buying [cds] from the bookstore or somewhere else”, “its online so you can assess it wherever,” Pasquale said.

The available languages are:  Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Dutch, English (British), English (American), Filipino (Tagalog), French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Irish, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Persian (Farsi), Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Spanish (Latin America), Spanish (Spain), Swedish, Turkish and Vietnamese.

“Most people want to be able to speak a foreign language but they don’t really know how to begin. Some people are not able to take a class… this is [another] option,” Pasquale said.

The language of your choice can access from anywhere via the Web, and can use as frequently as you wish for up to six-months from when you register. 

“As Christians we need to be open to learning language not just because it’s fun and interesting, which I think it is, but we may need to come across people who speak other languages, just here in Grand Rapids to talk with them in their language I think is a great thing,” Pasquale said.

The cost for six-months of online access is $125 and one language is offered at that price.

Forms are available in Odyssey go to CU Links, Instructional Technology, Content, Online Language Lab Request Form (Rosetta Stone) or for more information contact McCready at trevor_s_mccready@cornerstone.edu or 616-254-1656.

by Tamara Jackson

The production was based on a book written by Marsha Norman, who won the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for her drama. On March 31, 1983, “Night, Mother” opened on Broadway.

“It allows people to experience emotions that they do not run into every day,” said senior theater major, Jeanne Peake, who directed the production. This represents the first time, Cornerstone has allowed a student to choose a script and conduct a full stage production.

“I feel like theater is about revealing truth, and I feel that as Christians that is what we are ultimately called to do, to reveal truth,” said Peake. “Sometimes as Christians we shy away from the topics that are hard to deal with.”

In the production, the story centers on the relationship of the two main characters, Mama and Jessie. As the story unfolds in the comfort of their kitchen and living room setting, Jessie expresses her hopelessness, anger and frustration to her mother and reveals her future plans of committing suicide. In a struggle for her daughter’s life, Mama desperately tries to challenge and change Jessie’s state of mind on the issue.

“I am really excited that Cornerstone was allowing it because I think that it opens up the opportunity to discuss this kind of issue because suicide is real for everyone,” said Melissa Baker, who played the role of Jessie. “I think it is something that the Christian community should address.”

Baker is a senior at Cornerstone and is majoring in elementary education. Even though she is not a theater major or minor, Baker has enjoyed being involved in theater whether it is acting, backstage or stage managing.

“In the beginning, Jessie is determined that she can convince Mama to still let her go, but over time she realizes that’s not going to happen, she then has to make a decision whether she is going to stay for Mama or do it anyway,” said Baker.

Also co-starring with Baker is Sherryl Despres, a local Grand Rapids actress who played Mama in her first Cornerstone theater production. Despres first heard about the role opportunity while working with Jennifer Hunter in “Bunnicula” at Civic Theater and in “Snow White” at Circle Theater.

“I have not done a role like this,” said Despres, who actually cried in the role of Mama. “This was 60 pages of text and only two people in the show that never leave the stage. It is so brilliantly written that even if we don’t do our job, people are still going to leave here entertained.”

In doing this production, it is also the first time that Cornerstone has done a partnership with another organization other than another college. Following each production of “Night, Mother,” a panel discussion organized by the Healthy Kent 2010 Suicide Prevention Coalition answered questions and educated the audience toward greater awareness of suicide.

“I wanted to be able to reveal a different kind of brokenness without being offensive or in people’s faces, but still giving people the opportunity to get insight into a broken person’s life,” said Peake.

Peake describes Mama and Jessie as being normal people in the same way that everyone is broken in some way. She believes that it is important to show the devastation that suicide leaves behind when taking society’s view of an “easy way out.”

“It is not worth it. That is something that we need now more than ever, we need to see that hope,” said Peake. “And yeah things get hard and stuff happens, but you move on and see what happens next.”

by Katlin Oberlin

You can’t judge a book by its cover, and you can’t judge a restaurant by its building. The Wealthy St. Station is a mechanic’s shop turned deli.

When you walk into the Wealthy St. Station you may feel like it’s a mechanic’s shop. You order from the counter, and the menu is either on a poster board on the left, or in paper form on the counter for you to take home.

A very friendly waiter/server/cashier takes your order and lets you know when your food is ready. There are only about three tables for customers to sit at inside, so it seems that more people order their food by phone and pick it up.

Sophomore Abby Stoner and I decided to eat outside at one of the four patio furniture tables. It was fairly windy, but the sun was shining and the air was warm. When our food was ready, the friendly man at the counter who took our order let us know that our food was ready by banging on the garage door, and we went inside to get our food.

We sat and rocked out to 97 LAV-FM which just happens to be West Michigan’s “home” for classic rock — the typical music you hear when you go to have your car fixed, oil changed or tires repaired. We truly felt like mechanics taking a lunch break outside the shop, enjoying a hefty meal. There was also a mural painted on a wall next to the diner which provided something to look at while we ate.

I ordered the veggie sandwich with fries, which was hot and delicious. Abby ordered the chicken sandwich with fries. Our food came in fry baskets, and they gave us a bottle of ketchup to share. The fries had some sort of seasoning and were nice and thick, not crunchy or mushy, but just right. We also ordered drinks. The Wealthy St. Station offers a beverage choice in an abnormal fashion. Instead of the typical fountain pop, you order a drink by the can. They have Coke and Pepsi products. I ordered the delicious Black Cherry Cream Soda and Abby got a can of Coca-Cola. When you have finished eating, you take your basket, can, and ketchup bottle back to the counter and they take care of the rest.

From the counter, where you order your food, you can see everything. They have large glass coolers with the beverages, and you can watch the chefs grill and prepare your food. The menu of the Wealthy St. Station is very diverse. They have a mix of starters and sides, dinner baskets, an American menu, Polish menu, Mexican menu, and a kids menu. They also have substitutes for vegetarians on almost all of their sandwiches. This diner has a soup of the day, ice cream and two slushy machines.

People who love restoring old cars will especially love the Wealthy St. Station. Signs and pictures of vintage cars and auto-mechanic product brands covered the walls, creating a true mechanic’s atmosphere.

It takes about seven minutes to get to the Wealthy St. Station from Cornerstone and it is located on the corner of Wealthy and Fuller. They are open Monday through Saturday at 11 a.m. for lunch and dinner. They are closed on Sunday. This diner may not look so appealing on the outside, but the food inside is delicious! The Wealthy St. Station creates the auto-mechanic atmosphere, so Get Out!, put on your collared shirt with your name stitched in the corner, and feel like a mechanic when you try their delectable food.

by Lisa Heasley

She never imagined she would publicly speak for a living, but God led her into teaching, she said. At 24 years old, she came back to CU to teach English.

After the current spring semester, Beach will be done teaching full time at Cornerstone.

Beach said the timing has not been her choice, and she is very sad about leaving. Her years at CU taught her many things, gained her many friends and brought her out of her shell.

“Being a professor helped me to get out of myself. I was really shy when I began. Teaching taught me how to step over myself,” Beach said.

Her students have always been important to her.

“There’s a sense of humility in that I’m honored by those who are open to be challenged and changed, and trust me for that. Some students move through without opening themselves, but some do and that is the real joy in teaching,” Beach said.

Beach said every year there are a few students who are particularly important to her, and she forms close relationships with them. She even stood in a wedding for a student years ago.

Two students she mentioned who are close to her are junior Libby Burton and sophomore Jorge Jaramillo. Burton and Jaramillo are both sad to see Beach go.

“I am honestly left a little bit speechless when it comes to words to express how much Professor Beach means to me. She has been a light and breath of encouragement over the past year,” Burton said. “Through the constant care, passion and love Professor Beach has in her heart for her students, writing and life I am encouraged to seek out my passion of writing. I may be inexperienced, unpublished and young, but she has consistently provided advice, support and wisdom to cultivate this gift.”

Beach said something she’s loved in teaching writing is when students “give what they have,” and read what they have written to their classmates.

“Seeing them choose this, standing in front of their peers, swallowing hard and reading moves me tremendously,” she said. “I about bust with joy. They are learning to hear their own voice. It’s enormous risk, and some choose it.”

Jaramillo said he is saddened by Beach leaving.

“We learn a lot of things in college, but so far nothing has stood out to me like Intro to Literature with Professor Beach. I loved all the discussion that occurred in that course. Everything seemed to directly apply to my life in some way,” he said. “I felt like I was truly learning something in a class that many people, quite frankly, often blow off and take lightly.”

“I’ve loved when, in Intro to Lit class, students grapple with Emily Dickinson or Wendell Berry,” Beach said. “They enter the struggle that making meaning demands and stay with it. Then, their faces brighten. There can be such an ‘aha’ moment. Moments like that thrill me.”

One thing Beach loved about teaching at CU was the ability to be able to talk about God with students in class. She said it was significant to her that she could pray at the start of class and invite God into the room and believe he is there.

“I am endlessly thankful for her time and encouragement to continue to show my talent,” Burton said. “God has blessed her immensely to be a blessing unto others.”

Jaramillo said he hopes he can impact lives someday as Beach has.

“People may pride themselves in their ability to compute complex math equations in math and science but I will be too distracted to hear them, knowing simpler, and in my opinion much more profound things concerning suffering, hope and love,” Jaramillo said. “Suffering, hope and love in and of themselves are not simple matters but even the simple truths buried in them are like gold to me. Nobody on this planet is an exception to certain things. We all bleed. We all cry. We all love. We all hate. We all want to be loved. We all want to be forgiven. I’ve learned all this and more from Professor Beach.”

One word fits this non-traditional coffee shop: simple. Melissa Kersjes and I headed straight through the heart of Grand Rapids, and found ourselves at the corner of Monroe Center and Ottawa.

This coffee shop called Madcap has large windows with bench seating that overlooks the “big” tourist sections of Grand Rapids such as Van Andel Arena, the Grand Rapids Art Museum and Rosa Parks Circle.

This place doesn’t really cater to the typical coffee shop ollege crowd. You will only find real coffee.

They don’t have any artificial flavors like peppermint or strawberry syrup, only honey and cinnamon.

The menu is quite small as they have limited choices on espressos, cappuccinos, lattes, steamers and slow brewed coffee.

You do not typically see teens or even young adults drinking plain coffee, so Madcap is geared towards hardcore coffee drinkers/adults.

Madcap coffee would be the perfect place to have a business meeting or for two old friends to catch up.

You definitely wouldn’t want to walk in with your sweats and do homework for hours on end. Instead it’s the perfect place to bring your boss, and talk about professional things, in a professional setting.

However, the easy environment creates a place where you will not be distracted and where you could focus to get some work done.

The stone tables, contemporary seating, and acoustic guitar music provide a different feeling of relaxation than your typical coffee shop. It also was fairly bright at Madcap, and they even use CFL light bulbs, to help the environment.

Beautiful pictures of waterfalls from faraway lands hung on the wall, creating the desire to fly south for the winter, just like the birds.

This high class coffee shop does have the typical high ceilings, wood floors and a chalk board menu sign; it’s more sophisticated. It is very spacious which made it really quiet, and Melissa and I felt as though we had to whisper.

For Monroe Center, this building is definitely one of the classiest coffee shops, or even stores, on the block.

The employees helped us decide what we wanted to drink, and if they didn’t have what we wanted, they had alternatives.

So we ordered lattes with cinnamon and honey.

Madcap coffee truly knows how to make beautiful art out of a drink.

Melissa’s foam looked like a leaf, and mine resembled a heart.

We didn’t want to drink our coffee for fear of destroying the beautiful design. I personally do not like the taste of the foam on top, but the liquid was delicious.

Madcap coffee employees are Mac lovers, as even the cash register is hooked up to a Mac computer.

Bringing in your Dell computer might not be ideal. You also cannot expect to be able to go to Madcap in the evening.

They are only open until 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, so going after a night class is not really an option, but it might encourage you to not wait to do homework until late at night, like most college students do.

However, on Friday and Saturday’s they are open till 11 p.m., so on the weekend you could go and get homework done.

Melissa and I left Madcap feeling trendy and sophisticated. This coffee shop could be for you, so Get Out!, take your boss out for coffee, and enjoy the ride downtown.

by Lauren Hines

Katie Winne is helping to tackle cancer.

“Everyone will be touched by cancer in some way in their life. It may be them, a family member or a friend, but they will be touched by cancer,” said Winne, a former Cornerstone resident director.

Winne, 29, earned her master’s degree in leadership and counseling from Crown College in Minnesota.

She worked with incoming freshmen for three years as Crown’s resident life director.

Winne followed God’s calling to Cornerstone University in April 2006. This move was somewhat of a promotion, making Winne not only a resident director, but also the area coordinator in charge of all freshman dorms.

But after the five years of living in a freshman residence hall on top of working as an admissions counselor for two years prior to that, Winne was “ready to leave college world.”

As she was searching for a new job, she just happened to stumble across a position opening with the American Cancer Society on CareerBuilder.com

After a seven-part interview, Winne was hired as manager of the Hope Lodge in Grand Rapids.

The Hope Lodge is a complementary adult residential facility for adults going through cancer treatment who are traveling from outside of the area to get treatment in a Grand Rapids hospital.

“Not having to worry about where to stay or how to pay for lodging allows Hope Lodge guests to focus on the most important thing: getting well,” according to the American Cancer Society Web site.

But more than providing free lodging, the Hope Lodge is a community where cancer patients can meet with and be encouraged by care-givers and others who are going through the same experiences.

Winne knew that her past experience with residence life would be an asset to her as she took her new job.

“I’ve been in the community living arena for seven years. It helped knowing how to manage a building and to interact with people,” she said. “Community gets messy. We all know that, and to have had the experience of managing a community setting really helped.”

Her experience with managing buildings and residence life and applying that to people who were in need of housing while going through cancer is what attracted Winne to her new position.

But despite the blessing it is to people, it’s not always easy.

“Sometimes you see people come in, and they are positive they will beat cancer; and then as the weeks go by you see them decline and look frail,” Winne said. “It’s hard to watch that.”

But the hope it instills in people makes it worth it.

“I always hear that Hope Lodge is a Godsend. People have literally cried in front of me saying that they didn’t know what they would have done without Hope Lodge,” Winne said.

“I had one lady share that she wouldn’t have gotten treatment because she couldn’t afford the drive back and forth to treatment every day until she heard that Hope Lodge was free and available to her.”

In the few months that she’s worked there, Winne said she has learned a lot.

“There is joy in everything. I’ve never experienced such joy in such a hard time,” Winne said. “The people here are so happy to be here to be with others that are going through the same diagnosis. They help each other. It’s amazing to see people from all walks of life rally around each other.”

The organic soothing aroma of brewing tea filled our lungs and immensely brought comfort to our minds. Global Infusion offers this relaxation through their 50 different choices of tea.

This little coffee and tea bar is bursting with color.

Trinkets and decorations cover the walls. We also saw beautiful paintings of some faraway destination which makes one want to be there instead of in this cold Michigan weather.

When you first walk into this small shop, you think it contains merely gifts and accessories that were imported from Africa. One word describes Global Infusion perfectly: eclectic.

After walking through and looking at all of the bags, tea kettles, plates and jewelry, we noticed that one of the walls was covered in book shelves that contained teas of all kinds.

Jars with white lids and little labels consumed our eyes as we read through the assortment of teas.

I couldn’t even begin to list all of the teas that Global Infusion has, it would take up this entire column.

We saw a man filling a bag with tea leaves and wondered how we went about getting something to drink.

After browsing through the store, we were greeted by a friendly employee, and we asked her to lead us to the most popular teas.

Global Infusion has teas of basically every flavor, as well as decaf teas.

Global Infusion supports Fair Trade, and they offer many such goods.

They have baskets, stone pieces, cookbooks and foods, jewelry and bags, hats and scarves, CDs, coffee, tea and chocolate, which they paid for at the fair trade price.

As we were browsing the store, we heard a woman ask for their shampoos and conditioners.

Who would have thought that this tea store would have organic shampoos and conditioners? Those must be good for your hair.

There were five tables in the front portion of the store so one can sit, have a good laugh with a friend, reflect on a hard day’s work, or simply enjoy a warm cup of tea.

My friend and I ordered the Jasmine green tea which tasted like gingerbread, and gave us an interesting little sting down our throats.

The next time I go, I want to try their Rainforest Chocolate Tea, which is a favorite among many customers.

Global Infusion is a tea & coffee bar, but in reality, it is so much more.

They have coffee, tea, lattes, chai, which is homemade and even baked goods from Marie Catribs, which is just down the road.

They also have a monthly drink feature. Global Infusion has an interesting policy called BYOB (bring your own bottle).

They do not have bottled water any more but will gladly fill your water bottle or give you a take-out cup of water for free.

They have a new reverse osmosis water filter, and judging by the name alone, it must be healthy.

They also give away moving boxes, which you can pick up at the back of their store for free. In the summer, they have patio seating on their nice wooden deck, in the front of the shop.

The drive to Global Infusion is not far; it only takes seven minutes from Cornerstone—just a little over four miles.

So grab a friend, and Get Out! to this nice coffee and tea bar that will make all your stress float away.

Spring break finally came for Cornerstone University students during the second week of March. Many were looking forward to putting the school books down and picking the sunglasses up; taking trips to a warmer location, or just relaxing.

A group of CU students did head to a warmer climate in Memphis, Tenn., but they did not to take a break. They were there to work.

The trip to Memphis was one of three Global Opportunities trips that took place over spring break, March 13-19.

“The Memphis team worked with an organization called Service Over Self (SOS),” said Gerald Longjohn, director of ministry development.

“SOS has targeted one of the most dangerous and under-resourced neighborhoods in the nation, and the organization has established a center that equips groups to come in and learn about the neighborhood,” Longjohn said.

SOS works with groups to help people of the neighborhood cleanup, renovate, do yard work and other miscellaneous chores.

Longjohn said, “A request for the trip was made late last summer by Crystal Richards, a CU alumna who has a connection with SOS from past experiences.”

“The appealing thing to me was that it offered a genuine cross cultural experience,” Longjohn said. “It is a ministry that captures the Gospel well.”

Heidi Chinn, CU senior and one of the members of the GO team to Memphis, said she was encouraged to work with SOS by Richards for the last three years. When the trip was an option over spring break, she knew that Memphis was where she was supposed to spend her break.

“Now that I’m back, I cannot deny that the team was there for God’s purposes and that we all took away something different, something unforgettable, and are charged to seek God’s direction in ministry,” Chinn said via e-mail.

Chinn explained the reason why the organization helps people in the neighborhood.

“Many people of that community fear that property values will rise and the people of the neighborhood will no longer be able to afford their homes,” she said. “SOS exists to help people living in poor conditions to gain a sense of ownership over their property while giving the SOS staff and campers opportunities to serve by cutting down trees, painting, planting flowers, installing a new roof, and above all, by serving in the name of Christ.”

Chinn had the opportunity to go with SOS site leader Marlyn “Big Dog” Brown one afternoon on an errand. She was expecting to help him pick up more tools from SOS and return promptly to the work site, but God had other plans, she said.

Brown and Chinn went to a bus station to deliver groceries to a man who was leaving his wife and baby and was headed to see some family in another city.

“This man’s story made me scream inside, and by the time we arrived at the station, I did not even want to see his face for fear that I would only become more angry because of the things he’d done,” Chinn said.

Upon arriving at the site, the man was nowhere to be seen until they walked out back by the parked buses. Chinn delivered the groceries to the man herself.

“I handed over the groceries to a man who was wearing a huge grin and spouted many thanks,” Chinn said. “Needless to say, God taught me through the man at the bus station, through a woman so large she couldn’t get out of bed, and through a crack addict and alcoholic that He’s bigger than it all. His love stretches beyond the smell of urine or booze, beyond the dirt and grime, and beyond the mistakes and forgives.”

The week-long trip held a lot of hard, manual work for the GO team, but the consensus is that it was worth it.

“Hand’s down, everybody says it was excellent,” Longjohn said.

In 2007, the Global Learning Center of Grand Rapids Theological Seminary formed a partnership with the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Liberia (ETSEL).

According to the GRTS Web site, the objective of GATE (Global Access to Theological Education) is to partner with indigenous seminaries to offer credible contextualized graduate training for ministry.

The partnership between GRTS and ETSEL started with connections between Dave Livermore, executive director of the Global Learning Center, and the president of ETSEL in Liberia.

According to Peter Osborn, assistant professor and dean of graduate student services, the president of ETSEL had a passion for a seminary based in Liberia that was started and run by Liberians. GRTS had an interest in taking graduate theological education to international students, rather than having the international students come to the US.

“The reason is because when international students come to the USA, they often don’t return to their home country,” Osborn said via e-mail.

Livermore said, through a variety of relationships, GRTS was invited to come along side ETSEL.

“We’re committed to working with indigenous seminaries working in places where there are limited options for seminary education,” Livermore said via e-mail. “Liberia fit our grid.”

According to Livermore, the school started with five to seven students, and in June 2009, the first class of GATE students will graduate.

“I am very excited about this first class graduating because one of the things the students have been doing during their education is taking what they learned in the classroom and immediately going across the country of Liberia and sharing it with other ministry leaders,” Osborn said. “I am very excited, because once these students graduate, they will be able to continue to serve and teach in even greater ways.”

Livermore also expressed his feelings about the first GATE class graduating.

“Our greatest satisfaction is in seeing what the Liberian church has done to make this happen,” he said. “This isn’t a story of the great white seminary coming in to rescue Africa. The greatest hope for Liberia lies in the Liberian church. This graduating class is a testimony to that most of all.”

Through the partnership, GRTS sends faculty to Liberia to teach one week modules that coincide with courses being taught by ETSEL faculty. Likewise, ETSEL sends their faculty to GRTS for one week modules to teach a West African understanding of Scripture, theology and ministry.

Livermore has been to Liberia several times, and said being there is a very rich experience.

“You teach under the palm trees. The leaders are highly motivated to learn, and I spend as much time having them share in the teaching,” he said.

Livermore’s first trip to Liberia left him hungry, literally.

“The first time I went, I asked our host when we should break for lunch, to which he responded, ‘We typically only eat one meal a day. While we’re in class today, our children are selling water or doing whatever the rest of the family can do to earn enough money so we can eat a small meal tonight. So eat whenever you wish.’ Obviously, I went without lunch that week,” he said.

Osborn has been to the school twice.

“My experience was very rewarding. Although I was asked to come and teach at ETSEL, in many ways it was the students and leaders there that taught me,” he said. “The Liberian students are gifted collaborative learners, and the teaching and learning experience was rich and rewarding, for both them and myself.”

The GATE program in Liberia is the first partnership for GRTS.

Possible expansions are in Northern India and Southwest China.

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His job titles range from stage director to director of Credo to professor, but after this semester, Randall Burghart will say goodbye to his many titles and goodbye to Cornerstone.

“Cornerstone was, for a long time, a really joyous place to be,” Burghart said.

This joyous experience began when he attended Cornerstone as a student, and he found some of his professors to be “significant mentors.”

“They modeled exactly what I wanted to be … once I ended up teaching,” he said. “[It] was genuine care for me, certainly as a student and a musician.”

Among other professors he mentioned, he said his trumpet teacher Greg Good was more like a Zen master to him because of the respect Burghart had for him and the example Good set.

Burghart said he was not only held accountable “in the name of some abstract idea of excellence, but a mutual accountability with each other before God.”

He said his professors taught him a teacher does not just dispense knowledge, but also invites people into the space in their life in which they can flourish.

“I have found in the practice of music to bring life and flourishing to my community,” Burghart said. “If we aren’t offering what we have as a gift, I wonder whether we are ever able to serve.”

Not only has Burghart gained knowledge from his mentors when he attended college, he has also found “intellectual iron” in the persons of Michael Stevens, professor of English, Matthew Bonzo, associate professor of philosophy, and Michael VanDyke, associate professor of English.

“I have to thank my dear friends Stevens, Bonzo and VanDyke who have taught me so much,” Burghart said as he choked up, almost unable to continue.

In addition to Stevens, Bonzo and VanDyke, Burghart said Rick Railsback, assistant professor of interdisciplinary studies, was also a valued colleague and mentor.

“His style of scholarship and his breadth and depth of … erudition is quite an inspiration to me,” he said.

The final mentor Burghart thanked was Dave Landrum, “whose easy-going manner made him so approachable,” he said.

Burghart also mentioned how much the students at CU have had an impact on him individually and on his family.

“Cornerstone has been a really joyous part of my family life,” he said.

Over the years, Burghart has had more than 100 students visit his house and said, “Nothing is more heartbreaking to face the prospect that my children aren’t going to be exposed to that anymore.”

“There is no efficient formula for the relationship between a student and a teacher,” he said. But he said nothing can replace sitting with each other face to face and communing with each other around great ideas.

“I have had some incredible students whose inquisitive spirits, thirst for knowledge and love of music making had made the task of teaching and all the things that go with it pure joy,” Burghart said.

He named several of these students; Lauren Root, Nathan Reynolds, CU graduate Elizabeth McDaniel, Megan Tibbits, Rachel Schaefer, Kyle Juresich and Reagan Boomershine. Most of these students he worked with during “Little Women,” CU’s musical last year.

These students have not only touched his life, but Burghart also affected their lives.

Sophomore Reagan Boomershine, who has been influenced by Burghart in fine arts class, Chorale, Credo and “Seussical the Musical” in addition to “Little Women,” said, “He’s a really strong father figure. He really has a heart for students.”

“He’s shown me what our job as Christian artists is and how we should cultivate our skills and use them for the Lord, not for ourselves,” Boomershine said.

While she said Burghart has taught her a lot about music, that knowledge has taken “the back burner” to what she has learned from him spiritually.

Another student who has been touched by Burghart is Junior Megan Tibbits.

“Burghart is a light to this campus,” Tibbits said. “The way he loves his students is so evident. His heart shows through his work.”

“I have been blessed by how much he cares for his students individually,” Tibbits said. “Burghart asks about our lives. He is sensitive to our needs outside of the classroom. He invites us over for parties.”

Tibbits said she had been “inspired by his intelligence and his wisdom … intrigued by his stories … [and] grown in music by watching his leadership.

Even though Burghart must leave the place where he has grown so much, affected many and been touched by so many individuals, he has still learned several things as he faces a new season of his life.

“Life isn’t fair,” Burghart said. He has learned there is a time to downsize as he joins the other 12 percent of Michigan residents unemployed, and he said it has not been a fun lesson to learn.

However, he said, “It is also a great opportunity to turn and learn to trust in God. I’ve not lost a minute of sleep [with] anxious thoughts over the future.”

And through his overall experience at CU, he has learned, “The best any of us can do is pour our lives into other people.”

Tibbits believes he had done so and said, “He wears his love on his sleeve, and it blesses everyone he encounters.”

Burghart attended CU from 1989 to 1994 and has worked at CU since 1995, but because of harsh economic times and school cuts, he will not be able to experience CU much longer.

Sixteen lead roles, seven performances, nine Dr. Seuss children’s books, two months of rehearsals, numerous Whos … the number of elements in Cornerstone University’s spring stage production is almost too high to count.

But when it comes to costume design, “Seussical the Musical” is a one-woman show.

Cornerstone Costume Director Nancie Smith is the visionary and sweat behind the dramatic attire worn by the actors and actresses who have graced the school’s stage for the past 15 years.

Whether the performance is set in the throes of the Victorian Period or in a mystical Seussian world, Smith is the go-to woman for costumes.

And this seamstress is flying solo.

“A lot of other schools who do this stuff have a team of costumers,” Smith said, mentioning that she has been training a few students who do the costumes for one of CU’s four annual shows. “When it comes to the shows I’m a part of, I pretty much do it all.”

For Smith, “doing it all” includes researching characters’ personalities, organizing and improving old costumes, discussing ideas with directors, visualizing new costumes, gathering fabrics and sewing every stitch.

“It gets a little stressful – I only have six to eight weeks to do the costumes for a show,” she said.

Smith once had to make 110 costumes for a single show.

“It’s hard keeping organized enough to do a whole show by myself.”

Smith said the job is also about stewardship.

When she became CU’s costume designer in 1994, costumes were kept in what was called “The Cage” – a group of two-by-fours surrounded by chicken wire.

“It was just an absolute mess. Things were everywhere; nothing was organized,” she said. “I couldn’t believe it. I thought, ‘This is a stewardship area that’s being neglected; there’s money being invested, and no one’s taking care of them.’”

Smith spent her entire first day on the job picking up costumes, desperate searching for The Cage’s floor. Now, her costume shop is lined with rows of costumes on hangers, and she can easily tell if a piece is missing.

“What amazes people when they come over to borrow or rent a costume is that I’ll go right to it and pull it,” she said. “It’s funny because they’ll say things like, ‘Do you know everything you have here?’ and I say, ‘Well, pretty much, yes.’”

Not an easy task when her office holds over 5,000 costumes ranging from Victorian to modern styles.

Smith said her favorite pieces are ones made for Victorian Period productions.

“I love the Victorian period. They added so much detail to not only the front of their outfits but the back of them,” she said. They added ruffles, they added lace – they added all kinds of beautiful, beautiful details to the dresses.”

However, she said designing costumes for Seussical has been a nice break from other productions.

“I’m having a ball doing Seussical because it’s creative. They can be really fun and crazy costumes,” Smith said. “It’s been a lot of fun to just totally create something whimsical.”

But the Seussical costumes are more than just polka dots and feathers. Each costume not only emphasizes the abstract feel of Dr. Seuss’ works, but complements and adds to the personality of the characters.

Sophomore Lauren Root, who plays Mayzie La Bird, said her costume, complete with red and black boas, is “insane.”

“My dress does half the work for me. These red ‘look at me’ colors and the boas that scream ‘diva’ take care of the elements of my character.”

Smith said one of her favorite moments during a production is when she finally presents the costumes to the performers.

“They’re always excited when I bring costumes over to recitals to start trying things on,” she said. “It’s a lot of fun to see them excited about each other’s costumes. Working with the students is really the best part of my job.”

For the students, Smith is a joy to work with.

“She is amazing to work with and has so much experience in the field,” Root said. “She has proven herself to be an extremely talented and creative seamstress over and over. “She has never ceased to amaze me with her handiwork.”

“We love you, pass it on” was the first sign I saw as I walked into this contemporary deli shop. I was shocked that this hand painted sign hung from the ceiling, and honestly, I ended up smiling. I thought to myself, “We need more love in this world, particularly showing Jesus’s love, the perfect example.

On this particular Saturday, the place was packed, which gave me the impression that it must be delicious, but I did not let that persuade me. I wanted to taste the food for myself.

A good friend of mine came with me, and we discovered that the best way to enter Marie Catribs is through the back door, by where you park.

Our wait was about an hour, but it could be drastically reduced if we sat at the counter, so we agreed. We liked sitting at the counter because we got to watch the chefs prepare our food.

If you come during their busiest hours, do not fret. There is plenty to do within walking distance, while you wait for a table at Marie Catribs.

Right across the street is Global Infusion where you can get tea for two, and there are plenty of little clothing, accessory and gifts shops for browsing.

Our waiter was very personable and even gave us advice about what to eat. I ordered the Handyman sandwich, and my friend ordered the Russian [their most famous sandwich].

There was a wide bread selection and they were open to substitution if you did not like something on your sandwich.

The thick bread was matched by the ingredients inside, creating a healthy and delicious lunch. Yes, a rare occurrence; I just combined the words healthy and delicious. Marie Catribs needs the HD certification, (healthy and delicious) which I just made up, but it is so true.

The freshly baked goods did not weigh down our stomachs and left us feeling full, energized and healthy.

Our sandwiches also came with a cucumber pickle, which was a unique contrast compared to the typical dill pickle that is served with most deli sandwiches.

The atmosphere was casual and positive as the young, friendly servers joked with the customers.

I noticed that the ambiance was not typical, and the employees were a large contributor to this.

They did not wear the typical ugly, big uniforms. Instead they expressed their individual style which made me feel like a neighbor having a casual meal instead of a customer.

We even saw Marie herself. She smiled at us and chatted with numerous customers, making sure everyone was satisfied.

Here are a list of things you must check out when you go: the cucumber pickle, the sugar from Hawaii, the organic fresh food, the wonderful employees, the art and graffiti on the walls, the nice wood tables, and the other baked goods in the deli store!

My one suggestion when you eat at Marie Catribs and have to go to the bathroom is to lock the door behind you. The one stall bathroom doors make it seem like there is more than one stall. Unfortunately, I saw numerous people walk in on others before I used their facilities, so I made sure to lock the door behind me.

I also noticed that Marie Catribs is environmentally and neighborhood friendly. They have the half/full flush toilets that save water, numerous recycling bins, and they even sell some of their cookies and muffins at Global Infusion, just down the road.

The impression I got when I first walked into Marie Catribs was right on target. Many people love Marie’s deli, and even though it was packed, people were willing to wait. I have so many wonderful things I want to write about, but space is tight, so you definitely have to Get Out! for yourself! This restaurant gets my highest rating: a definite 5 out of 5.

Since every student and faculty member on Cornerstone’s campus has a laptop, Technology Support keeps busy with computer repairs. Some of the ways the laptops end up in Tech Support are not only amusing, but unbelievable.

Most of these cases are because something is spilled on the laptop, someone forgot where they left their laptop, or someone forgot their laptop was a laptop for a few seconds too long.

Bryan Johnston, director of information systems, works at Tech Support, along with Jason Bowers, helpdesk manager; Andrew Bishop, lead technology support specialist; James VanBemmelen, technology support specialist (2nd shift); and Tom Symons, technology support specialist.

They compiled a list of laughable tales: “Top Ten Reasons” computers have been brought into Tech Support.

At CU, there are many faculty members, staff and students with small children. Some have brought their computers into Tech Support with several missing keys.

“Generally they turn their head for a minute, and the kid has pulled off half-a-dozen keys,” a Tech Support staff said.

Tech Support said they have seen a number of computers with something spilled all over them, but this is one of the crazier ones:

Staff said, “A student brought her laptop in full of melted chocolate. There was melted chocolate all over the inside, on the keys and stuck in the fan.”

One CU student, who served in Iraq as a soldier, brought back a pile of sand as a souvenir—in his laptop.

“We opened it up, and it was full of sand,” staff said.

“A student brought their computer in covered in wax. They left a candle burning next to it. The candle was bumped, and it spilled all over the keyboard and screen. It then cooled and turned solid. It was a mess and embedded under the keys,” one of the Tech Support staff members said.

More than once students have set their laptops on the top of their cars, but then they forget about them. When the car takes off, the computer slides off and falls to its demise.

“A member of Cornerstone personnel fell down [the] stairs with laptop. Both were injured,” Tech Support said, with a hint of humor.

Many students at CU like to keep fish as pets in their dorm rooms. However, they should be careful the next time they leave their computer unattended next to their fish bowl.

“A student had their laptop near a fish bowl. The student returned to find that the fish had jumped out and landed on the keyboard. It brought water with it, and the water fried the computer,” one staff member said.

To personalize their laptops, many CU students put stickers on their computers of favorite bands, causes they support and other such things. One student took it a step further.

“We had a student who carved his name into the lid of his computer with a knife,” Tech Support said.

CU’s campus experiences a lot of rain. What do some students do if they forgot their umbrella?

“Nearly every spring we see a student or two who has their computer open and held over their head like an umbrella,” one of the staff said.

A student was in a car accident with their laptop sitting in their back seat.

“The computer was thrown and crushed. It ended up in an “L” shape, a 90 degree bend,” another member said.

This small coffee shop provided me and Tessa a friendly, clean, relaxing, off-campus experience and the completion of some homework, unlike our dorm rooms.

Tessa and I headed to downtown Grand Rapids to one of my favorite streets: Ionia, a nice brick road which takes you right through the city.

This street provides many authentic restaurants, and Tessa and I decided to check out Go Java, a coffee shop.

When we entered the building that holds Go Java, we were surprisingly confused.

It was about 7 p.m. on a Wednesday night, and every other coffee shop downtown was closed.

Go Java stays open until 9 p.m. on the weekdays.

This coffee shop had the typical high ceilings, wooded floors, soft classical music playing in the background, the refreshing smell of freshly made coffee, assorted seating, free WiFi, and the list goes on.

However this coffee shop was about the size of a Pickett dorm room – bigger than the rooms in Cook and VO, but not by much.

When we walked, in we were surprised that they were still open because the place was bare.

There were only 17 seats in this small coffee shop, and every seat was available to us.

Four seats overlooked the street which gave us different scenery.

Two employees with the typical apron and hats stamped with the Go Java logo greeted us almost immediately.

They asked us what they could get for us and waited patiently as we browsed the small menu.

A lot of things that Go Java offers its customers are not on their menu.

They are in the cooler and glass shelves below the counter.

Go Java offers Jones Sodas, orange Juice, apple juice, Arizona drinks, kettle corn, sun chips, yogurt, salads, muffins, cookies and Coca-Cola (YUM!), which are not on the menu.

So basically it is a mini gas station … or not.

However, on the menu you will read that they also offer lattes and cappuccino, hot chocolate, iced tea drinks, iced chai tea, smoothies and mochaccinos.

They even had parfaits like one you would find at McDonald’s.

Go Java makes the promise that they have the “real” cappuccino, unlike the fake ones you find at any Starbucks or Biggby’s.

Right? Maybe. I am not a fan of foamy milk and neither is Tessa, so all true cappuccino lovers will have to find out if this cappuccino promise is valid.

Go Java is right next to Hopcat, a Grand Rapids authentic restaurant and bar, which happened to be very busy on Wednesday nights. Go Java has a Web site (www.gojavacoffee.com) which provides directions, their menu and a description of the experience you will have.

The employees at this small coffee shop chatted with us about the different drink options, their hours and the customers that come in.

They even swept, mopped and wiped down the counters and bathroom when we were there.

We noticed that it was very clean when we walked in, and we also found a free map of Grand Rapids.

Tessa and I were tempted to put down our homework when we saw the board game Sorry, and they have the perfect high round tables for playing.

We did our homework and headed back to Cornerstone, to finish off a fairly productive night.

So Get Out! and have a productive night at this dorm-sized coffee shop, perfect for studying.

LOCATION: 15 IONIA SW, Grand Rapids

TIME: Mon-Fri: 6 am to 9 pm, Sat: 8 am to 10 pm

WEB: www.gojava.com

GET OUT FACTOR (out of 5 !): !!!!

Katlin’s top three

3.  Non-coffee choices

2.  Friendly employees

1.  Private atmosphere

Herald/Tamara Jackson

With chilly winds still lingering in West Michigan, Cornerstone University’s upbeat and colorful production of “Seussical the Musical” will energize your anticipation for spring.

This theater production is based on some of Dr. Seuss’ best known children’s books that have been translated into more than 15 languages and sold over 200 million copies.

In this opening weekend, the musical displays a wide range of drama talent such as Adam Miller, Amy Groen, Kyle Juresich and Lauren Root. Out of their 25 member cast, five are junior high students.

At the start of the performance, the stage curtain opens to a single character on stage, a Who named Jojo (played by Bradley Lake, eighth-grader at St. Stephen Catholic School), who has a tendency to think more than most Whos. With his imagination, Jojo brings the mischievous Cat in the Hat (played by Kyle Juresich, sophomore) to life.

With their imagination combined, Jojo and the Cat in the Hat embark on an imaginary journey with some of Dr. Seuss’ most remembered characters including Horton the Elephant, Gertrude McFuzz, Lazy Mayzie and all of the Whos of Whoville.

Seussical the Musical is performed in an operetta style where the story is sung instead of being told through dialogue. With a live orchestra conducted by Randall Burghart, assistant professor of music, the audience experiences styles of music that change with each character’s personality and ranges from a mixture of swing, gospel, funk, R&B, Latin and pop music.

“Everyone did really well in getting a specific character across through their movement and vocals,” said Sherry Lee Allen, director of the musical and adjunct theater and dance professor at Cornerstone. “We see it in the illustrated manner that it was initially meant with the animated characters.”

With costume designer Nancie Smith on board, the wardrobe of vibrantly colored costumes and crazy hair allowed the performers to look as if they hopped right out of one of Dr. Seuss’ books.

With equal excellence in the choreography of the play along with the music, this production featured tap dancing—a first for a Cornerstone show.

With lights changing from hues of purple to teal to pink, the stage is designed with rows of steps for quality spacing and a tall staircase leading to Whoville. The stage features a cave for different imaginary creatures to emerge and exit from and a jungle gym allowing some performers a swinging time.

“It is a lively show, and it is very entertaining,” said Nathan Reynolds, a junior majoring in theater at Cornerstone. “We want people to come out of the show feeling energized that they had a good time.”

“I just hope the audience has fun. That is really all we want,” said Amy Groen, a Cornerstone junior who plays the bird, Gertrude. “We just try to put all of our energy out there, and we hope that the audience really enjoys it and it puts a smile on their face.”

If you didn’t make it to opening night, you still have three more chances: tonight and tomorrow at 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2:30 p.m.

Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for students and seniors and $5 at the door for students with a valid ID. To order ahead, call the Cornerstone University Bookstore at (616) 254-1663.

• Katie Greiner, a math major and computer information systems minor, is interning at Steelcase Corporate Development Center.

• Her father, who also works at Steelcase, helped her find the internship.

• Greiner works closely with the company’s Web site.

• Part of her job includes uploading content online.

• Greiner also takes part in analytical work.

• She enjoys the challenge and constant work at Steelcase.

Katie Greiner, a math major with a computer informations systems minor, is doing her internship at Steelcase Corporate Development Center. She works in the Steelcase Store online.

She got the internship through her dad who works at Steelcase. He heard about the position being open and talked to the manager. He said to have her send in her resume, and three interviews later she was hired.

For the first time, an individual consumer can go to their Web site and purchase an item. Before this Web site, they  had to go through a dealer, but that was never very successful because dealers deal with companies not individuals. The Web site has been up for a year and half to two years.

“This is the first time an individual can buy something,” Greiner said.

Katie’s job is to upload content onto the Web site, including uploading coupons. She also does user testing which means she makes sure things work correctly on the Web site.

She also does analytical work. Using Google Analytics, she analyzes the online store and the statistics.

“It’s in hopes to increase the conversion rate,” Greiner said.

She enjoys the challenge of it. She really likes that she is always working, that she does not just sit around and twiddle her thumbs. Another aspect she likes is that her small role is critical within the whole company.

“It’s a small part, but it’s exciting, it’s a great learning experience,” Greiner said.

She went into the internship not knowing anything, so the whole experience has been a learning one.

“I enjoy every part of it,” Greiner said.

“I am really blessed to get an internship by my house and with math and computer systems. I am thankful I got it,” Greiner said.

This is the one job where she is excited to work at.

“My team is an enjoyable group to be around,” Greiner said.

She had taken math classes, static class, and computer classes here at Cornerstone.

“It’s cool to use those in real life,” Greiner said.

It was definitely helpful to take math, static, and computer classes because she uses them in real life.

“It’s been good to put your learning into practice,” Greiner said.

Katie plans on finding a full-time job, preferably at Steelcase, and if that falls through then to graduate school. She will go to graduate school to get an MBA or a masters in Bioinformatics.

“It’s still up in the air. It’s praying and following where God leads me,” Greiner said.

Many college students usually come around 9 p.m. and stay until 2 a.m.

They have nice tables for two people to study with soft lighting and coat hanger hooks on the wall.

The one inconvenience about this popular coffee shop is that it can get crowded.

This small coffee shop offers a large variety of drink options.

Their drink menu ranges from espresso, brewed coffee lattes, signature lattes, smoothies, frozen coffee beverages, ice cream mochas, coffee alternatives, teas and steamers.

This authentic Grand Rapids coffee shop has the most choices when it comes to drinks, and may have even more choices than Starbucks.

The most expensive drink was $5.25 and is called Panama, rich with orange juice, vanilla, milk, pineapple and coconut blended with ice and drizzled with pomegranate, in other words: delicious.

Torani syrups line the wall and provide many drink options, and you can choose to create your own drink. Also, they only sell fair trade coffee.

I ordered the peppermint patty latte and ordered it as a cold drink. My friend Layne Comegys, CU junior, ordered the mango smoothie which was light and fluffy.

La Raye Dykstra, CU sophomore, ordered the immortal raspberry, which was a mixture of raspberries and creamy caramel, and she said it was “smooth and rich.”

The Bitter End is like most coffee shops with pictures on the wall, but the art displayed on the walls seemed different.

Unique art pieces by various famous artists hung over every wooden wall and could have kept me staring for hours.

As well as looking at the art, they have plenty of games and magazines to read.

They also have a book swap where you can take a book, but you have to leave one, which creates a continuum of new books and a unique exchange.

Wherever life takes me, I will be sure to stop by The Bitter End to read a book and drink some delicious coffee.

This coffee shop is next to Frank’s market which is known for its Kielbasa, and past Grand Valley State University.

The Bitter End has an incredible authentic high copper ceiling and nice wood flooring. Smooth classical or jazz music plays quietly, creating a relaxing and perfect atmosphere for studying.

Clocks hang on the wall displaying time from Washington D.C., New York, Grand Rapids and Atlanta, which appears deceiving at first, but they happen to be all in the eastern time zone.

For those who like to contribute to environmental awareness, they not only have Dixie cups, but you can ask for coffee mugs, creating a chance to help save the environment, one coffee cup at a time.

They have Mondays where you can get a double hole punch for your coffee card, which you can keep in an index container next to the register, creating more space in your wallet.

They have another branch in Grandville called Noshbille which provides the 24/7 cafe and a similar menu.

So GetOut! and be productive in this authentic coffee shop, which gets my highest rating.

The most recent release incorporates the fast pace of traditional punk music with accordion, violin, jiving beats, the rough English vocals of Hütz and swarming, happy gang vocals. If you picture a group of eccentrically dressed musicians who tend to lean towards their theatrical, humorous side performing at multiple traditional weddings of the world and various house parties, you will have basic knowledge of Gogol Bordello’s album. The entire effort is an enjoyable ride through the many cultures and musical influences that permeate the larger American music scenes. Members of Gogol Bordello and the album’s artwork seem to show a bright and slightly silly yet talented bunch of friends. Pick up “Super Taranta!” if the prospect of a seamless, quality blending of genres and world music is appealing.