How Good Can It Get?

We have reached halfway point of the Fall 2014 semester. As I write, the halls of The King’s College are quiet—students vacated for Fall Break and are getting much-deserved rest.

As we launched into the 2014-2015 academic year, I pondered whether this year could top last year’s renaissance. Eight weeks later, I am anything but disappointed. The semester has been a thrilling ride. Here a few snapshots:

Class of 2018: In August, 180 new students joined our ranks. Before they arrived, many wondered how this class would mesh with the King’s community and mission. Since their arrival, I’ve heard numerous compliments from upperclassmen and faculty: “They are here for the right reasons.” “They are motivated and focused.” The Class of 2018 is making a worthy reputation for themselves.

Drama in the Woods: During the weekend of September 5-7, over 400 students, staff and faculty packed into eight yellow school buses and headed upstate for the 2014 King’s Fall Retreat. The weekend was a rich time of teaching, worship and festivities (think a 200-person, high-intensity dodgeball game). This year’s Drama Competition, based on the happy theme of mortality, featured the best lineup of performances I’ve seen. Though the competition was fierce, the House of Queen Elizabeth I walked away with a unanimous first place performance. Well done, QE1.

Brotest the Protest: On September 22, Occupy Wall Street, rebranded Flood Wall Street, was back in force. Thousands gathered steps from the King’s campus, engulfing the Wall Street Bull in a sea of blue and calling to end capitalism. The House of Ronald Reagan saw this as an opportunity to protest the protesters. They hit the streets (with by a full-size cardboard cutout of Ronald Reagan) to engage protesters in conversations about the merits of capitalism. Their counter-protest was covered by Fox News, The Blaze, Young Conservatives, and other news outlets. The Elite Daily featured their “brotest” in a video that captures the spirit behind their gutsy action.

A Kingsian Fast: On October 2, the community united in a day of fasting and prayer. I was humbled by the number of students who participated, whether fasting from a meal, from social media and/or joining others in prayer. That evening, 125 gathered to worship, pray and celebrate the end of their fast. It was a spiritual high point in the fall semester.

Classes resume tomorrow. The halls of The King’s College will again pulse with life and energy. I look forward to seeing what is in store the second half of this semester. How good can it get? We will soon see.