Introducing Karl Barth

I have no idea who Karl Barth is.

I spent the majority of this past summer working in the Masland Library.  Okay, insert reader commentary:

Reader: “WHATTT? The library is open during the summer???”

Why, yes, dear reader!  The library is open for Monday-Saturday during summer classes and Monday-Friday for the rest of the summer.  If you do decide to stop in anytime after summer classes are completed, you will likely see student workers among the bookshelves, preparing the library for the coming school year.  This past summer, myself and several other student workers were given the task of shifting almost every book in the main section of the library.  In the course of this tedious-but-necessary task, one man’s name seemed to appear over and over:

KARL BARTH.

No matter what section we were shifting that day, Karl Barth had either written a book on it or someone had written a book about Karl Barth’s thoughts on the matter.  I have done no research on who exactly Karl Barth is and why he has so many opinions about everything, so it does not really make sense that I am writing a blog post about him.  However, I believe in you, reader, and your researching ability.  I just searched his name in the library catalog and was given over 300 results, so he is probably an important person.  So, go! Find out who this man is!  Maybe write him a letter asking him to please calm down and stop writing so many books that I have to shelve.  Here’s a couple books that are in our library collection about good ol’ Karl:

Karl Barth in the theology of Dietrich Bonhoeffer –  BX4827.B57 P3615  2000

 

How Karl Barth changed my mind –  BX4827.B3 H59 1986

 

The Humanity of God –  BT28 .B273 1996

*This one is actually by the man himself!*

 

Christianity and Barthianism –  BX4827.B3 V36 1962

Okay, so apparently Barth has a whole school of thought named after him.

 

Hopefully those books can get you started on the journey of Barth knowledge on which I have never traveled.

~Valarie Meiser

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Four tips for a Successful Job Interview:

1. Show up in the office 15 minutes before your appointment time:

Does not mean park 15 minutes before the interview or get in the building security line with five minutes to spare. It means walk through the office or suite door five minutes before your appointment. Because it may ask you to fill out an application and it gives you more time to do so.

2. Look Your Best:

For you well-dressed people, I’m sure you’re rolling your eyes at those two words, because you assume everyone knows that. However, after interviewing thousands of people, I can assure you that the majority of job seekers are not fully aware of the impact of their image.

Also, maybe choose a fragrance that is fairly light neutral scent, like baby powder or vanilla, can work well, but anything stronger could be an issue for the interviewer.

3. Arrive prepared:

Bring a pen, notebook or portfolio with paper, several resume copies and a list of questions you would like to ask the interviewer.

Finally, remember to look up at least as much as you look at the paper. Writing notes is important, but ACTIVE eye contact tells the interviewer that you are paying attention.

 

4. Have a conversation:

Come prepared to discuss the company, the role, your background, current trends in the industry, the reason for the opening and any recent business events that may impact the interviewer, role, company or industry.

Companies want to hire engaged employees who have taken the time to learn about themselves and the roles for which they are applying.

~Nicole Vila

Freshman Survival Guide

There are many things that I have learned from being a student here at Cairn. Some of them I had to learn the hard way. Others were because I listened to some of my professors, friends who were upperclassmen, and other people who were important in my life. Looking back from the senior’s perspective, I wish I had listened to some more thoroughly. I would like to share with you some of the tips my friends and I learned.

1. Stay hydrated:

This may sound silly, but you can be surprised how far a little water can go. When your water intake is low, you may experience headaches or even exhaustion. Water even can help you with your digestion as well as helping your brain function well.

2. Get plenty of rest:

One of the things that you hear about a lot in college is students who pull all-nighters before a test. This may not be your best option. Cramming all that information in your head tires you out, and then your brain has no time to process it. When you sleep, your body and brain are realigning everything from the day. As a result, the person who attempted the all-nighter will not be able to process the questions well on the test that they studied for – if they can read them at all. Several of my friends have not slept like they should and had trouble functioning the entire day sometimes have nearly passed out. Personally, I cannot function well in class or stay awake unless I have had a minimum of 7 hours, but that may be different for you.

3. Eat well:

This one seems like another duh, but when you become busy as a college student, it is easy to skip meals. I really do not recommend skipping meals from personal experience. I had skipped breakfast a few times, and I always felt so hungry by 10am, or I felt sick. Several of my friends also had bad experiences with this.

4. Know your limits:

One of the mistakes that I made sophomore year was that I jumped into too much at one time. My grades showed it. I didn’t fail, but I didn’t do excellently either. If you know you are someone who stresses out too easily, don’t get too involved. There are going to be times where you have to skip an event to finish a paper. It happens.

5. Plan ahead on your assignments:

This one was a killer for me. I was told by a professor freshman year that I should start papers, especially big assignments, two weeks ahead of time. I wish I had listened to him. It would have saved me a lot of grief. Always have a time to study and a place. This helps a lot. For those who would like to study in the library, I am including the regular library hours in this post.

Monday – Thursday 7:30 AM – 11:00 PM

Friday 7:30 AM – 7:00 PM

Saturday 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Sunday 6:00 PM – 11:00 PM

6. Do not neglect your personal bible study:

This one may seem more like “Why do I have to do this?” I know. I have had that attitude. As a student, we feel saturated with Bible content because every semester we usually have one bible class. At times, I thought it was enough, but it never was. I felt emotionally and spiritually run down faster when I was not reading my bible. There are some things that you cannot get from Bible classes as well. God can speak personally to you through your bible study. There have been so many times this semester already that my bible readings have encouraged me when I was feeling down, or my trust of God was wearing too thin. Your personal time is when God wants to let you know that you can be still and know that He is God.

~Elisabeth (Beth)

A New Perspective of the Library (Part II)

In case you missed the first part of this blog series, I have set out to show Masland Library visitors that the library is a valuable resource for social entertainment. In Part I, I hit on some of the library’s top movies of various genres. While movies are great entertainment for large groups of people, they do not necessarily facilitate great social interaction. If there is much interaction, the movie has probably become background noise and everyone missed an important movie scene. So now I bring you to music, the perfect element to set the mood for your social events. Even you are the loner of the party Taylor Swift once eloquently stated, “People haven’t always been there for me but music always has.” Therefore, I encourage you to check out some of the library’s music and let it permeate the atmosphere of your social life.

Music

*The library’s CD collection can be found on the 2^ndfloor on your left before entering the computer lab. Although I will not expound upon them here, the Masland Library has some RECORDS available to borrow. If you are retro enough to own a record player, ask us more on how to get your hands on a record.

Romantics Sampler – CD M5 .R663 1995

Let me clarify first by saying this is not a compilation of songs for a passionate date. The word Romantics refers to a time period and genre of classical music from the 18^th century. This is music is called romantic because it explored the breadth of emotion in a way music had not before. Therefore, the modern music listener can find great refreshment in these pieces.

Scott Joplin Piano Rags – CD M25 .J81 P53 2004

Now these are some true American originals. Just imagine you and your friends in some small town establishment out west 100 years back, playing cards and listening to an old man tickling the ivories with some good old rag time.

Spanish Guitar – CD M126 .S62 2002

This CD is sure to bring that spice that was missing from your life. Do not forget about this one for all of your Cinco de Mayo parties.

Quartets – CD M450 – CD M457.4

While great majority of our CD’s consist of classical music, I wanted to highlight the quartet section of the collection. In Fall of 2013 the world renown Ying String Quartet came and played for our school. Some of the greatest classical music was written for such a group of players on these instruments: two violins, a viola, and a cello. Only four instruments! This music is not only for the sophisticated.

Jazz, Louis Armstrong – CD M1356 .A736 D445 2000

Jazz, Duke Ellington – CD M1366 .E461 D933 2000

Jazz, Coleman Hawkins – CD M1366 .H395 C654 2000

If you have not been sufficiently exposed to big band jazz, you are missing out on one of the greatest musical joys in life. This music may, dare I say it, make you want to dance. To give you a little more direction within these three artists, Louis Armstrong played some mean trumpet (and had a great voice!), Duke Ellington worked the piano, and Coleman Hawkins played some sweet tones on the tenor saxophone.

Star Wars Original Trilogy Soundtrack – CD M1527.2 .W721 S27 2004

                It is Star Wars. Need I say more?

International Music Mix – CD M1627 .I58 1999

A little bit of this. A little bit of that. Musical flavors from all around the globe. Now you can connect with all of your multicultural friends!

Simon and Garfunkel – CD M1630.18 .S55 S5 1972

I have always considered these guys to be the original indie band. They formed a new genre of folk-rock in the 1960’s. That may seem old but their music does not sound it. Simon and Garfunkel is great for the car or chilling at all times of the day.

Soulful Music by Leontyne Price – CD M1670 .P953 1996

I cannot say I have ever listened to this lady, but I do know she was famous. The nature of the music of this album is just as the title suggests.

Manheim Steamroller, Christmas in the Aire – CD M2065 .M354 C475 1995

If you have ever listened to Christmas music on the radio, you must have heard Manheim Steamroller. I would describe them as new age electric orchestra rock going wild on Christmas tunes. These songs could put you in the holiday mood in July.

Michael Card, The Hidden Face of God – CD M2198 .C37 2006

Michael Card is an older but well known Christian artist that came to our school in Fall of 2013. This is only one of several albums we have of his, but check them all out!

~Wayne Hailstone

The Joys of Independent Study

When homework continually piles up throughout the semester, it is hard to think of doing any independent study for one’s own benefit. But sometimes, some independent study is actually more refreshing than draining.

During this semester, I have had the opportunity to begin studying Islam. For one of the fastest growing religions in the world, it is upsetting how little I knew about it. Once I decided that I desired to know more, I began perusing a few different sections within our library that contained literature on the subject. I found many decent resources, but I must say that my favorite book that I stumbled upon is Unveiling Islam by Ergun Mehmet Caner and Emir Fethi Caner. Although I am currently only 54 pages in, this book has taught me a substantial amount about this belief system.

The authors of Unveiling Islam, Ergun and Emir, are brothers who were raised as Sunni Muslims. Now, highly respected theology professors, Ergun and Emir wrote this book together in order to present the practices, ethics, and beliefs of Islam. Ergun and Emir helpfully present the Islamic beliefs by directly contrasting them to Christianity.

Some other books that were also helpful to me were Islam: A Short Guide to the Faith by Roger Allen and Shawkat M. Toorawa, and A New Anthropology of Islam by John Bowen.

As college students, there is so much to balance, and the idea of adding one more thing onto our plate doesn’t exactly sound like the most appetizing option, but amidst all of the stress of homework and extracurricular activities, it can be nice to set aside some time to invest in an area that is unrelated to your studies that interests you. Balancing time is key, but I encourage you to take a book, fiction or non-fiction, and set aside time during your semester to read for fun. With always reading for classes, the joy of reading tends to disappear. I challenge you to remember that reading can actually be quite an enjoyable endeavor.

~Leia Brunette

The Example of Saint Patrick

During the month of March is an obscure holiday celebrated by the Irish and the Irish “at heart” with much enthusiasm. But what is the real reason for celebrating St. Patrick’s Day? Is it merely celebrating the Irish heritage of loud boisterous parties flowing with alcohol, parades in New York City and Dublin, Ireland, and wearing green? Or could it mean something more, especially to Christians both in the United States and Ireland? To find out the true meaning for the “wearing o’ the green”, I used the Masland Library databases to increase my understanding of St. Patrick.

St. Patrick was born to an aristocratic family in Britain in the fourth century. While he was a young man, Patrick was captured by Irish raiders and taken to Ireland where he was enslaved for six years. Due to this enslavement, Patrick never learned to read and is known as having a poor rhetoric because he was never taught the rhetoric of Britain. Patrick, however, learned a different type of rhetoric that allowed him to return to Ireland as an evangelist.

Patrick’s story is inspiring to me as a Christian. First, instead of resenting God and walking away from him because he was enslaved, Patrick used his knowledge of how the Irish thought and learned as a means of bringing them Gospel. When Patrick was able to return to Britain after six years in slavery, he became a bishop for the Roman Catholic Church and was called by God back to Ireland. A second way that Patrick inspires me is that God was able to use him to evangelize an entire barbarian country without a formal education! Because of being enslaved at the age of 15, Patrick did not receive the formal education he would have due to his family’s status in society. We can know based on Patrick’s life that God is able to use anyone at any academic level to spread his Gospel to those who haven’t heard. Finally, Patrick inspires me because he answered God’s calling in his life to be an evangelist to Ireland. When his critics were asked why Patrick returned to Ireland, they replied “He was compelled by God and called by the need of Irish.” If Patrick had not listened to God’s call for his return to Ireland, many Anglo-Americans would have a different life than the one they have today.

Although St. Patrick lived 1600 years ago as a contemporary of St. Augustine, his life and works still have an impact on not only Irish culture but also on the entirety of Christianity. So when you pull out your green this year and watch the parades (or pinch people for not wearing green), remember this incredible story about a man who followed God to a barbarian land and evangelized an entire country. To find out more about St. Patrick, his life and writings, check out the articles “St. Patrick in Fact and Fiction” by A. Haire Forster and “’Ego Patricius, peccator rusticissimus’: The Rhetoric of St. Patrick of Ireland” by Paul Lynch. You can search for these articles on Ebscohost and also the various books in the Library about St. Patrick.

~Jenny Dunning

Works of Art

Currier, Nathaniel. St. Patrick. N.d. Ackland Art Museum, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. ARTstor. Web. 7 Mar. 2014.

Etcheverry, Hubert-Denis. Saint Patrick Converting Two Noble Women. 1896. Musee Bonnat, Art Resource, NY. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. ARTstor. Web. 7 Mar. 2014.

Rachel’s Ten Tips for Diligent Studying

We are only a month or so into the school year, but the homework is starting to pile up. Readings are stacking up, papers need to be written, and projects need consideration. With papers, projects and readings looming overhead, I have developed a list of tips to help a student stay on top of the mounds of homework that further our education!

1. Time it. I have seen the excellent advice of pacing yourself; set a timer, generally 25-45 minutes.  During this time period you do some hardcore studying, not letting anything distract you. When the timer goes off, take a 5-15 minute break (setting the timer for that as well) to just do something leisurely. Then go at it again, setting a timer to get some firm studying done.

2. Close Facebook. No, seriously. Close it. In fact, don’t touch the browser at all unless you are doing research. Don’t give yourself any excuses. If you absolutely MUST check your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc, then do it during the 5-15 minute break mentioned above. Be SURE to have your timer though, because then you can’t get sucked in for endless hours; the timer will force you to stop and go back to work.

3. Environment matters. Don’t lay on your bed, or lay on a couch. Your environment matters greatly when you study. If you study in a relaxing environment that you always associate with a feeling of rest, then your brain is going to switch to that resting mode it has for that environment. Choose study-specific environments, like the library, or the commuter lounge, or even just your desk in your room. If you don’t believe me that environment matters, ask Matt McAlack! He’ll prove it to you in all the brainy technical terms you’ll need.

 

4. Prioritize. What’s due first? It’s best to get the things that are due first out of the way. People often try to get the easiest assignments done first, but that’s taking up valuable time that could be better spent on something that is due sooner. This way, you don’t stress out about something that’s due tomorrow because you were working on something that is due in three days. Prioritizing has been especially easy for me with the app ‘MyHomework’, which I got on my Kindle Fire HD. It’s absolutely free and it puts up the list for you of what’s due first.

5. Study Alone. I hear often that people study better in groups, but guys, when we get down to it, we all know that the people we have around us are distracting. When you’re spending time with friends, even if you’re both supposed to be doing homework the temptation to goof off and have fun is overwhelming. It is often best to study alone, or study with one person who is quite studious themselves. It is easy to find a solitary space to study in with the study rooms at the library, to which the keys can be checked out right at the front desk.

Students Studying

6. Use flash cards and notes. This method is especially helpful if you’re in a class that has important terms that must be remembered. Write the term down on one side of an index card, and then write the definition on the other side. Then quiz yourself, only looking on the definition side once you’ve tried to give your own. Also, during readings, it is highly profitable to take notes. If something stands out to you, or if there’s something that you personally disagree with, go ahead and write it down! The professor will absolutely love it when you bring it up with them or the class.

7. Get a head start and don’t cram. This is incredibly important. The sooner you get to work on some of your homework, projects or papers, the sooner it will be done. Cramming is not healthy, mentally or emotionally, and you retain a lot less information when you cram than if you study at a more casual pace. So try to make a list as early in the semester as you can of homework, big and small, and their due dates. This way, when you get something done before it’s due, you’ll have some time to just relax and do something fun instead of cram for that particular piece of homework.

8. Reward yourself. I saw a fantastic idea on Pinterest where a person put gummi bears every so often on the pages of the book they were reading; when you get to the gummi bear, you eat it! This can also be used with M&Ms, Skittles, etc. It motivates you when you get a reward. I would highly suggest this method; a mini candy bar always tastes better when you’ve worked hard to earn it! It gives a much more positive attitude towards homework when you know you’ll get something good out of it.

9. If you don’t understand something, ask! Every single teacher I’ve had here at Cairn has always responded graciously to any emails I sent with a question. Teachers love it when you ask questions because that shows you’re doing the work and thinking about it, and that you want to do the work well. If there’s a prompt for a homework assignment that is confusing for you, or if the guidelines for your paper or presentation could mean a couple different things, just send the professor an email and ask them. They will be more than happy to get back to you and elaborate on what they mean and what they are looking for. Just remember; it never hurts to ask!

10. WANT IT. This is the most important tip I could possibly give. You have to WANT to get your homework done, or else none of these tips will work anyways. You have to be willing to sit down and work hard for this education that you are paying to have. College is a gift that plenty of American students take for granted. We’re here to experience and learn, and to learn we have to do some things that aren’t always pleasant. Even if it’s not pleasant, you can want to get it done. And who knows? Maybe you’ll learn a few things by the time you finish that annoying homework assignment or tough paper.

~Rachel Krodel

Silly Snow Days

 So, it’s threatening to become a common situation: a major snow storm has you stuck on campus on a snow day – without electricity, without WiFi … without NETFLIX. What are you supposed to spend your day doing now?! Believe it or not, there was a time when people curled up with a good book when the weather

kept them indoors (shocking, I know). While you may think the library is made up entirely of the BIB REF section, there are a lot of resources here that will help you replicate that TV watching experience as best as possible. With a little imagination you’ll forget you’re not watching the real deal. Here’s some suggestions for stocking up before the next storm:

If you watch NEW GIRL: Jess Day is probably the best teacher, ever. Submerse yourself in the kind of whimsicality that she would enjoy by visiting the children’s section on the library mezzanine floor. For the best picture books, try Caldecott award winners, which have their own section. For a heavier read, try Harry Potter (how have you all gone without them for so long?!)

If you watch THE OFFICE: Remember when Michael Scott started his own paper company? Oh, what fun… Some of the library’s books on entrepreneurship and marketing are really entertaining (okay, they lean more towards educational, but can’t earning money be fun, too?)

If you watch PARKS AND REC, or situation comedy/parody: The library has a great little section of parody fiction, humorous quotes, and joke books. Try browsing call numbers PN 1647 – PN 6261.

If you watch ANIME: Right under that comedy section are a few books on comics and manga art.

If you watch GOSSIP GIRL, UGLY BETTY, or CARRIE DIARIES:  If New York socialites are your thing, try “The Age of Innocence” by Edith Wharton or “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald.  Bonus – “The Great Gatsby” is really, really short.

If you watch SUPERHEROES: Try “God on the Streets of Gotham” by Paul Asay, or any of the books based on movies in that section.

If you watch THE MINDY PROJECT: One of Mindy’s trademarks is her love of pop culture, but remember Mindy’s pastor fiancé, Casey? Explore how pop culture meets the church in books such as “Pop Culture Wars” by William D. Romanowski, or “Why Johnny Can’t Sing Hymns” by T. David Gordon. Or… you could always mosey over to the BIB REF section? Hey, I guess it’s not that bad after all.

~Christine Fitzpatrick

Perseverance

 
Are human actions actually free, are they determined by God to do what he wants, or is the answer somewhere in the middle? This question of freedom came to me during a difficult final I was taking. As I sat there in that final I felt that all of my studying was for not and I was most likely going to receive a low mark anyway so why keep trying. I considered just closing up the final, handing it in, and hoping that I would just pass the class. Be assured however that I did not do this I pressed on and finished that final. However it did make me think about freedom and why God chose to give us this freedom. I think that because I wrestled with the aforementioned dilemma it is obvious that we do have freedom in some form. 

With the freedom that we have what should we do? There is both good and bad that can come from having freedom. Most of the time there is many options that we choose on a daily basis but all of the options usually boil down to two main conclusion, good or bad. In my final the good outcome was to continue, and the bad decision was to give up. The majority of the time the good outcome will be a harder outcome to go after in decisions that are important. This is where perseverance comes in. Perseverance is defined as steadfastness in completing a task despite any difficulty or length of time in achieving success. To me this embodies the college life experience, because it is a great length of time and a very hard task to complete. As Christians we need to persevere also and not be lackadaisical in life. Colossians 3:23-24 says, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” As men and women of Christ perseverance is a must because we are not ourselves but we are Christ. 

In closing, since we are free as Christians we must choose the life of perseverance daily not just a once in a while when it counts kind of thing, but a lifestyle of decisions that are hard and for the benefit of God. In college there is plenty of options to pick with good and bad consequences such as; to skip class just because I have skips to use, to not complete an assignment or not do it on time, to not study, to give up, to drop out, and many more that will lead to destruction of your college career. What you should do is when hard decisions come face them and pull through. Create a schedule to study and do homework so you don’t find yourself awake at four in the morning finishing a paper due at eight. Use your personal discernment and don’t bite off more than you can chew. All in all, use the freedom that God has placed upon you to do everything in a way which glorifies him, is beneficial to you, and causes something great in return.

~Jeff Simpson~

Munching in the Library

The library is a place for some serious studying, which occasionally produces the heavy desire to munch and crunch. There is a sign that remind folks not to go up or down the stairs with the intentions to eat food. The library is a great place to practice integrity, so please do not ignore the sign and feed the gobble monster in your tummy that likes to scratch at your insides. If you feel as though you cannot resist, walk quickly to the lobby near the front desk and munch there for some time. Why do we ask for such a difficult request? The library has many lovely books that help many people. Some books are older than most students, if not all. We try our best to keep these books clean and stainless, so the farther they are from food the better.

The sensational smells that enter the library with patrons are not only a dead giveaway of your belongings, but they also serve as distractions to other focused students. Aromas provide different therapies for people, and the aroma of food is like a lovely poison, stimulating the brain to think the body needs food, and thus other people might feel the sudden urge to eat as well, and they lose that God given grace to focus. Please think of others and the beautiful essence of the library.

Thank You

Dominique Delva