Yale

COLUMBIA | On Campus Marching for Life Together

COLUMBIA RIGHT TO LIFE UNITES IVY LEAGUE UNIVERSITIES IN WASHINGTON

By Nathan Barlow, Columbia ’20

In past years, pro-life students from individual Ivy League universities have traveled to Washington, D.C. for the annual March for Life, sometimes as part of their campus organization when students at Columbia University Right to Life contacted representatives from all the Ivy League schools. The students united in Washington, D.C. for an unprecedented venture.

and sometimes as unaffiliated students passionate about life. Historically, groups from these influential instiThe organizers had two primary ambitions: one, to get Ivy Leaguers together for the annual march on the Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton, the University of Pennsylvania, and Yale met in D.C. to attend President Trump’s speech on the National Mall. Marchers heard an encouraging message from the president, along with reminders of what they were marching for: the sanctity of every image-bearer. Not all students considered themselves supporters of the president, but many noted that his message resonated with their convictions. The students then joined the march, proudly holding up the banners of their colleges’ pro-life clubs.

Credit: Sean Legg Photography Students from Columbia Right to Life helped organize the Inaugural Ivy League Pro-Life Symposium.

tutions had virtually no coordinated involvement at the most important pro-life gathering of the year.

That changed in the fall of 2019 Supreme Court, and two, to coordinate the inaugural Ivy League Pro-Life Symposium.

In January, 140 students from Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton, the University of Pennsylvania, and Yale met in D.C. to attend President Trump’s speech on the National Mall at the March for Life... The students then joined the march, proudly holding up the banners of their colleges’ pro-life clubs.

In January, 140 students from the weary participants met at Hillsdale College’s Kirby Center for an all-Ivy pizza party.

Organizers had two goals for the team effort. One was to show the world that many students from leading universities believe fervently in the pro-life position, even if it means going up against the overwhelming pro-choice opinion on their campuses. The second was to build camaraderie and strengthen the relationships between faithful students across the Ivy League. To that end, after standing for hours and walking for miles,

The next day, students gathered for the inaugural Ivy League Pro-Life Symposium, known as The David Project (in a nod to the underdog atmosphere they face on their campuses). In the morning, they heard from leading prolife voices, such as R.R. Reno, Mary Eberstadt, and Hadley Arkes. Speakers fielded questions from small groups of students, equipping them with the rhetoric and knowledge needed to carry winsome pro-life activism back to their campuses.

Later in the day, Kristina Roegner, a state congresswoman from Ohio, discussed her faith and how it related to her years-long struggle to pass a state heartbeat bill, which banned abortions after a detectable fetal heartbeat. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia talked about his life and experience in private practice and then in government agencies. Alex Azar, secretary of Health and Human Services, roused the crowd with his achievements defending life in international bodies like the United Nations. Congressman Chris Smith (New Jersey) covered the moral stakes of the pro-life movement, ending by citing Psalms relevant to the pro-life cause. Finally, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson drew raucous applause as he discussed the in utero neurosurgeries he completed that confirmed for him over and over that life in the womb is precious and must be defended.

In March, a Chicago principal became a media sensation after he created a heartwarming video on behalf of his students during the early days of campus closure. Principal Ike Muzikowski ’15 created the comical, energetic video to encourage students at Chicago Hope Academy as they adjusted to distance-learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ABC’s Good Morning America spotlighted the clip of Muzikowski showing off some fancy soccer and athletic maneuvers and greeting students by name outside the school’s entrance, even though they were taking classes at home. Muzikowski, a leader with Christian Union during his time at Columbia, told the news media he simply wanted to remind his students of his love for them during the unprecedented shuttering of their school.

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Muzikowski Video Is a Viral Sensation

Chicago Hope Academy is a co-ed, non-denominational college and life preparatory school dedicated to nurturing and challenging students in body, mind, and spirit to the glory of God. After the video went viral, Columbia University’s Rugby Football Club praised its alumnus for modeling a positive disposition and humor as he shared some cheer and camaraderie with teens in the midst of the pandemic.

When the events were over, the united Ivy League participants boarded their buses back home heartened to begin another season of pro-life leadership on campus. | cu

‘Carry the Love’

In February, Circuit Riders, a ministry of Youth with a Mission (ywam.org) that inspires college and high school students to serve as Christian messengers, exhorted students at Columbia University to reflect Christ’s love across their campus. As part of their “Carry the Love” project, the team hosted an event at Earl Hall on February 13 that included worship, prayer for revival, and a call to unity. The following day, the ministry held campus outreach activities, men’s ministry, women’s ministry, and a commissioning of students. On February 29, Circuit Riders hosted a night of worship to energize Christian students across New York City.

CORNELL | On Campus Pledging to Give It Away

AHL ’6 0 SEE K S TO INSPIRE OTHER S TO B E GENERO US

By Catherine Elvy, Staff Writer

Apioneer of the computer pub- lishing industry is challenging Ahl notes he may not be able to vaccinate 22 million kids, for example, al computer magazines. In 1974, Ahl founded Creative Computing, the first fellow Christians to be bold when it but he is the benefactor behind five personal computer magazine. comes to practicing generosity. schools in Central and South Amer- Creative Computing provided a

David Ahl, Cornell BS ’60, MS ica and the Caribbean. “You don’t growing audience of microcomputer ’61, is setting an example by strategi- have to be wealthy to make an im- users, including educators and hob- cally donating much of his wealth over pact,” he said. byists, with tutorials and applications the next decade, in part, to en- programs. In 1985, Ziff-Davis courage believers to step up their Publishing Company acquired benevolence. “I’m so thankful Creative Computing and its sis- that God has blessed me and ter publications, including a enabled me and encouraged me book division, and Ahl contin- to be generous,” Ahl said. ued in his capacity as edi-

The New Jersey resident tor-in-chief. pointed to the efforts of Bill Ahl has written 21 books Gates, co-founder of Microsoft and 1,200-plus articles on top- Corp., and Warren Buffett, ics as varied as technology, au- chairman of Berkshire Hatha- tomotive restoration, marketing, way, for accelerating some of his communication, logic puzzles, all-in mentality when it comes travel, market research, financial to charity. In 2010, Gates (Har- planning, investment analysis, vard ’77) and Buffett (Penn ’49, and spiritual inspiration. He Columbia MS ’51) started The also has penned 300-plus Bible Giving Pledge, a commitment studies. His first book, BASIC by the world’s wealthiest indi- Computer Games, sold one mil- viduals to give away half of their fortune before or upon their deaths. The men primarily focus upon causes such as poverty David Ahl, a Cornell University alumnus, is challenging believers to be generous with their finances. lion copies by 1979. Some of the games compiled in the book served as the basis for more elab- orate, modern versions includ- alleviation, refugee aid, disaster ing Lunar Lander. Other titles relief, global health, education, med- The retired magazine and guide- included Hamurabi and Super Star ical research, the arts, and environ- book publisher wants to encourage Trek. mental sustainability. believers of all financial levels to har- In addition, the former U.S. Army

Signatories of the pledge must be ness the remarkable power of chari- intelligence staff officer previously billionaires, and must make their table giving. “You don’t have to do published Military VehiclesMagazine, commitment public to encourage some global, huge project,” said Ahl, a nod to his hobby of restoring his- philanthropy. While not a billionaire, a father of three and grandfather of toric military trucks. Ahl also is an Ahl is following the example set by two. “Do something. Get involved.” avid collector whose growing assort- Gates, a longtime associate from the Ahl is best known for his role as ments include: coins, stamps, and early days of the personal computer an early promoter of computer liter- patriotic paraphernalia. Likewise, he industry. acy, especially via his popular person- enjoys visiting ancient churches in England in search of antique Bibles and historic church and study mate- rials.

Ahl’s initial exposure to charitable giving came as a child growing up on Long Island in the shadow of World War II. Young David would drop five or so cents of his lawn-cutting mon- ey into his Lutheran church’s weekly collection plate.

After selling Creative Computing, Ahl was struck by the nature of his financial security and tangible posi- tion to help others in need. He con- templated how God might use him to make a difference in kingdom endeavors. Since then, the multi-tal- ented entrepreneur has supported a variety of organizations, including domestic and foreign missionary or- ganizations.

Although he established friend- ships among industry forefathers during the birth of the personal com- puter era, Ahl insists he is far more awed by faithful Christian servants. “It’s not the big names,” he said. “It’s the people with the boots on the ground who are really accomplishing something.”

Since his retirement in 2001 from the publishing industry, Ahl also has developed a passion for missionary service. Since 2003, he has taken about twenty missionary trips, includ- ing regular ones to Guatemala and others to Haiti, Ecuador, Peru, and Honduras.

“I prefer to go on a working trip,” he said. “I can see things actually hap- pening as a result of philanthropy.”

Many of Ahl’s trips to South America are tied to wife Betsy Ahl’s Beyond the Walls initiative, which builds homes in Guatemala. The New Jersey-based organization also distrib- utes food, renovates community cen- ters, and hosts medical clinics, youth sports clinics, and day camps.

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Likewise, the Ahls have sponsored schooling for ten-plus children in South America, and they had the pleasure of seeing three recently grad- uate from high school in Guatemala. “It was heartwarming to have followed them from first grade to high school,” said Ahl.

With that, the computer visionary strongly encourages believers to cast their gazes upon kingdom projects. “I waited too long. Don’t wait until you have some extra in the bank or until the time is right. Now is the right time,” he said. “God will take care of you.” | cu

Chesterton House Offers Praxis Forums

As many students are using newfound free time to binge watch their favorite T.V. shows, The Chesterton House is ensuring that they have a platform to engage critically through its online Praxis Forums. Prior to the pandemic, the forums were part of the ministry’s Sunday night dinners, where small groups focused on discussing “a particular prompt to think through how to practice the presence of God daily.” Now, every Tuesday, students have the ability to continue the practice by tuning in for a discussion on a different movie, article, T.V. show, podcast, or excerpt.

Massilon ’20 Makes Music

For Daniel Massilon ’20, sheltering in place has meant time to invest in his music. Transforming his now vacant suite into a studio, Massilon has been working on songs as a way to deal with uncertainty and adversity. Primarily remixing classics like “Open the Eyes of My Heart” and “Still,” these soulful interpretations have taken on new life in these trying times. Across campus, various students have expressed their feelings and thoughts of this unprecedented time through song, from comedic covers like “Hey There Corona” (from “Hey There Delilah”) to more somber tracks inspired by the book of Ecclesiastes.