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The Echo
Taylor University, Upland, IN
Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025
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Jeff Sparks...

IndyStar journalist interviews founder of Heartland Film Festival

By Lauren Warner · Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024

Vocation, prayer and life transitions: Russell Pulliam publicly interviewed Jeff Sparks Thursday, Oct. 24, discussing these three themes and many others. Held in Taylor University’s Cornwall Auditorium, the interview centered around Sparks’ many endeavors, including the founding of the Heartland Film Festival. 

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Grants fund academic programs, research opportunities at TU

By Samantha Saad · Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024

Grant writing is a key part of funding academic programs and allows for diverse funding opportunities for various academic desires and needs in the university, Kris Johnson, director of grants and sponsored programs, said. If a department or faculty member at Taylor wants to conduct research, develop a program or requires additional funding outside of their budget, they can apply for a grant.

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Strike impacts students

By Lauren Warner · Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024

On October 1, 2024, ports up and down the Eastern and Gulf coasts saw thousands of dockworkers begin a long-anticipated strike. Members of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), the union representing the dockworkers, rallied together in an effort to raise wages and ban automation in ports. 

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University Advancement continues to fundraise for institution

By Samantha Saad · Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024

Fundraising is how Taylor University supports and affords various projects and initiatives to grow its institution. The University Advancement Department focuses on these fundraising efforts, working separately from the school’s operational budget and grant processes. The process of giving to the university is multifaceted. Typically, the university has pre-existing connections with individuals it believes would be interested in giving to specific projects due to personal connection or general subject interest, Mike Falder, vice president for University Advancement, said.

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Students team up to lead new comic class

By Sam Maurer · Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024

A love of comic books is something senior Contessa Hussong, professional writing major and junior Caleb Joshua Heffron, multimedia journalism major, share in common. The two teamed up to teach a class called "comics unlocked." Heffron said in this course, he and Hussong explore the history of comics and guide students through creating a comic script. They will earn credit for an independent study by teaching the course. 

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Fire pit ignites

By Karlee Johnson · Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024

A gas-powered fireplace ignited, resulting in the injury of three students, outside the Hodson Dining Commons on Wednesday around noon. People on the scene immediately called emergency services. Taylor University’s staff, campus police and several emergency management people responded quickly to see what had occurred, Skip Trudeau, vice president for Student Development and Intercollegiate Athletics, said. Facilities came over and shut the gas and power electricity off to the fire pit.

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Hurricanes Helene, Milton hit southern states

By Enoch Eicher · Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024

Hurricane Helene hit the Big Bend area of Florida on Sept. 26 and snaked its way 400 miles up to North Carolina where the majority of the damage occurred. The hurricane claimed more than 200 lives across the Southeast through flash flooding and associated damage. Strong wind gusts damaged property and blew trees and power lines down in a swath from the Gulf Coast to the North Carolina mountains, the National Weather Service reported. 

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New student portrait show highlights diversity of Taylor campus

By Karlee Johnson · Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024

Senior Chloe Gard, film and media arts major and photography minor, is the photographer of “You,” the new photo gallery hanging up on the second floor of the LaRita Boren Campus Center. The gallery was installed in August and will remain for the 2024-25 academic year. 

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Taylor students build new housing in Upland

By Kenna Hartian · Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024

Upland will be welcoming new housing options on Second Street called the Haven on 2nd Street. The new housing is 28 apartments half a mile from campus. New hires at Taylor University are unable to find houses in Upland and end up living in surrounding communities, Drew Moser, a local real estate agent, and a former dean and professor at Taylor, said. 

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Sept. 17 report on Upland City Council Meeting

By Echo News Staff · Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024

City Council passed ordinance 12-2024 which reestablishes Upland’s Department of Redevelopment; they reviewed city annexation and utility water main breaks on Sept. 17. The primary use of a Department of Redevelopment (or redevelopment commission) is to identify and find property within a town (or city) that is abandoned or “blighted,” Michael Harbin, professor emeritus of biblical studies and town council member, said.

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J-term documentary receives first place through BEA

By Jane' Aubry Page · Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024

Junior Greg Compton, senior Callia Stichter, graduates Emily Crosier (‘24) and Claire Tiemens (‘24) won first place for their film “Route of the Romanesque” in the Broadcast Education Association’s (BEA) 2024 On-Location documentary competition. “The Route of the Romanesque” was created and produced by director Crosier, producer and writer Tiemens, co-cinematographer and co-producer Stichter and editor and cinematographer Compton.

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Prominence through Princeton

By Sadie Maples · Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024

“I love Taylor intramurals more than a million dollars, a box of chocolates and a lover serenading me day and night,” freshman student Aden Duell said. Taylor is ranked as No. 8 in the nation for intramural sports by The Princeton Review.

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Taylor University updates science seminar, increasing accessibility

By Kenna Hartian · Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024

Benjamin Lawson, associate professor of physics, will speak at the university’s next science seminar on Oct. 1. He will talk about searching for new phases of matter. This is research into the strange way certain materials, like magnets, work differently than individual atoms by themselves, he said. 

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Stefan Brandle appointed

By Sam Maurer · Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024

Taylor’s President Michael Lindsay appointed Stefan Brandle, co-chair and professor of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, as the Ronald L. McDaniel Endowed Chair of Computing and System Sciences during chapel on May 3. 

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Election preparations continue at Taylor U.

By Lauren Warner · Monday, Sept. 23, 2024

As fall descends upon Indiana, temperatures are cooling, but the election campaigns are heating up. With November approaching, Taylor faculty and students are preparing for the presidential race and the tension it may bring. 

Hospital

Marion Health East hosts ribbon cutting

By Samantha Saad · Monday, Sept. 23, 2024

After a nearly three-year process, Marion Health East’s Innovation and Medical Campus in Gas City officially opened its services on Monday. On Sept. 15, the hospital hosted an open house, signaling its grand opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony and building tours. 

Dining

Improving and extending dining at Taylor

By Annie Meldrum · Monday, Sept. 23, 2024

The university and AVI are in the process of resurrecting the food truck that Taylor used for a period of time during COVID. They hope to have it in operation starting in November, at a few different popup locations on campus, offering a variety of foods depending on the day.