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Taylor Kraayenbrink

Stories from Taylor Kraayenbrink

Following the leaders into (yet another) election
Taylor Kraayenbrink
Wednesday, September 21st, 2011

This summer has been an eventful one in federal Canadian politics, beginning with the May 2 election which saw Stephen Harper’s Conservative Party of Canada elected with a sweeping majority, as the incumbent opposition, Liberal Party led by Michael Ignatieff was decimated, reduced to third place—its worst showing since confederation. Not surprisingly, Ignatieff resigned his position as Liberal leader after losing not only the general election and position of Leader of the Opposition, but his own riding of Etobicoke-Lakeshore.

"Be the Voice" increases social justice awareness at Redeemer
Taylor Kraayenbrink
Tuesday, April 12th, 2011
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Upheaval in middle east provides new opportunities for better government
Taylor Kraayenbrink
Monday, April 11th, 2011
The recent political upheaval in North African states has given western nations much to consider. In Libya and Egypt, we
have seen two nations long in the grip of authoritarian dictators simply throw off the yoke of rule in massive waves of protest (Egypt) and military rebellion (in Libya). In Egypt, it appears that western foreign intervention was not needed—at least not militarily. But with the ongoing civil war in Libya between the rebels and tyrant Gaddafi’s forces, we in the west must ask ourselves how to approach the conflict.
Klassen lecture a reward and a challenge
Taylor Kraayenbrink
Wednesday, February 16th, 2011
On February 15, Dr. Norm Klassen, Chair of the English Department at St Jerome's University in the University of Waterloo, and presently serving as one of the four external Senators on Redeemer's Senate, gave a special lecture entitled "The Thomistic challenge of C.S. Lewis's address to students, 'Learning in War-time.'” Students were forewarned that the lecture would require upper-level background knowledge on literary theory, and the caveat was appreciated. Although at times, being a second year student, I felt the lecture go over my head, I appreciated what I did grasp.
Letter to the Editor: Response to CAUT
Taylor Kraayenbrink
Monday, February 14th, 2011
What do we make of CAUT’s investigation and intention to label Redeemer University as a place that restricts academic freedom amongst its teaching faculty? My first response to this allegation would be to ask every single professor here whether or not they feel at all restricted in their careers. Let’s consider our professors for a moment. We all know that our profs take pay cuts to teach at Redeemer. Why do they do that?
Jeanette Lynes makes poetry pop
Taylor Kraayenbrink
Monday, February 14th, 2011
Jeanette Lynes’ poetry reading at Redeemer on January 27th was the one poetry reading for you, if there ever was one. As you may know from my past articles, I am always keen for the latest poet’s reading here at Redeemer. But I have to admit that most people are excused in their ignorance of the poets who come through here funded by the Canada Council for Arts. Four-thirty p.m. on a weekday is not the ideal time for busy students to sit down and listen to someone read poetry for up to an hour. But Lynes was a different poet.
Stop Bickering!
Taylor Kraayenbrink
Wednesday, January 19th, 2011
I spent this past week, along with my two esteemed colleagues Brittany Knapper and Becky Connell, in The Beautiful City, also known as Montreal, where we were at the Canadian University Press student journalism conference, more commonly called “The CUP." Now, I’m not sure how much anyone at Redeemer really concerns themselves with our Francophone comrades, and I have to admit that I never have really thought too much about the Quebecois until now either. But while in Montreal, my eyes were opened to a brand new (to me) culture within Canada.
Open and Shut: An Amateur Response to an Amateur Argument
Taylor Kraayenbrink
Tuesday, January 18th, 2011
I want to come right out here and make very clear that I have no pretensions to theological brilliance. I’ve no theological training beyond hearing good preaching and reading good books (two advantages available to most of us), and insofar as my ability to practice theology is limited, my claims in this article need to be taken with a grain of salt. Untill reading “An Open Invitation,” I always thought that the doctrine of Open Theism was a fringe idea among non-Christians.
English is for neurotics
Taylor Kraayenbrink
Wednesday, December 1st, 2010

The Poetry reading Thursday, November 25th was worth it for the small numbers who came out to listen to Ken Babstock’s latest collection of poetry, Airstream Land Yacht. He also read some poems from the manuscript of his yet-to-be-released collection Methodist Hatchet. I was pretty excited for the reading, being the quintessential English nerd. Admittedly, poetry is not everyone’s thing, and not everyone can be bothered with it, I know.

Open Mike: Ignatieff at Redeemer
Taylor Kraayenbrink
Thursday, November 11th, 2010

Let me just come straight out and state that I am a Conservative. With that in mind, feel free to either judge me harshly or agree emphatically with what I say about Michael Ignatieff and the Liberal Party's Open Mike session.
Redeemer in the Dark: Where's the squirrel?
Taylor Kraayenbrink
Wednesday, November 10th, 2010
During the past month at Redeemer, there have been two major power outages. The first power outage occurred on October 17th during Church in the Box. This power outage was caused by a squirrel coming into contact with a live power line in the power box at the Garner Road entrance.
The cause of the second and more problematic outage, which took place on Tuesday, November 2nd, was a bit more complex.
Meet the Professor
Taylor Kraayenbrink
Wednesday, October 13th, 2010

On Friday, October 1, 2010, Dr. Deborah Bowen was inaugurated as Professor of English at Redeemer University College. Many students may wonder what the significance of such a promotion is, as Dr. Bowen has been addressed as a professor as long as she has been at Redeemer. So what does it mean to be recognized as a full professor? Becoming a full professor means moving up the scale of professorial ranks.