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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
Dordt University alumnus wins reelection
Sam Landstra—Co-Chief Editor Editor’s note: This article alternatively appears as a podcast. When the election stood four weeks away, the mayor of Sioux Falls, SD got a haircut. At the […]
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 […]
Good Shepherd Church celebrates one year anniversary
Zac VanderLey—Staff Writer Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in the Sioux Center News on April 20, 2022. As the worship team sang “Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest,” children […]
Students experience first-ever Easter Break
Daniel Ketchelos—Staff Writer For Christians, the Easter holiday remains an important, monumental day as they celebrate Jesus Christ’s conquering of the grave. Most Christian denominations, including Catholic, Lutheran, and Reformed […]
Combating racism in campus communities
Georgia Lodewyk—Staff Writer On Tuesday, March 29, Angelica “Lica” Acosta Garnett, a bilingual paralegal at an immigration law firm and a host for the Christian Community Development Association, stepped onto […]
Women’s basketball takes on nationals together
Isabel Pheifer, Aleasha Hintz—Staff Writer Togetherness. The Dordt University Women’s Basketball team revolved around this word during the 2021-2022 season. “Together we commit to compete with love, grit, and a […]
Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to visit campus
Lexi Schnaser—Staff Writer Dordt University has hosted a number politicians over the last half-decade. On Wednesday, April 13, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will add to the list of […]
Covenant Hall begins construction ahead of schedule
Georgia Lodewyk – Staff Writer After residents of Covenant Hall returned from Spring Break, they witnessed a number of changes within their dormitory: orange caution tape wrapped its way around […]
Prinsen learns law enforcement
Glory Reitz—Staff Writer Tom Prinsen approached the burglar in the dark backyard and eyed the man’s screwdriver, classifying it as a potential weapon. As he ran through de-escalation strategies in […]
Van Roekel serves wholeheartedly
Dayna Wichhart—Staff Writer Since August, I have stopped by the community bathroom on the third floor of Covenant Hall every morning. This past Thursday, my routine did not differ. I […]
Feed my sheep: Why agriculture classes should be required
Gretchen Lee—Copy Editor The area surrounding the grounds of Dordt University is mostly neighborhood. Trees fill in spaces between houses, well-maintained grass grows on lawns, and kids walk to and […]
Dordt Ag club milks success at PAS competition
Zac VanderLey—Staff Writer Dordt’s agriculture club sent 31 students to the Professional Agriculture Students (PAS) competition in Ames, Iowa. All 31 students qualified for nationals. Agriculture clubs from Iowa State […]
Czech out Broadway: Concert Choir fundraises for tour
Katie Ribbens–Staff Writer The lit blue and purple backdrop bathed the Grille in cool tones. Dordt University Concert Choir members dressed in black milled about, chatting and making last-minute adjustments. […]
The Gift’s Thanksgiving Break
“And here on the left, you’ll see that they’re close to hibernation.”
Recital to show all “the cello is capable of”
Philip Shippy — Staff Writer Aaron Galloway will perform a cello recital on Nov. 12 in the B.J. Haan Auditorium at Dordt University. He will be performing various works by […]
Entrepreneur to returning professor
Naomi Mellema – Staff Writer Rebecca Rens is a new face in Dordt University’s business department this year. Having owned and managed her own business for 30 years, Rens contributes […]
New limits for Dreamers
Joya Breems – Staff Writer On Oct. 5, 2022, an appeals court ruled that DACA, which stands for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, is unlawful. The Obama Administration introduced DACA […]
From Sioux Center to New York, theatre is prevalent
Isabel Pheifer — Staff Writer Dordt University senior Sommer Schaap awakes to the sun gleaming through the windows in her 24th floor apartment in Brooklyn, New York. On the horizon, […]
Comedy doesn’t have to be crass
Libby Bandelin – Staff Writer In today’s entertainment culture, it can be hard to find comedy that doesn’t have some degree of sexual substance, dirty language, or raunchy humor. Blue […]
MOSAIC hosts first event
Abi Wegner —Staff Writer Walking into the De Yager Activity Area next to the Grille on Nov. 2, all chairs face a big screen, much like a movie theater. The […]
Changes to Grille pick-up
Dayna Wichhart — Staff Writer Every weekday at 1:30 p.m., the Grille register starts spitting out receipts from the fifty to seventy-five students mobile ordering their hot meal exchange sandwiches […]
The campus store expands to Defender game days
Georgia Lodewyk — Staff Writer Parked just behind the bleachers of the Dordt University football field is a trailer painted bright “Defender Gold” yellow, difficult for fans to miss as […]
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