The Beacon

If you haven’t yet met him on the campus sidewalks or heard him cheering on the Redhawks at a soccer game, it’s high time you got to know Roberts’ new Title IX Coordinator and Associate Vice President of Student Experience, Dr. Ian Slater! We at the Beacon took the opportunity to sit down with him and hear what’s on his mind about Roberts.

Beacon: What made you choose Roberts?

Dr. Slater: Roberts has been on my radar for years. I see real people doing real life in real ways, and sometimes it’s gritty, and feisty, and has challenges, but it means we have real conversations and we can talk about the messiness of life. Students aren’t all the same. They’re not all coming from the same backgrounds, and they’re not all chasing the same opportunities, but for these few years, we can come together, learn from each other, and figure out big questions in a community.

The way that I see Roberts engaging in its commitment as a Christian institution is that it provides an anchor point, but there’s also an umbrella of hospitality. And that means we have room to be a little more real and raw, and we don’t always have to put on facades and pretend to be a certain way.

What’s your favorite thing about Roberts so far?

The students. Conversations with students, getting to know their hearts, goals, and dreams. And the staff and faculty have been wonderful. They have been overwhelming in their kindness.

What kind of impact do you hope to have on Roberts?

I think one practical area is identifying where there’s fragmentation in the student experience, and pulling together the organization so that you have a more cohesive experience. There are really good people offering really good care in pockets, but an overarching strategy of care needs development and fortification. There should be consistent institutional integrity—so that you know that from office to office, person to person, the same ethos will be expressed.

Ah, September. The month when people soak up the last sighs of summer, sing about
remembering the 21st, and prepare themselves for the season of spooks, scares, and pumpkin spice lattes. It’s also one of the most eventful times on campus, featuring two annual occurrences: The Miner Men Cheeseburger Eating Contest and Homecoming.

“But wait!” you might be saying. “That was almost two months ago! It’s nearly Thanksgiving!” Well, dear reader, that’s exactly why I’m writing this. What better way to celebrate than to look back on our fun experiences and feel grateful that we didn’t have to worry about finals?

This year, the Cheeseburger Contest was held on Thursday the 19th. The reigning
champion, Jamison, successfully defended his title by eating a total of ten cheeseburgers. He did not, however, break the record of 15 he had set the previous year. But that wasn’t the only thing that happened that night. A couple of hours before the competition, a blood moon could be spotted hanging low in the sky. For those who missed it, worry not: another occurs on March 14!

Homecoming happened only a week later. It opened Friday with a Studio Ghibli
themed concert, featuring music from Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, Howl’s Moving Castle, Ponyo, Spirited Away, and My Neighbor Totoro. Saturday was positively overflowing with activities, including a car fair, a variety of sports meets and games, and a second concert performed by the Wind Ensemble. The center of campus was particularly lively. School clubs and other organizations sold their wares while a live band provided the ambience. (My personal favorite purchases were Hildegard the succulent from the Psychology Club and Saint Petersburg McFluffin, one of the many items at Horizons that Gray crocheted.) Finally, the festivities rounded off with some spectacular SNL performances and a movie. May the next Homecoming be equally if not more entertaining.

You’re sitting at the dinner table, Thanksgiving evening. The entire extended family has gathered for food, fights, and football! And everything's going swell until Grandma asks everyone to go around the table and say one thing they’re thankful for. The problem? You’re at the end of the table, and by the time it reaches you…all the easy answers are taken! So what are you pulling out of your back pocket, that totally 100% accurate answer that no one would see coming? Here’s what Roberts students responded with when polled, displayed in the form of everyone's favorite Thanksgiving centerpiece!