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At the 2019 Association for Theatre in Higher Education’s (ATHE) annual conference in Orlando, Dr. John Sebestyen, associate professor of communication arts and director of theatre, took part in two sessions: “Getting Physical: Encouraging Physicality in Young Actors” and “Never Forget: Teaching the Holocaust Through Theatre.”

For the panel on physicality, Sebestyen spoke about “Increasing Awareness of Our Own Physicalities: Coaching Newer Actors to More Fully Inhabit Their Own Bodies Onstage.”

The issue is a particularly interesting one at a smaller college like Trinity, where many participants in the theatre program are not necessarily also studying theatre in the traditional classroom.  “Focusing on acting strategies for how actors can more fully embody characters onstage is an important component in connecting with the humanity of these characters,” Sebestyen said.

For the panel on Holocaust theatre, Sebestyen spoke on “Alertness to Oppression: Directing and Teaching Holocaust Plays in an Interdisciplinary Liberal Arts Context.” His fellow panel members included Dr. Alvin Goldfarb, a nationally known theatre educator and administrator. Among other topics, Sebestyen talked about directing “Andorra” at Trinity in November 2015. The play, by Max Frisch, explores anti-Semitism in a European village 15 years after World War II.

The theme of the 2019 ATHE Conference was “Scene Changes: Performing, Teaching, and Working Through Transitions.” ATHE is a comprehensive non-profit professional membership organization. Founded in 1986, ATHE serves the interests of its diverse individual and organizational members, including college and university theatre departments and administrators, educators, graduate students, and theatre practitioners.

It was an OPUS like no other! While the Trinity community is learning remotely, the annual celebration of student scholarship took place online. Students from a variety of disciplines—from biology to history to psychology to communication arts—shared virtual presentations. Seniors earning BAs and BFAs in art and graphic design presented their thesis shows. Special Education students continued the tradition of poster presentations. And music students submitted the performances they recorded at home.

“When Trinity announced its move to online classes for the Spring Semester because of COVID-19, students began asking about continuing the OPUS tradition,” said Sarah Hoeksema ‘10, OPUS Co-Chair and Circulation & Access Librarian. “To honor the spirit of OPUS and embrace this request, we showcased student work in an online format. Sixty-three students took part and did a wonderful job adapting their presentations and sharing them with the entire Trinity community.”

Professors and staff joined in as well to make OPUS 2020 a success, she added.

If you missed any of the OPUS presentations, you can view each one here.

At Trinity, OPUS is one of the biggest events of the year. And nothing can stop OPUS and the opportunity to celebrate student scholarship!

While Trinity has moved to online learning for the remainder of the Spring 2020 semester in light of the COVID-19 situation, OPUS will go on — in digital form. On Tuesday, April 14, the Trinity community will come together virtually to see photos of student work and pre-recorded, short videos of student presentations. Please visit our OPUS 2020 page for more information and to take part in our celebration of student scholarship next Tuesday.

Trinity Trolls have been taking part in OPUS for decades. And while OPUS has evolved over the years, it remains true to its origins and allows everyone to see more and think bigger than any single major or minor. This year is no exception! 

For Jesse VanMaanen ’12, a surgery resident at the University of South Dakota, the coronavirus pandemic isn’t just a workplace issue—he is currently in isolation after having contracted the illness during a rotation at Chicago’s John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County.

VanMaanen shared his story recently on “Troll Talks,” a podcast series of conversations with alumni, parents, faculty, and friends of Trinity Christian College, hosted by Director of Alumni and Family Engagement Jeremy Klyn.

During his conversation with Klyn, VanMaanen offered advice for dealing with the current pandemic situation, discussed his personal story, and talked about how his Trinity professors help prepare him for medical school.

A graduate of Pella Christian High School in Pella, Iowa, VanMaanen is already recovering at his home in Sioux Falls, S.D.

While the current situation has been challenging for everyone, VanMaanen stressed that we can’t let ourselves live in fear. “It’s not healthy, and it’s not productive. But people need to be smart. We serve a God that is bigger than this—but that doesn’t mean we can decide that God’s got this, and we can go get together with all our friends. We also have to act appropriately and responsibly,” he said.

He credits Trinity with helping to shape his worldview and vocation. After graduating in 2012 with a major in biology and minor in chemistry, VanMaanen attended the University of Iowa’s Carver College of Medicine. After graduating from medical school, he next decided to pursue general surgery training at the University of South Dakota, where he is currently in the fourth year of the five-year program. Part of his surgical training included rotations in Chicago.

“My wife and son came along for my Chicago rotation, and they stayed at her parents’ house in the suburbs,” he said. “I stayed at the hospital in a dorm, and somehow, while I was there, I must have had an exposure.” For safety’s sake, VanMaanen chose to return home, while his wife and son stayed in the Chicago area. “I knew I was going to be exposed, and I really wanted to keep them out of harms’ way as best I could. They are going to stay there until my quarantine period is up, my symptoms are gone, and I’m cleared to go back to work.”

For VanMaanen, who has suffered from headaches, muscle aches, cough, loss of taste and smell, and other COVID-19 symptoms, being away from his family has been hard. “But it’s temporary, and that’s something everyone should remember—this is temporary. But it’s also important to do the right thing during that time.”

That includes social distancing. “By time you get symptoms of coronavirus, you will probably infect two to three people on average. And then those three infect another three, and those people each infect three more. So, you can see how it can sweep through a small area really quickly. You can break that chain link with just one person. By the time you get symptoms, the damage is already done.”

He cautions people to not be overly concerned on an individual level, but to think about improving society as a whole. “It’s going to run its course, and it’s going to be over,” he said. “But the question mark, and the big thing that drives a lot of the fear, is when that will be. And no one knows.”

VanMaanen stressed the importance of supporting the people who are continuing to work on the front lines. “It’s not just nurses and doctors. We need to be supporting small businesses. We have teachers at home making videos for kids to do online learning, which is amazingly valiant. Garbage needs to be picked up, things still need to be repaired. Places still need to be cleaned, and food still needs to be made. Everyone is taking a hit.”

In his conversation with Klyn, VanMaanen reflected on his deep beliefs in both faith and science—which he credits Trinity for helping him to develop. “At Trinity, you get an education that weaves faith and science together. One of biggest things I enjoyed at Trinity was the professors who really worked to say, these are both wonderful things and we really need to embrace how they work together, not how they work apart. If anyone is thinking of pursuing a science major and a Christian education, Trinity is wonderful place to be.”

“Troll Talks” features members of our Trinity community who want to make a difference in the lives of current, former and prospective students. Check out more episodes here.

Trinity may be new to the world of college mock trial competitions, but the team has already made an impression during its first season. Trinity students notched several wins in tournaments against larger colleges and universities with more established teams.

Not only is the team new to the college, most of the students who participated had never done mock trial before. But with the support of professors, alumni, and others, a determined group of students was able to build the team from the ground up and position it for even greater success next year.

Before beginning his freshman year at Trinity in the fall, Jacob Contreras ’23 was already exploring how to create a team on campus. Contreras had done mock trial at Chicago Christian High School in Palos Heights, Ill., and wanted to continue here. “Before school began in the fall, I started asking if people would be interested in participating,” he said. That included conversations with Tony Reppmann ‘23, the son of Trinity’s Professor of Philosophy Aron Reppmann, Ph.D., and roommate of Damon Pater ’23. Dr. Reppmann became an early supporter of the team, and Pater quickly agreed to take part.

Pres. Kurt Dykstra provided encouragement as well, and Contreras and Pater set up a booth at Trinity’s Involvement Fair, which takes place early in the school year and is a way for students to learn about  activities and opportunities on campus. They received enough interest to continue exploring the logistics of formally competing.

Peter VanderWall ’23 was one of the team’s first members. “I came to Trinity for Founders’ Scholars Weekend last year, and even then, all Jacob talked about was a mock trial team,” he said with a laugh. “I went to the first meeting and was completely intrigued,” said VanderWall.

In mock trial competitions, two teams play the roles of the lawyers and witnesses in a fictional court case. One team portrays the lawyers and witnesses for the prosecution, while the other team represents the defense side. Practicing attorneys and judges serve on panels that award points and determine the winner.

For Pater, mock trial was similar to the public forum debates he participated in during high school. VanderWall, an entrepreneurial management major, said he was attracted by the innovation and opportunities he saw in mock trial. In fact, Assistant Professor of Business Omar Sweiss is the faculty advisor to the mock trial team, and Assistant Professor of Business John Wightkin has also offered assistance.

Several members of the team have a background in theater, which is particularly helpful for those playing the witness roles, Contreras said.

Despite the early interest, Pater was skeptical that the team would be prepared to compete against more seasoned opponents from colleges such as the University of Chicago, the University of Kentucky, and Wheaton College. “Honestly, there seemed like really insurmountable challenges,” he recalled. But every time the team came across an obstacle, someone was able to find a solution. That included team members who work for Trinity’s Physical Plant and knew the process for obtaining college vans for transportation. “Everyone stepped up, even starting at the first meeting. From the beginning, it has been a group effort for people who took this dream and made it their own.”