Campus Life

Ben Hewitt’s passion is literature. The 20-year-old published his first novel, I Toss Till Dawn, last year and is currently working on his third. It is a fictional take on a boy’s freshman year of college – he describes as a multi-character novel in the vein of Infinite Jest. Influenced by the likes of Kerouac, Dostoyevsky and Joyce, Hewitt has plans for a major in education and continuing his studies in a masters program. He’s focused on writing what inspires him, not necessarily what is popular. His advice for writers, “Even if you don’t feel like writing, you have to do it. Don’t ever give up on it.”

Patricia loves “doing life” with people; standing beside them through everything. “God made us relational individuals,” which is why she is an RA in the apartments. Life goal: Make an impact on students as a math teacher in a Title I school, showing them math is fun and relative to life. Through her own education struggles and physical battles, she realizes it’s harder to find the positive in life. But it’s still a good challenge. If God had a favorite color, according to Patricia, He’d choose the rainbow “because He never uses the same color twice.” Think about it.

The November 2010 issue of FYP is now available on campus and online. Check it out now, featuring KBCOB Dean Dr. Kevin Barksdale, freshman award-winning songwriter Casey Lee Smith, remarkable International online student Louise Tamutebi and more.

Though he plans on teaching in Greece and seeing the world, 19-year old sophomore Jacob Faber has never been on an airplane.  For now, he is content earning his bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education with a minor in English at GCU.  His favorite activities include painting and reading.  As an RA, it is Jacob’s duty to be relational and meet new people, which comes naturally to him.  You can often find him drinking an iced chai with a good book in his hands, like The Secret Life of Bee, or listening to the unusual sounds of the Canadian band, Tegan and Sara. Article by Krisann Valdez, Photos by Anissa Rowe.

GCU International Education Week included a host of events leading up to India and Nepal Night on Friday. The club transformed the Canyon Café into a cultural hotspot of India and Nepal.

A new campus group is ready to get in your face. The Freshman Class Council (FCC) is hosting its first event this weekend, so come dodge balls for free food. A dodgeball tournament will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday in the Student Recreation Center. Sign up in the ASGCU office in the Student Union.

The Canyon Crazies Club held its first rehearsal party Tuesday evening. The club is a cheering group affiliated with the Black Hole, the newly designated student section of seats in Antelope Gym. Club members lead student cheering during sporting events.

The Office of Campus Life has selected sophomore Derek Drake as its first Student Leader of the Month for 2010-11. Drake is a double major in Christian studies and music. He is also a life leader in Hegel Hall and a worship leader with the Gathering band.

Want to join a Student Club? The one you want may be meeting up very soon. The Debate Club – Wednesday, Oct. 20 at 10:45 a.m. in Fleming 101. “Good Neighbor” Cross Cultural Outreach Club – Friday, Oct. 22 at 11 a.m. in Fleming 101. The Good Neighbor Club will serve refugees in Serrano Village Apartments through ESL and kids clubs and is open to anyone interested in ESL or cross-cultural service to our neighbors in Serrano Village. Contact Jonathan Sharpe at 602.639.6746 for more information. Theology and Philosophy Club – Friday, Oct. 29 at 11 a.m. in Fleming 101. Open to members of the GCU community interested in discussing important theological and philosophical questions in a friendly and academic atmosphere. Contact Sanjay Merchant at 602.639.6789 for more information. For more information on the student clubs available at GCU, or to start your own club, visit the Office of Campus Life in the Student Union, or contact John-Paul Reiger at 602.639.6892 or jreiger@gcu.edu.

The Cooke Health and Wellness Center is now offering expanded counseling hours for all students at no charge. Three professional therapists, Teresa, Kim and Travis, are now available at the Center on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. Please call or stop by the Cooke Health Center at 602.639.6215 to make an appointment. The Cooke Health and Wellness Center is located in the Student Union.