News & Worldview
Centenary’s Van Thyn Lecture Highlights Memory, Legacy, and a Powerful Digital Surprise
November 22, 2025
Centenary College recently hosted its annual Van Thyn Holocaust Memorial Lecture, given by Dr. Alex Kor, son of two Holocaust survivors. His presentation was "My Holocaust Legacy: A Blessing, Not a Burden," about growing up with a family legacy connected to one of the darkest moments in human history. The lecture is part of the Rose and Louis Van Thyn Memorial Series established to honor two local survivors who spent their lives sharing the importance of Holocaust education.
Dr. Kor spoke of his childhood and what his parents' experiences in Auschwitz taught him about the world. He said that to be the child of survivors is not simply to know sad tales, but to bear the heavy burden of remembering. He told his family's story in such a way that history seemed personal and current, rather than remote or abstract. He remembers the Holocaust not out of obligation but as a key part of his identity.
Food Insecurity for College Students
November 22, 2025
With the longest government shutdown coming to an end on November 12th after eight moderate Democratic senators voted with Republicans to pass the budget, Americans are discussing the effects of paused government assistance on our most vulnerable communities. The shutdown began on October 1st after Democrats refused to pass a budget that would cut healthcare and raise premiums for millions of Americans. With the budget withheld, hundreds of thousands of federal employees were furloughed or made to work without pay. Communities worried about their access to food after SNAP the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) announced it would not be distributing funds on November 1st, and then after a lawsuit against the Trump administration, would only be distributing half of the normal assistance.
Meet NASA’s New Generation of Astronauts
October 11, 2025
When we were kids, everyone had that one big dream. Some wanted to save lives, others performed on a stage, and a few even wanted to soar beyond the stars. There was something magical about the thought of floating through space, gazing down at Earth, doing something genuinely extraordinary. On September 22, 2025, NASA announced the selection of ten new astronaut candidates. They will spend the next two years training at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston and could fly to the International Space Station or to the Moon one day. And for students like us, they are a reminder that the biggest dreams start small.
