The Hunt returns for year two
Dayna Wichhart—Staff writer On Feb. 26 at 8 p.m., the underclassman women on campus were invited to the Grille to attend the kickoff event of The Hunt. This event is […]
Dordt unveils new housing and dining plans
Daniel Ketchelos — Staff writer On Feb. 9, Dordt University President Erik Hoekstra announced plans for new construction projects on campus. These projects, including a new dining commons and upperclassmen […]
Men’s track and field finishes first
Teresa Taylor — Staff writer Dordt University Men’s Track and Field team won the 2023 Great Plains Athletic Conference Indoor Championship on Feb. 18, hosted by Concordia University in Seward, […]
Theatre students to nationals
Audra Kooi — Staff Writer This year, the Dordt University Theatre Arts Department took a scene from last year’s spring mainstage, “The Importance of Being Earnest,” to the Kennedy Center […]
HLC accreditation achieved; ACSI accreditation pursued
Jeralyn Wessel —Staff writer In mid-January, Dordt University received news the institution had once again been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). After a team from Dordt submitted a […]
Dordt students travel to Capitol Hill for conference
Isabel Pheifer — Staff writer Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. is full of politicians, lawyers, and interns. Men in blue suits and long gray overcoats carrying briefcases weave between people […]
Remembering Emma Nibbelink
Glory Reitz — Co-Editor When Emma Nibbelink entered a room, no matter how large or crowded, her friends could tell she was there. She was easy to find because usually, […]
East Campus apartments to get new appliances
Jonah Hofmeyer — Staff Writer East Campus Apartments will see some changes over the next few weeks as maintenance works to add five new washers and five new dryers to the […]
Progress through collaboration
Teresa Taylor — Staff Writer Dordt University and Sioux Center shared a pair of oversized scissors to cut the blue ribbon marking the grand opening of the American State Bank […]
Airband rocks the BJ Haan
Emma Bennett—Staff Writer Dordt University does not reside within a town famous for its off-the-wall concerts – not that there are none. One of the most looked-forward to events of […]
Cross country team races to a national title
Sara Hofer – Staff Writer On Nov. 18 in Tallahassee, Fla., the Dordt University men’s cross-country team clinched their first NAIA National Championship. Going into nationals, the Defenders were ranked […]
Paperwork delays cause problems for international students
Joya Breems — Staff Writer Dordt University international students can come to the United States to study on an F-1 visa, a five-year visa allowing students to go to school […]
Yik Yak sparks controversy
Abby Starkenburg – Staff Writer After a fun day of attending the Tri-wizard event and catching up on homework, Anna Kerstetter, a freshman at Dordt University, sat on her dorm […]
55th Avenue adds nightly events
Daniel Ketchelos — Staff Writer 55th Avenue, one of Dordt University’s student-led coffee shops, is adding nightly events to its regular schedule. While right now these new events include streaming […]
Information desk hiring process based on peer recommendation
Joya Breems — Staff Writer The information desk is the first thing a visitor to Dordt University’s campus sees when they walk in the door. A student-employed attendant greets passersby […]
Suitable Truths production
Ian MacDonald — Staff Writer The art gallery in the campus center is packed with sculptures by artist Stephanie Barrick. Barrick calls these sculptures “wearable art,” made to spread the […]
Behind the scenes of the Defender Days tradition
Georgia Lodewyk — Staff Writer Each October, Dordt University welcomes over 1500 families, alumni, and community members for the biggest weekend on campus. The three-day extravaganza, beginning on Thursday, is […]
Accreditation: what does it mean to you?
Sara Hofer — Staff Writer On Oct. 3, five peer reviewers from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) accreditation agency came to evaluate Dordt University and the student experience. Since 1969, […]
Increasing need for more ESL staff at local schools
Joya Breems — Staff Writer Josine Salazar’s third-grade classroom at Kinsey Elementary is adorned with colorful decorations—numbers and letters on the wall and bookshelves spilling over with books. On her […]
Hispanic Heritage at Dordt and beyond
Naomi Mellema— Staff Writer Blooming tulips, wooden shoes, and almondfilled pastries are iconic cultural symbols in Northwest Iowa. However, Dutch celebrations are not the only prevalent cultural celebrations in the […]
Silver maple removed from campus
Joya Breems — Staff Writer The leaves of a large silver maple tree on the east side of Dordt University’s campus, past the classroom building, are just starting to turn. […]
A minor improvement
Ian MacDonald — Staff Writer Changes in academics don’t happen often, but when they do students take notice. One change Dordt University has made is a new broadcasting minor. This […]
Dordt pushes summer construction projects
Sara Hofer — Staff Writer With another semester underway, students have come back to campus to find several projects occurred over the summer months. From general landscaping updates to a […]
New Heritage Village hosts annual festival
Tabetha DeGroot — Staff Writer The Sioux Center Heritage Village will host its annual Harvest Festival at its new Tower Fields location Sept. 16 and 17 with a variety of […]
Out-of-this-world prof receives funding for research of exoplanets and more
Mallory Nilles — Staff Writer Some students know him as the professor who makes dad jokes so specific to his field that few actually understand, while others know him as […]
Changing Defender gameday
Dayna Wichhart—Staff Writer Last Saturday evening, the DeWitt Gymnasium opened its doors to some unusual occupants. Instead of the usual athletic teams gracing its halls, The Defender Band, wearing black […]
Cross Country begins new season
Isabel Pheifer — Staff Writer The Dordt University Men’s and Women’s Cross Country teams are geared up for another season. The team is no stranger to success, in 2021, both […]
American State Bank Sports Complex nears completion
Jeralyn Wessel – Staff Writer As many renovation projects have drawn to a close with the arrival of students on campus, the American State Bank Sports Complex construction continues since […]
Record enrollment (again)
Jonah Hofmeyer — Staff Writer Dordt University saw record enrollment in 2020 with 1,666 students, and in 2021 that record was broken again, with enrollment reaching 1,786. This year, enrollment […]
Douma named 21/22 GPAC Athletic Director of the Year
Naomi Mellema – Staff Writer The votes are in. The Hauff Mid-America Sports and Great Plains Athletic Conference’s league of athletic directors have chosen Ross Douma as Athletic Director of […]
2022 nursing class passes NCLEX perfectly
Abigael Wegner – Staff Writer Dordt University’s 2022 nursing class had a 100 percent pass rate in the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). Within the class of 17 nursing graduates, […]
Next steps for the pro-life Christian
Joya Breems — Staff Writer On June 24, 2022 the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the 1972 Supreme Court case legalizing abortion. In other words, there is no national […]
Literary Dairy now open in Orange City
Libby Bandelin – Staff Writer Stepping onto century old creaky, wood floors, hearing the 50s jazz, and beholding an ice-cream counter reminiscent of an old soda fountain, customers are transported […]
More alcohol education needed on Dordt campus
Abby Starkenburg — Staff Writer Every year, incoming freshmen are informed of Dordt University’s expectations regarding alcohol consumption – that is, there is no alcohol allowed. Within the speech covering […]
Biden’s student loan plan
Emma Bennett—Staff Writer What are the top things most college students love to complain about? Homework load, lack of sleep, and tuition. It is stressful to suddenly be responsible for […]
What do we do with all the new kids?
Glory Reitz—Co-Editor Upperclassmen: congratulations, you’ve made it. You’re no longer tripping over your feet as you try to navigate freshman year. WOW week has faded into a fever-dream memory. You […]
Interpreting Your World: professor Bailey’s new book release
Daniel Ketchelos — Staff Writer Culture and theology are two inescapable aspects of life. Justin Ariel Bailey, Associate Professor of Theology at Dordt University, outlines how to engage with both […]
Highlighting the magic of clubs
Philip Shippy — Staff Writer Every Saturday night at 7 p.m., a group of students from different backgrounds walk up the stairs to the Kuyper loft, roll out their card […]
Laboring away on Labor day
Teresa Taylor — Staff Writer Since its foundation in 1955, Dordt University has held classes on Labor Day. Each year, students complain for a day or two, but the feelings […]
Banned Books Week encourages critical thinking
Audra Kooi — Staff Writer In 2020, Laurie Halse Anderson found her first novel, Speak, on the American Library Association’s list of most challenged books. This wasn’t the first time […]
A new DC in SC
Ian MacDonald – Staff Writer It’s 4:05 p.m. as Brandon McCormick walks onto the field, kicking small rubber pieces up with every step. The sun ripples as heat bounces off […]
Women’s golf starts out swinging
Gracie Campbell — Staff Writer Dordt University Women’s Golf teed off the first few weeks of school with two tournaments. The team tied for six out of 11 places at […]
Top Gun: Maverick, a priority watch
Aleasha Hintz — Staff Writer Sometimes, movies are popular for a reason, and I think Top Gun: Maverick is a prime example of this. This is one film that deserved […]
Anatomy of a Dordt Freshman
The elusive Bunsen Spice Latte
Drissell departs from Dordt University as board, CRC discuss sexuality
Sam Landstra—Co-Chief Editor As the students drew, they listened. At the front of the classroom, Matt Drissell, professor of art, read Annie Dillard’s “Seeing.” “‘When I see this way, I […]
Local churches open doors to Ukrainian refugees
Joya Breems—Staff Writer On 1st Street SE in Sioux Center, a two-story house sits empty. In the small town, empty houses are somewhat of a hot commodity. This one’s countertops […]
Remembering Austin Brown
Zac VanderLey—Staff Writer Mark Volkers always knew when Austin Brown neared the digital media lab. The digital media production instructor had learned to recognize the cadence of Brown’s feet—the long, […]
Baseball finds their swing
Tabetha DeGroot —Staff Writer The Dordt University Defender Baseball team is nearing the end of its season with an 8-12 record in conference play. In March, Gyeongju Kim, the team’s […]
FOX falls for the Dominerds
Elaina Ammons—Staff Writer “Three, two, one,” shouted Domino Masters host Eric Stonestreet as contestant Lyle Broughton, backed by his teammates, Derek and Alex Koops, pushed a toy car towards a […]
Ag students move on to nationals
Jeralyn Wessel — Staff writer A group of about thirty students from Dordt University’s agriculture department competed in the Professional Agriculture Student Organization of Iowa (PAS) State Conference in Ankeny […]
The Hoyt Special
Abi Wegner — Staff writer The Hoyt Sandwich, invented by Grille worker Hoyt Reinalda in 2021, was originally inspired by the Grille’s classic Teriyaki Chicken Sandwich. Since then, Hoyt has […]
EU energy crisis
Tabetha DeGroot — Staff writer spending the semester overseas and writing about her experiences while abroad. Zwolle, Netherlands – Exchange student Maddie Kobes wakes up shivering in her new Dutch […]
Culture Fair
Abi Wegner — Staff writer Dordt University hosted their 2023 Culture Fair this past Saturday, Feb. 18, after Northwestern College celebrated their own event on Feb. 4. Dordt students, specifically […]
Women’s basketball wins GPAC, advance to nationals
Mallory Nilles –– Staff writer The Dordt University Women’s Basketball team is having a tremendous season, which is no surprise, since they were the national runner-up at the conclusion of […]
NC/DC: Back in black and yellow
Teresa Taylor — Staff writer Dordt University’s “Chopsticks ‘n’ Soup” won first place and $650 at the NC/DC finals at Northwestern College’s Christ Chapel on Feb. 17. The band consisted […]
Honor band weekend
Audra Kooi — Staff writer On Thursday, Feb. 16, a special group of visiting high schoolers made their way to the B. J. Haan Auditorium — each carrying an instrument […]
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