Category: News

By Christina Oddo

Contributing Writer

A panel of professors discussed the relationships and conflicts between science and faith Friday, Sept. 10 in Walls Lounge, coming to the conclusion that science does not necessarily have to do with morality, and that it is not cold-hearted. The solution to this controversy, they said, is to consider respect and compassion while teaching subjects relating to faith and science.

Professor of psychology and neuroscience David Evans began the lecture stating that some scientific and theological ideas are mutually exclusive; in other words, either a god created the universe or a god did not create the universe. Evans explained people may adapt or adopt particular aspects of an established religion (i.e. “Cafeteria Catholics”), and not all religions conform to the general and commonly acknowledged definitions of religion.

Evans believes the religion a person follows has a great impact on policies like global warming, stem cell research and vaccinations. He said religious and supernatural beliefs hold similar aspects in common. They “elude scientific evidence and do not welcome empirical scrutiny,” he said.

“Science is not just another form of faith, but the process by which we test our assumptions to determine whether our beliefs about the world are more or less accurate,” Evans said.

Evans believes anxiety and uncertainty lead people to “false positives.” “It only makes sense that humans cling to such beliefs that help them during uncertain periods of time,” he said.

Richard Crago, professor of civil and environmental engineering, spoke as a devoted Christian. He said faith and science are compatible and enrich each other.

“Knowing God is real knowledge, and God is a friend that will never let us down,” Crago said. He explained that science has to do with the material world. “However, God did, indeed, create that world,” Crago said.

Crago said people may disagree on interpretations of scientific evidence, but differences (and acceptance of those differences) in beliefs and religion come into play.

According to Crago, the statement “God is separate from the physical world” is a false dichotomy. Crago claimed God created us with a purpose: love. He also said people must learn about nature, a separate purpose, through science.

David Fletcher, a member of the biology department, clearly separated science and faith.  He defined natural law as the knowledge we can all agree upon (i.e. chemistry), and said there are no equivalent laws of faith.

Fletcher raised many controversial questions, such as “Who created God?” He also questioned God as both a Creator and as a sustainer.

Fletcher finished his speech with the idea of tolerance. “Everyone and anyone can chose what to believe, what to take part of, yet with religion comes responsibility,” he said.

Associate professor of English Alf Siewers, the last of the panel, said that the secret of life is experience, and that Creation is a beautiful concept, not corrupt, and renewed everyday.

Siewers framed scientific metaphysics as the opposite of experiential and empirical. Siewers believes through the arts, sciences, and most importantly through love, we must embrace the mystery of the world that is both symbolic and real.

Jason Leddington, assistant professor of philosophy, spoke on the necessity to critically reflect on our own beliefs.

“As part of a liberal arts education, it is pedagogically irresponsible for us to not take up this topic of religion and science, and to discuss and teach. Dogmatism and relativism are dangerous, especially when chosen over critical thought, for relativistic viewpoints stunt learning. We need balance, humility and mutual respect. Most importantly, it is more than necessary to continuously have our ‘critical faculties engaged,’” Leddington said.

By Olivia Seecof

Contributing Writer

The 12,500-square foot space in the Elaine Langone Center, previously occupied by the University bookstore, will serve as a student “hearth space” next semester.

The space will serve a variety of functions for students and student organizations. Sections of the new hearth space will hold lounge chairs and a television in addition to a conference/seminar room students can reserve for meetings. There will be chairs with desks for group work and tables that will serve as extra seating space for the Bison.

The space will also hold the offices of Activities and Campus Events (ACE) and Bucknell Student Government (BSG) and the Campus Activities and Programs (CAP) center. The updated student area will act as a hub for all student organizations.

The University post office and a University box office will move to the student center.

Members of BSG voted on the décor for the student center.

“My side won, and the space will be decorated in an extraordinary dark blue,” student body president Charles Kreitler ’12 said. “There will be nice lighting along with other great touches to turn this space into something unique for students.”

The idea to turn the space into an area dedicated to students was originally proposed by BSG. A committee composed of both faculty and students met over the course of a year to discuss the details of the student center.

“[The space] provided an excellent opportunity to help satisfy all of [the students’] needs,” associate dean of students Kari Conrad said.

“I think that it is great to have all of the student organizations in one place instead of spread out on different floors and on different parts of campus. This will allow students to have more input as well allow us to be more informed about upcoming events,” Patrick Carey ’12 said.

The student center will increase traffic through the Elaine Langone Center “mall” and will allow students to explore mall sales—from fundraisers to vendor and Management 101 products.

“Even though I’m only a freshman and haven’t been on campus for long, I feel like I’ve already exhausted every other hangout. The new space will be a fun and convenient new place to go with friends,” Brooke Barnhart ’14 said.

The space will be open for use next semester. Even though the final design is in place, BSG is open to all opinions and ideas about the new space.

By Ryan Wodarczyk

Contributing Writer

A Harvard psychologist and author discussed the importance of different types of minds in a future marked by informational and technological revolutions last Thursday evening.

Howard Gardner, author of “Five Minds for the Future,” spoke to an audience in the Weis Center about how each of the five minds he outlines in his book can be developed and effectively applied. The lecture marked the culmination of this year’s summer reading project for first-year students.

First-year students were required to read Gardner’s book as part of the Transition to College class.

Gardner explained the disciplined, synthesizing, creative, respectful and ethical minds, and then extended them into a real world context to help students visualize how the minds can have a positive effect on learning.

Gardner is most famous for his Theory of Multiple Intelligences and stressed that the Five Minds are completely separate from his previous intelligences.

Citing Darwin and Einstein as examples of great synthesizing and creative minds, Gardner pushed students to try to obtain each mind through lifelong learning and intellectual curiosity.

Gardner said that the benefits of lifelong learning are a key to becoming an expert and leader in a certain field. He also discussed the implications of good work and the use of ethical and responsible means to promote both individual and global welfare, a topic he also discussed in his first speech at the University last year.

After Gardner’s speech was over, several students took the opportunity to ask him questions about his work.

“I appreciated the fact that many students got up to ask questions, although I felt that they could have been shorter, more precise questions,” Emma Vitolo ’14 said.”I just think [the questions] could have been worded better. More precise. Less accusatory and more questioning.”

“I don’t think he really…engaged the audience in any way,” Maddy Liss ’14 said.

By Emily Harwood

Staff Writer

Anyone can harness his or her creativity with ambition and discipline, a renowned choreographer said Tuesday evening.

Twyla Tharp, distinguished choreographer, writer, director and winner of numerous honors, including Emmy and Tony Awards, as well as a Kennedy Center Honor spoke to an audience at the University’s Weis Center for the Performing Arts. Her talk was the first in the new Bucknell Forum Series “Creativity: Beyond the Box,” which will continue throughout the fall semester.

“I do think that everybody has something to say. It’s about whether or not they have the discipline to believe in oneself … some just don’t have the confidence to speak it very loudly,” Tharp said.

“Creativity has muscles. They can be trained,” she said.

Tharp said that we have control over our own creativity.

You must have a fantasy about your creative goal and then ruthlessly practice and educate yourself, she said.

“Preparation can become a shield for this fear that we go into…you give yourself a beginning,” Tharp said.

You also can’t be intimidated or afraid to fail. Most people, she said, are scared of the amount of experience that precedes them.

“People often do become intimidated by the past … the trick is not to be intimidated by the artists, by the knowledge,” she said.

“In our culture there’s a value on originality,” Tharp said, which is not completely the case. “The best art is deeply rooted just as the tallest trees are deeply rooted…You need to have information before context and you need to have context to have subject matter.”

Many students found Tharp’s talk on creativity helpful.

“Twyla Thwarp’s lecture was very inspirational to me as an artist, especially how she so clearly lived her art, from the way that she moved onstage to the way she welcomed the audience and even supervised an impromptu performance.” Brenna English-Loeb ’11 said. “I feel privileged to have seen such an influential artist and get a chance to see firsthand how she habitually creates success.”

“Tharp’s speech was evocative, and while her expertise may lie in the artistic realm, I believe she helped her audience understand the pervasive nature of creativity and the importance of embracing ingenuity regardless of profession,” Lindsay Machen ’11 said.