Their mouths covered with rainbow duct tape, approximately 18 members and allies of Safe Space – a support group for the LGBTQ community on campus – stood after the service with arms linked in a silent, outward-facing circle, while other students nearby displayed rainbow flags.

Emily Powell, a senior who co-leads Safe Space, said members of the group first became concerned about Wright’s visit to campus after learning in late August of “derogatory and dehumanizing” comments made by him about the LGBTQ community.

“We hoped to make a statement about hearing queer voices on campus,” said Safe Space co-leader Abigail Shumaker. “I really hope increasing Safe Space’s visibility on campus will be able to lead our whole community at 91����Ƶ in a positive direction. … 91����Ƶ is stronger when we all stand together.”

Wright came to Harrisonburg for a two-day, five-lecture series that drew widespread interest. A pastors’ breakfast was attended by 140 area church leaders, and later audiences filled James Madison University’s Memorial Hall and Eastern Mennonite Seminary’s Martin Chapel.

Currently the research professor of New Testament and early Christianity at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, Wright has also been Bishop of Durham and a professor of New Testament studies at Cambridge, McGill and Oxford universities.

His visit was sponsored by the Missional Church Partnership coalition, the Augsburger Lecture Series and Aubrey Spears, rector at the Church of the Incarnation and Café Veritas.

Safe Space communicated through Campus Pastor Brian Martin Burkholder an invitation for conversation with Wright, but Wright declined meeting to discuss issues of sexuality.

Powell said she would have liked to ask Wright the same question she has asked others: “How did they rationalize the radical love and inclusion that Jesus taught directly with the hatred and discrimination that modern Christian politics uphold?”

Wright’s refusal was concerning to a number of faculty, including Professor Deanna Durham, who serves as Safe Space faculty adviser.

“We talk a lot about academic freedom and the importance of people talking across difference,” Durham said, “and so we have someone who comes to campus who says, ‘I won’t do that.’ From an academic point of view, it’s a real missed opportunity. We have expertise on dialogue and facilitation at 91����Ƶ and I think we could have had a very productive conversation more broadly about the church and how we work at inclusion, not just LGBTQ inclusion but beyond that as well. It’s the work of the academy – to talk about things and to model that even when we hold differences about what it means to follow Jesus, we can sit together around a table. It helps us humanize one another.”

In the months leading up to Wright’s visit, numerous formal meetings and discussions occurred, including when President Susan Schultz Huxman and Vice President for Student Life Jim Smucker hosted members and allies of Safe Space in a listening session.

Safe Space invited the Augsburger Lecture Series committee, members of the convocation committee, and queer students and their allies to join a circle process about Wright’s visit.

“We got a lot of good work done, with a good amount of tears and a lot of honesty,” Powell said of the two-hour process. “… I don’t feel quite as attacked as I did when I first learned that Wright was coming here.” Instead, she said, she more feels “like I’m a part of this community and not something that is divisive just in terms of my identity.”

“We know that the [organizers of Wright’s visit] did not have intentions of seeing this harm in the community, but that does not mean the harm is not there,” said a Safe Space flier made available at the protest. “We have been heard by some, but our hearts still ache.”

As during other campus worship gatherings, alternative worship sessions were offered, including “Queer and Christian: A Staff Faith Story.” Other Safe Space events planned during the week included a viewing of the documentary Believer and a time of hearing stories from the LGBTQ community.

Outside Lehman Auditorium, the response to the protesters was “overwhelmingly good,” Powell said, with some people making eye contact, nodding, or saying “I’m with you.” The response of two women in particular stood out to her: “They went around the circle and hugged every single person, and at the very end said, ‘You’re loved. I see you,’” she said. “I almost lost it at that point.”

Not all campus worship attenders were supportive of the protestors. One who repeatedly addressed the protesters was diverted by an affiliate in campus ministries and faculty members.

In the 24 hours following the Safe Space action, several of the chalk messages the group had written on campus sidewalks for the protest were changed.

In a campus-wide email, Huxman identified the changes as hate speech.

“91����Ƶ is committed to creating an open, safe and inclusive community for all, regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, and/or gender expression,” she wrote. “Today, we stand with all in our 91����Ƶ community who identify as and/or advocate for the LGBTQ community. We are renewed in our commitment to support practices that foster respect and dignity for every person on our own campus as we are called ‘to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.’”

“But when I found out that he was leaving to go to the ministry, I thought, ‘How can you argue with that?’” she said at a reception for Griffin last week at Yoder Arena.

Griffin resigned in July to accept a position as connections minister for the Philadelphia District Church of the Nazarene. He was offered the position by Pastor Kerry Willis, formerly of the First Church of the Nazarene in Harrisonburg, who was elected superintendent of the district in April.

While at 91����Ƶ, Griffin compiled a 230-111 record and was�� honored four times as conference coach of the year. He coached 25 All-ODAC selections and eight first-teamers, including two-time ODAC Player of the Year and Jostens Trophy awardee Jess Rheinheimer.

���ѱ�’s new women’s basketball coach Jenny Logan coached against Griffin while at ODAC rival Hollins University.

During the reception, Huxman thanked Griffin for his coaching ministry “on and off the court.”

“We appreciate your winning record, the winningest coach in the history of women’s basketball here at 91����Ƶ, and we appreciate the fact that you have been ODAC Coach of the Year multiple times,” she said. “What I appreciate most of all, and one could see this and feel it, is the way in which you have coached our students to be winners on and off the court.”

Griffin was known for developing his players as athletes, but also ”intellectually, personally, spiritually and relationally,” she said.

Also sharing memories at the farewell was Sandy Brownscombe, emeritus professor and women’s basketball coach before Griffin; Jim Smucker, vice president for student life; Dave King, director of athletics; and Kirby Dean, former men’s basketball coach and Griffin’s teammate on the Royals basketball team. Griffin graduated in 1993, one year after Dean.

When women’s coach Richard McElwee resigned in 2005, Dean was heading the Royals men’s program. He urged King, then the university’s new athletic director, to consider Griffin for the position.

At that time, Griffin was an assistant coach at Delsea High School in Franklinville, New Jersey, but had , according to an 91����Ƶ press release.

Read more

• Griffin steps down as women’s basketball coach to pursue ministry
• Jenny Logan becomes new 91����Ƶ women’s basketball coach

As a small liberal arts university, 91����Ƶ provides a myriad of ways for students to practice leadership – to learn, experiment, make mistakes and grow outside comfort zones ��– whether through athletics and academics, student government, residence life, campus ministries and more.

“Today we want to recognize a number of folks who have been engaged in this practice, using their time, gifts and abilities for the betterment of our community,” he said. “From my vantage point in student life, it has been inspiring to see up close and personal, the many leadership contributions, of so many on our campus. Today we celebrate with you, and thank you for these contributions.”

Academic Success Center

Senior tutors with the Academic Success Center were recognized: Johanna Burkholder (accounting); Emily Clatterbuck (writing and Spanish, three years), Phoebe Coffie (biology, 1.5 years), Aaron Dunmore (economics, two years), Liesl Graber (writing, three years), Corey Hostetler (history tutor, three years), Austin Huff (math and computer science, three years),��Sammy Kauffman (biology, two years), Maisie Kirkley (psychology, two years), Cerrie Mendoza (environmental science, one year), Susanna Sewall (nursing, two years), Rachel Shenk (core curriculum, two years), Stephanie Slabach Brubaker (nursing, one year), and��Lara Weaver (psychology, three years).

Janae Kauffman was awarded the Tutor of the Year Award for her three-year commitment to students “who often requested her, the ways in which she fulfilled the mission of the writing tutor, and her strong philosophy of tutoring overall,” said Professor Vi Dutcher, director of the university’s writing program.

Applied Social Science

Josh Good was inducted into Alpha Kappa Delta, the international sociology honor society. Professor Jenni Holsinger presented him with the cords.

Athletics

• Newcomer of the Year awards went to��Rachel Sauder, soccer,�����Ի� Brett Lindsay, baseball.
• Athletes of the Year are Michaela Mast, cross country and track and field,�����Ի� Connor Faint, track and field.
• Presidents Awards went to Emily Augsburger, field hockey, and Dan Lutz, volleyball.

Other award-winners from the spring semester were also recognized, and can be viewed at .

Bible and Religion

Michaela Mast won first place and $300 in the Haverim Writing Awards contest with her paper, “The Wilderness of the Bible in the Age of the Anthropocene,” which traces the theological and cultural constructions of wilderness from Genesis to her own cross-cultural in the Middle East.

Sarah Longenecker earned second place and $200 with “Art as Mediator.”

Luke Mullet won third place and $100 for “Toward Composition: Creatively Performing Scripture in a Dynamic World.”

The awards were made by Professor Peter Dula, who used his remaining time to encourage submissions for next year’s context with this line: “If you want to receive more money for an academic paper than you will ever get in your life, we invite you to participate next year.”

Campus Ministries

Undergraduate campus pastor Lana Miller recognized the following:

• Ministry assistants Lindsay Acker, Victoria Barnes, Sara Byler, Caitlin Campbell, Maya Dula, Larissa Graber, Val Hernandez, Emma Hoover, Yonas Ketsela, Anisa Leonard, Skylar List, Olivia Mbualungu, Bekah Mongold, Caleb Oakes, Meredith Stinnette, Christian Stutzman, Nik Tucker, Matthew Zimmerman.
• Pastoral assistants: Perry Blosser, Rachel Breidigan, Cela Hoefle, Grayson Mast, Austin Sachs, Elizabeth Resto, Amanda Williams, Brittany Williams.

  

Center for Justice and Peacebuilding

Graduate students Samira Abou Alfa, Talibah Aquil, Astur Tahlil��and Mikayla Waters-Crittenton��were recognized for sharing�� their concerns with CJP faculty and staff about prioritizing inclusion around race, gender, sexual orientation and religion as well as making classes and community more trauma-sensitive.

Biology and Chemistry

The following awards were presented by Professor Tara Kishbaugh:

• Outstanding first-year chemistry student: Austin Yoder
• Outstanding second-year biology student: Kevin Sungu
• Outstanding senior chemistry student: Marchelle Smucker
• Outstanding senior biology student: Katherine Lehman and Samantha Kauffman
• Award for Excellence in Biology/Chemistry Research: Braden Herman
• Biology/Chemistry Award for Exceptional Service: Melissa Kinkaid.

Additionally, the winners of the STEM Celebration poster contest were recognized. Click here for those results.

Education

Jasmine Miller, currently on cross cultural, was awarded the Courage to Teach Award.�� The award is modeled after principles in Parker Palmer’s book, a copy of which is given to the winner. Faculty select this student on several criteria.

The five annual Teachers of Promise from 91����Ƶ are Emily Clatterbuck, Jessica Longenecker, Keyri Lopez-Godoy, Hannah Shultz�����Ի� Alexa Weeks. Read more here.

Language and Literature

• Emily Clatterbuck was awarded the Carroll Yoder Award for Teaching Excellence in honor of a senior or junior who has demonstrated academic excellence in both literary studies and education courses and demonstrates a clear call to the teaching profession.
• Laurie Serrell earned the Ervie L. Glick Award for Excellence in World Language Study, which honors a senior or junior who has exhibited academic excellence as a Spanish major and has show a clear sense of call to pursuing graduate work or using language skills in service to the church.
• Liesl Graber earns the Jay B. Landis Award for Excellence in Literary Studies, honoring a student majoring or minoring in the language and literature field of study who completes an essay, research paper or scholarly presentation for a literature course that exemplifies the components of good literary analysis.
• Liesl Graber also was awarded the Omar Eby Writing Award, honoring a senior majoring or minoring in Writing Studies who demonstrates excellence in the craft of creative writing and who provides insightful critique and support for other writers in creative workshops.
• Kevin Clark earned the Ray Elvin Horst Award for Excellence in Spanish.

  

At the end of her presentation, Professor Vi Dutcher noted that each award was named for an esteemed emeritus faculty member, and she recognized two emeritus professors Ervie L. Glick and Ray Horst present at the event.

Mathematical Sciences

Cameron Byer, Daniel Harder�����Ի� Ben Stutzman were recognized for their win in the international Kryptos crypto-analysis competition. Read more about that win here.

Cameron Byer won the 91����Ƶ Math Competition, introduced by Professor Daniel Showalter as “a competition for people who go out of their way to take a math test when they don’t have to,” a description epitomized by the second-place-tie-winner Andrew Riemer-Berg, who took the test from Latin America where he is traveling on cross cultural. Ben Stutzman was the other second-place finisher.

Music Department

Andry Stultz and Hannah Schultz received the Excellence in Music Education Award.��Perry Blosser earned the Excellence in Music Composition.

Nursing

The following students were chosen by their peers and faculty.

Rachel Breidigan was awarded the Servant Leadership Award for her service to others. She is president of the Student Nurses Association and will be working on the progressive care unit at RMH. ��She chose nursing for many reasons, including “the desire to help others, the strong biblical parallels it has, and, of course, job security.”

Stephanie Slabach Brubaker is awarded the Sacred Covenant Award and the award for academic achievement. The first award reflects the high performance of the embodiment of the Sacred Covenant Model 91����Ƶ nurses use to guide their practice. In the choice of nursing as her profession, Stephanie hopes to “combine my desire to help others with my fascination with how God orchestrated the human body. I find that through nursing, I can comfort others in their time of need.” Next year, she will join Mennonite Central Committee SALT program to work at a clinic in Bangladesh.

Residence Life

Carissa Luginbill and Scott Eyre recognized eight senior Community Advisors: Elizabeth Eutsler, Austin Huff, Ben Durren, Rediet Girma, Victoria Campbell, Keyri Lopez-Godoy and Robert Weaver.

Scott Eyre mentioned that a record number of CAs are returning next year, one way in which this particular group has left a legacy.

The five nominees for Residence Life’s Transformational Leadership Award, voted by their peers, are Bailey Hall, Capril Mirarchi, Keyri Lopez-Godoy, Jakya Jones and Phoebe Swe. The finalist will be announced later this week.

Psychology

Four students were recognized by Professor Gregory Koop.

Michael Austin and Michaela Mast jointly earned the Galen R. Lehman Outstanding Achievement in Research, judged on the criteria of initiative and ingenuity, public dissemination, and quality of writing.��Michaela’s research was titled ��“The brain on music: An inquiry of shared music-color associations.”��Austin’s research was on “Directed forgetting: Examining accounts through negative priming”

Hannah Cash was awarded the Theory to Praxis Internship Award, for her work with The Making Space, a local art therapy program. Along with other responsibilities, Hannah helped to improve social media presence and community outreach, and was asked to continue her involvement as the new secretary to the board of directors.

Lara Weaver earned Best Undergraduate Poster at the Virginia Association for Psychological Science conference earlier this month. Her project was entitled “Role of intrinsic and extrinsic religious motivation and empathy in predicting theological ideation.”

Student Programs

Jack Hummel and Da’Jahnea Robinson were recognized for their work on Campus Activities Council. Jack served for two years, doing “all things technical,” and Da’Jahnea was marketing director 2016-17 and vice president in 2017, among other roles.

From Common Grounds, the following leaders were recognized: Abe Hartzler, the events manager who hosted 70 campus events; Taylor Esau, who spent two years as a barista and this year as operations manager, a human resources specialist who works with 25-plus employees; Tim Callahan, finance manager; and Sammy Kauffman, who worked for one year as a barista and then two years as catering manager.

Tim Callahan was also recognized for his work with Recreational Sports.

Student Government Association

Caleb Schrock-Hurst and Adam Harnish, co-presidents of spring 2018, ceremonially passed the gavel to Mario Hernandez and Nicole Litwiller, recently elected co-presidents for the fall 2018 semester.

Spring 2018 leaders completing their service include:

• Emmanuel Kampanga, vice president
• Erik Peachey, treasurer
• Rachel Holderman, vice president for marketing
• Jeremy Brenneman, Secretary
• Senators Fred Flores, Hannah Nichols, Ruth Reimer-Berg, Susanna Sewall, Emma Yoder, Grant Amoateng, Joshua Curtis, Mario Hernandez, Paul Kayembe, Donaldo Lleshi, Ella Spitler, Austin Tomlin.

Recently elected fall 2018 officers are:

• Nicole Litwiller and Mario Hernandez, co-presidents;
• Paul Kayembe, vice president;
• Ben Zook, treasurer;
• Luke Mullet, secretary.

Visual and Communication Arts

Junior Missy Muterspaugh was awarded the Matthew Alan Styer Scholarship Grant, which honors “exceptional skill and dedication to photography and/or graphic design.”

Royals Cup

Andrew Troyer claimed his third consecutive individual Royals Cup title, for attendance at a wide variety of campus events throughout the year. Elmwood gathered the most points to take the Royals Cup.

Hepler will start in Harrisonburg early this summer, upon completion of his 14th season in a similar role at the University of Texas at Tyler.

After a very successful tenure at UT-Tyler, Hepler was excited to step into the recent era of growth at 91����Ƶ.

“I am impressed with 91����Ƶ’s commitment to cross country and track & field,” Hepler said. “I will get to put together a quality staff and see the development of first class facilities. On top of that, the leadership at 91����Ƶ have a strong desire to see me become an important part of the 91����Ƶ community. That means that I’ll have the opportunity to impact students away from the sport.��That opens up so many unknown possibilities. That’s very exciting to me.��I can’t wait to get started.”

Under Hepler, UT-Tyler cross country and track & field teams have won 22 conference titles, including the men’s cross country team taking 12 of the past 13 American Southwest Conference Championships. He started the Patriots’ track & field program in 2008, accounting for six of his ASC titles. Over the past four years, his program has produced All-Americans in 14 events, including four individual champions.

Director of Athletics��Dave King��said Eastern Mennonite is very fortunate to have found someone with the breadth of experience that Hepler brings with him.

“This is truly an exciting time for our cross country and track & field program,” explained King.��“Bob is the perfect fit for 91����Ƶ and the right person to lead the growth of our running program.��He understands 91����Ƶ and his values and philosophy align well with the university.”

Hepler said that seeing the potential of 91����Ƶ’s cross country and track & field program, as well as the quality and philosophy of the university as a whole, was vital for him to even entertain leaving UT-Tyler.

“91����Ƶ would have to be truly amazing to take me away from a school and people I cherish,” he said. “After meeting with key staff and faculty, and especially after meeting with members of the cross country and track & field program, I recognized the unusually deep affection that the people have for 91����Ƶ. I concluded that 91����Ƶ will challenge me and make me grow.”

The ability to focus solely on coaching drew in Hepler, who is also the director of UT-Tyler’s large recreational sports program and facility.

“I am so excited to see how good of a coach that I can become,” he explained. “At 91����Ƶ, that means so much more than just winning and developing athletes. I get to play a key role in developing students’ desires to serve God and others. Working at 91����Ƶ will be fulfilling and fun. How could I possibly run away from an opportunity like that?”

With Hepler finishing out the track & field season with the D-III Patriots, 91����Ƶ has hired��Ken L. Nafziger��as the interim track and field coach.

As part of the interim hire, the five current assistant coaches will increase their responsibilities to cover the positional coaching of the student-athletes.

Jeremy Heizer��is the most tenured of the five assistants, in his second season as the throwing coach.��Joanna Friesen��will focus on the distance runners after also assisting the cross country teams this fall.

Michael Allen��will coach the jumpers,��Richard Robinson��the hurdles, and recent Broadway star��Tim Miller��the pole vaulters.

“While interim coaching arrangements are challenging, I can’t say enough about the assistant coaches who agreed to increase their time and Ken for his willingness to provide leadership this season and prepare for Bob coming this summer,” King said.��“Ken’s past coaching experiences, his familiarity with 91����Ƶ and his passion for 91����Ƶ track & field make him a good fit to bridge the gap between changes of the past year and the stability of a new coaching staff.”

Nafziger, who had been 91����Ƶ’s Vice President for Student Life for 14 years before leaving recently to pursue opportunities as a psychologist, has seven years of experience as a high school cross country and track & field coach, coaching at Broadway (Va.) High School as well as Mandera Government Boy’s Secondary School in Kenya.

“I appreciate this opportunity to coach track & field at 91����Ƶ,” commented Nafziger. “Having met Bob, I can wholeheartedly prepare the current athletes and recruit new ones who will benefit from such an accomplished and caring coach.”

Heizer, a 2016 alum who went to Nationals in the shot put, was excited to take another step in his coaching career.

“It means a lot that I will get to connect to younger athletes and share experiences I’ve been through (as well as) what they go through,” he explained.

Hepler’s coaching philosophy fits well with 91����Ƶ’s goal to do more than just produce good athletes.

“I always tell my athletes that they should put three things in front of their commitment to the sport: 1.��Serving God and Others��– because that’s why we are on this planet; 2.��Love of Family��– while you don’t get to miss a practice to go home for Aunt Betsy’s birthday, honoring your family through your actions and words reflects who you are at your core; 3.��School��– students are at 91����Ƶ to get an education. Additionally, students and their families��are making financial sacrifices to pay for this education so study habits must be strong. School is always more important than the sport.”

Jim Smucker, Vice President for Enrollment & Student Life, thought Hepler’s commitment and success with the well-rounded NCAA D-III philosophy made him stand out among the pool of candidates.

“I believe Bob is an outstanding match not only for our cross country and track & field program but for the larger 91����Ƶ community,” said Smucker. “He resonates deeply with our mission and values. Bob brings a track record of holistic student development including player excellence on the field, in the classroom, and in community service.”

Before his time at UT-Tyler, Hepler served as the athletic director at the University of Maine at Machias. He also had a background in student life.

Eastern Mennonite will next turn their attention to the hiring of an associate track & field coach.

91����Ƶ’s track & field teams pick up the indoor season in earnest at the Finn Pincus Invitational hosted by Roanoke College on Jan. 26 and 27.

Aylor was a Madison County High School softball player who died in an ATV accident in August 2014, shortly before she was to begin her college career at Eastern Mennonite. A plaque in honor of Aylor marks the completed seating area.

Director of Athletics Dave King said the seating area, as well as a red bud tree recently planted near Gehman Field, will provide a lasting memory of Aylor, as will a second project, started at the request of the family. can be purchased for $100 to complete the walkway in front of the seating area and create a living memory of Aylor. The fundraiser will run through the end of December with the bricks installed in the spring.

“This is a special day for a special person,” said Coach , “and Kaitlin Aylor will never be forgotten by the 91����Ƶ softball community.”

Angelia Miller, former player and current graduate assistant with the team, remembered meeting Aylor at a softball camp in 2012. The teenager introduced herself by her nickname, “Flea.”

“Every time we walk down this hill to the softball field, we know Kaitlyn is here,” Miller said.

Aylor, a shortstop, had attended every 91����Ƶ game since her freshman year of high school and made it her goal to become part of the Royals team. She wore double zero on her uniform in high school and negotiated with McCurdy to let her wear that same number with the Royals.

Jordan Aylor, a 2015 graduate and Kaitlin’s cousin, gave thanks on behalf of the family and mourned the loss of her teammate and future elementary school teacher. She urged the softball players to play each game “as if it could be your last and play your hardest.”

The event was one of three posthumous dedications during the weekend’s Centennial Homecoming and Family Weekend: the others included the dedication of an outdoor sculpture to an artist-alumnus who died of cancer and an alumnus who was murdered in Africa while on a peacekeeping mission.

President Susan Schultz Huxman expressed sympathies to the grieving family and gratitude for “the way that you have joined us in honoring Kaitlin’s spirit.”

“In the many softball seasons to come, may this space pulsate with competitive games; sparkle with great plays, particularly at the shortstop position; and above all, create lasting community among players, fans and families in the spirit of our master teacher and coach, Jesus Christ,” she said. “Kaitlin, we feel your presence. We thank you for your legacy. We gather as a community to extend your witness as the student-athlete-citizen we strive to attract at 91����Ƶ. May double zero have double impact at 91����Ƶ today and always.”

The dedication was followed by an alumni game, which involved Miller and Jordan Aylor, along with Brooke Sigrist, Brooke Hensley, Mariah Foltz, Aislinn Lucas Bowen, Niki Cuevas, Casey Racer, Lauren Seale, Lauren Campbell and Erin Fartel.

For more information about purchasing a brick to honor Kaitlin Aylor, call 540-432-4631 or click .

That support is needed, said , vice president for student life. “Nationwide, 28 percent of students report higher than normal levels of stress, 19 percent report sleep difficulties, and 19 percent high levels of anxiety. We want the center to be a place that supports students in a variety of proactive ways so they can be successful here at 91����Ƶ.”

A 2011 mental health survey at 91����Ƶ, he said, indicated that 17 percent of the student body reported some level of depression or anxiety disorder, 14 percent reported some form of non-suicidal self-injury in the past year, and 43 percent reported body shape and weight among the most important things they think about.

The increased services mean that students in need or looking to receive some sort of support will receive prompt, skilled care. “If students need any support, whether it be for crisis or knowledge of resources, we want to make sure they have those immediately,” said Anderson. “If students need support for two or three sessions, the sooner they can get those sessions, the better. If students have ongoing struggles, it makes all the more sense that they get into counseling as soon as possible.”

The benefits are academic, as well. “Students who access counseling services return to school in subsequent terms — and graduate — at higher rates compared to the general student body,” said Smucker.

The increased services are the result of a new collaboration between the center and the (MAC) program, a vision of previous center director Pam Comer, who retired in June. Anderson, a graduate of the MAC program who has worked in multiple university counseling settings, will now help to carry out the plan.

The partnership expands services to the student body — and provides MAC practicum and internship students with a placement that offers “the opportunity for consistent skill development as a training site in a university context,” said MAC director Teresa Haase. “We are excited to partner with Tempest and see this all come to fruition.”

Four second-year master’s in counseling students who have completed 30 hours of graduate counseling coursework and a 100-hour clinical practicum, and who have been approved for internship by MAC faculty, are each offering 240 direct service hours — and 360 hours of indirect clinical work — this academic year.

“This is high quality, supervised care,” said MAC instructor . Each week, each intern receives one hour of individual face-to-face clinical supervision and two hours of group supervision, and attends counseling center meetings. Their supervisors are Haase, Dr. Nate Koser and Dr. Annmarie Early.

In addition to one-on-one sessions, the counseling center offers:

• Group counseling
• Depression and anxiety screenings
• Classroom presentations about topics such as suicide prevention or sexual assault awareness.
• 30-minute one-on-one mentoring sessions for any student through the , which is geared toward helping undergraduate students adjust to life away from home.

A Richmond native who graduated from Mary Baldwin University’s social work program in 2010 and from ���ѱ�’s graduate in 2016, Anderson has ample experience in the higher education environment: She has interned or worked at Shenandoah University, Bridgewater College, James Madison University and 91����Ƶ.

At a time when among college students, Vice President of Student Life says the director of counseling provides “services that are crucial to the health and well-being of our students.”

“We did an extensive search, and the committee was unanimous in our selection of Tempest,” Smucker said. “She has shown herself to be invested and proactive in working with students in the higher education environment, and we think her leadership in providing existing services and establishing new services will make a great contribution to the campus community.”

In her role, Anderson is responsible for administrative coordination of all counseling services provided to students, faculty and staff. In addition to providing direct clinical services, she will facilitate a that includes partnering with the master’s in counseling program to place interns and practicum students in center-based clinical training.

Among other initiatives, Anderson envisions “porch programming” — literally, on the Suter House porch — for students to get to know the center staff.

Drawn back by ‘family feel’

While working in child protective services at the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Department of Social Services from 2010 through 2013, Anderson was often asked by colleagues about pursuing a counseling degree.

Eventually she did start looking into graduate programs, and, with encouragement from a co-worker, decided to visit 91����Ƶ. She attended an addictions class that she remembers was “enlightening,” and that same day spoke with Teresa Haase, director of the master’s in counseling program.

“It was a conversation that was very life-changing,” Anderson said. “She really spoke to my vision for life, and my hope and joy that I have in empowering and encouraging people. She encouraged me to apply, and I was like, ‘Can I do it today?’ It just felt very much like a family.”

That feeling of “family” is one that drew her back to 91����Ƶ, and has shaped her work with young adults. Belonging in a community is the basis for thriving, Anderson said. “It is in community where you learn how to establish healthy relationships, explore mentorship, and learn to grow to your fullest potential. We are not meant to live this life alone. We are meant to live together, love one another, support one another, and affirm each other in our purposes.”

‘A greater future’

��Anderson sees working with people in hard times as a mission of hope. “Hope does not mean ignoring your present circumstances. On the contrary, it dares you to embrace them with faith that there is a greater future in store,” she said. Her previous work experiences at different universities, she believes, gives her a “fresh perspective” about running a college counseling center and responding to students’ needs and desires.

“College is such a time of exploration, discovery, and transformation,” she said. “It’s a time of vulnerability but also amazing opportunity. My hope as a director is to provide a safe space for students to take advantage of this great opportunity and learn healthy ways of establishing their identities.”

Anderson and her husband Marcus both provide leadership at n Harrisonburg. Marcus is also the chaplain for JMU football and men’s basketball programs.

With coaching experience on many different levels, she most recently was the assistant women’s coach at D-II University of Charleston (West Virginia).

Lickey said she is excited to strengthen the standard of excellence already in the 91����Ƶ program.

“I would like to thank��,��, and the Search Committee for this wonderful opportunity,” she said. “I am excited about the mission and values of the university and its direction moving forward. I am grateful for the strong foundation in the men’s program laid by the previous coaches and staff and look forward to developing those strengths further. Between the atmosphere on campus, the potential of the men’s volleyball program, and the Shenandoah Valley area as a whole, 91����Ƶ feels like a place I can call home.”

King, 91����Ƶ’s director of athletics, led the recent nationwide search to fill the position.

“I am excited to have Danielle join our coaching staff and provide leadership to the men’s volleyball program,” explained King.��“And I am grateful for the job that��Ross Madden��did as interim coach for the 2017 season starting his role on the first day of the season.��I believe Danielle will be able to step right in and take a very solid returning team to levels of greater consistency and achievement.��Her background in education and experience in playing and coaching at the collegiate level make her well suited for the head coaching role.”

After a playing career at the University of Charleston, Lickey was the junior varsity boy’s volleyball coach at traditional powerhouse Deep Run High School in Glen Allen, Va. She later returned to her alma mater and earned a master’s degree in strategic leadership.

She has extensive coaching experience with both boy’s and girl’s teams through the Richmond Volleyball Club.

Of the 13 players on the Royals’ roster last season, seven were from the Richmond area.

“Being from Richmond, I do have familiarity with several of the players on 91����Ƶ’s team,” Lickey explained. “I am extremely excited to have the opportunity to work with them at a collegiate level. Furthermore, as a new coach, I am fortunate to have a base of players familiar with my coaching style to help ease the transition between coaches.”

King said that familiarity would also help in recruiting.

“Having coached many levels in the Richmond Volleyball Club, Danielle is very familiar with the club circuit, coaches and players which will be a help in the recruiting process,” said King.��“I believe her passion for men’s volleyball will result in the continued growth of our program and am looking forward to years of continued success. She has coached several of the current players and has been a follower of 91����Ƶ men’s volleyball for several years, so she is familiar with 91����Ƶ and I believe will be a good fit for our program and the university.”

Lickey inherits a team full of weapons coming off a 22-11 season, which tied the program record for wins.����(North Chesterfield, Va./Thomas Dale) and����(Richmond, Va./Douglas Freeman) were named to the All-Continental Volleyball Conference Team, while����(Chester, Va./Matoaca) was tabbed at the CVC Freshman of the Year. Setter����(Richmond, Va./Deep Run) finished second in D-III in total assists and����(Greencastle, Pa./Greencastle-Antrim) was second nationally in blocking.

The Royals graduated only one senior after dropping a five-set thriller in the CVC Championship match.

Lickey becomes Eastern Mennonite’s 10th coach since the inception of the men’s program in 1991.

“I am committed to develop an autonomous, fearless, and intellectual level of play on the court, along with student athletes committed to academics and community,” she said. “I believe in developing the whole player, physically, emotionally, and mentally, to prepare athletes to live and play proactively, with respect and confidence. I look forward to connecting with the community and representing 91����Ƶ while continuing to grow with high character, quality, and competitive student athletes.”

Lickey begins her duties July 1.

“Students and families are increasingly looking for a college experience that includes academic excellence, affordability and outcomes all in a value-driven Christian context,” said Jim Smucker, vice president for enrollment at 91����Ƶ. “Our colleges do an outstanding job on delivering on these expectations. In the past we have not always communicated this effectively to our Mennonite students. Together we can communicate better than any one college can do on its own.”

‘L�𲹻� your �ɲ���’

With the launch happening at the Mennonite Church USA Convention in Orlando, for the first time, the colleges will , instead of five separate booths, introducing a new logo and tagline: “Lead your �ɲ���.”

“‘L�𲹻� your �ɲ���’ is about how we offer many unique paths for discovery and learning through our various academic programs, study abroad opportunities, service learning experiences, and hands-on learning in and out of the classroom beginning as early as the first year,” said Dominique Burgunder-Johnson, director of marketing at Goshen College. “Students get to try a lot of different things, which sets them on a path to provide their own unique brand of leadership, no matter what they decide to pursue personally or professionally.”

Academic excellence

While the five schools are each unique, their commonalities are much greater. All of the schools offer rigorous academic programs coupled with Anabaptist values, including 83 total majors among them — from accounting to nursing to youth ministry.

“The five Mennonite colleges and universities offer nationally-acclaimed academic programs within a values-based community, preparing graduates for fulfilling lives and careers,” said Lori L. Livengood, vice president for marketing and communications at Bethel College.

Outstanding outcomes

The schools all record outstanding graduate outcomes. For example, 97 percent of job-seeking alumni were employed within one year after graduation, on average. Also, included among the tens of thousands of alumni of the five schools are a Nobel Peace Laureate, a cancer researcher named to TIME Magazine’s list of the “most influential people in the world,” a Broadway star, Ohio’s “most influential and powerful woman” and a National Football League assistant coach.

“Outcomes are so important to consider when choosing a college and our alumni speak for themselves. Research shows that our alumni valued their educations at our schools and were prepared well for where their paths led them afterwards: into a career, to graduate school or into voluntary service,” said Erin Burkholder, director of admissions at Bluffton University.

��Affordability

And, all of the schools offer this values-driven education at an accessible price. On average, 99 percent of students receive some form of financial aid and the average financial aid package for a first-year, full-time student is $25,928.

“We recognize that college is a big — but worthwhile — investment for families and we strive to make our education accessible to all who desire this transformative education,” said Rachel Swartzendruber Miller, vice president of admissions and financial aid at Hesston College.

Anabaptist values

Anabaptist values are the foundation of all five schools and are what set them apart from other Christian and secular liberal arts colleges and universities.

“The Anabaptist values of faith formation, service, social justice, peacemaking and community-building that are woven into each of the Mennonite colleges and universities are what makes us uniquely qualified to prepare a generation of leaders with strong ethics, team-building and organizational skills that our world needs to serve the common good,” said Carlos Romero, executive director of Mennonite Education Agency. “I strongly affirm the ways that Mennonite higher ed institutions are working together — their collaborative spirit is good not only for our schools, but also for the church and our shared mission.”

��To learn more about the five Mennonite colleges and universities, visit .

“This major prepares students for a wide variety of careers, from facilities management to event planning, sports marketing, camp administration, ecotourism, graduate school and so much more,” says Professor . “We are really excited to offer this, because it gives students a strong foundation of knowledge, but also greater flexibility to explore their interests in the field and then tailor their studies in that direction.”

The employment outlook for recreation majors is positive, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Job growth is projected to rise through 2024 by 10 percent, a rate that exceeds the 7 percent average for all occupations.

“This is an area of career interest that we frequently hear about from prospective students,” said Vice President for Student Life . “These are often students whose lives have been shaped by athletics and outdoors experiences, and they want to find a profession in which they can continue to be involved and share that with others. This major offers skills, preparation and guidance as they look at their options to fulfill that dream.”

Core and elective coursework focuses on several core components:

• Managerial skills, including personnel, scheduling, program evaluation, mediation and group dynamics;
• Knowledge of legal and risk management aspects, including supervision and program administration;
• Facilities management and event planning;
• Teaching and coaching skills of individual and team sports;
• Principles of fitness, including strength and conditioning, and first aid.

The major encourages career exploration through a sophomore practicum and then a more focused intensive hands-on experience during the senior internship.

Several students have fulfilled the internship requirements through the , a semester-long cross-cultural experience in Washington D.C.

“Our students have worked at area YMCAs, covered the Washington Nationals and assisted with programs with ,” Brownscombe says.

Additionally, the curricular framework asks all RLSS majors to select a minor from among the 39 offered at 91����Ƶ. and are popular, but Brownscombe encourages students to stretch themselves into other departments.

“You can pair the RLSS major with a minor in business, youth ministry, psychology, neuroscience,” she says. “The curricular load also offers room to take electives, so if you’re exploring physical therapy or but not wanting a biology major, you could select courses in physics, chemistry and mathematics that would align with prerequisite courses required for particular graduate programs.”

Sophomore Bailey Hall, who is currently completing a practicum this summer at Botetourt Sports Center, says the new major teaches skills that fit his current goals of becoming a recreation facility manager or a baseball coach. Curricular flexibility will allow him to double-minor, adding coaching and kinesiology.

The new major is the result of a two-year internal and external review process; so too is a new hire.

Dr. Joo Hyun Lee, formerly of Florida State University, brings research experience with consumer behavior in recreation management, specifically in parks and outdoor recreation, nature-based tourism, and at festivals and events. She’ll teach risk management, administration, leadership and event planning courses, as well as marketing courses in the .

Brownscombe, a professor at 91����Ƶ since 1978, is energized by these developments.

“Recreation has been a critical component of the department for a long time, as we’ve had long-standing relationships with camps and the local recreation community. This major builds on those relationships and the legacy of the faculty and staff who have gone before us,” she said. “We’ve worked hard to strengthen our offerings and hone into our niche to better prepare our graduates, even as the recreation and leisure world continues to change.”

Because the racks are empty and the compliments for this special 12-page issue abound, we’re making it available here for eager readers far and near.

“I am thrilled that so many people on campus have appreciated the ‘Year in Review,’” said Harrison Horst, who co-edited the Weather Vane this past year and led a team of editors and photographers in creating this issue.

The issue was commissioned by the Student Government Association (SGA) as one way of replacing the Shen yearbook, which published its final edition in 2016.

“The hope was that the Year in Review issue would preserve a lot of the things people liked about yearbooks while also adjusting its content to fit the current needs of students,” Horst said. “Among other things, it was clear that yearbooks were most highly treasured by seniors, so we tried cater this Year in Review issue more to the graduating class by including senior reflections, letters to the class from advisors and administration, and a two-page ‘On the Sidewalk’ type photo feature of seniors and their time here.”

Senior reflections are offered by SGA co-president Elisabeth Wilder, Tyler Denlinger, Robert Propst, Grantley Showalter, Mario Valladares, Lorraine Armstrong, Mariah Martin and Diego Barahona.

Well-wishes are offered by President and Vice President of Student Life and Enrollment , as well as class advisers Professor and Professor .

Club activity summaries are offered by Oksana Kittrell, Black Student Union co-president; Mario Hernandez, Latino Student Alliance co-president; Lydia Haggard, leadership; Clara Weybright, leadership; and Matt Holden, president of Royals Lifting Club [weightlifting].

Horst was joined by co-editors Zachary Headings, Justine Nolt, Robert Propst and Allie Sawyer. Photographers were Ariel Barbosa, Aaron Dunmore, Harrison Horst, Sarah Longenecker, Caleb Townsend and Adila Wahdat.

.

Applied Social Sciences Department

Rachel Crist, Sarah Boshart, Harrison Horst and Samantha Jacob received honor cords signifying their membership into the Alpha Kappa Delta International Sociology Honor Society from Dr. Carolyn Stauffer and Dr. Jenni Holsinger. ���ѱ�’s new chapter joins 650 other college chapters.

Biology and Chemistry Department

Janaya M. Sachs was named Outstanding Senior Chemistry Student, the highest award given to a chemistry/biochemistry major who demonstrates high academic achievement, significant research experience and the potential to contribute to the field. She will be recognized with other outstanding senior chemistry majors by the Virginia Section of the American Chemical Society (ACS) and was given a Merck Index by the ACS and the Merck Company. Read more about one of�� .

Tyler D. Denlinger and Robert H. Propst earned recognition as the Outstanding Senior Biology students, the highest award to acknowledge exceptional academic, scholarly and service accomplishments throughout a student’s career at 91����Ƶ. The award also recognizes characteristics of initiative, wisdom, diligence, collegiality and integrity.

Kaylee M. Ferguson was given the Outstanding Service Award. Consideration is given to scholarship across the entire 91����Ƶ career, including research outside of the 91����Ƶ context, as well as qualities of leadership, citizenship, compassion, a commitment to working with others and the ability to place their 91����Ƶ experience with the context of service.

Diego C. Barahona earned the Excellence in Research Award for his exceptional performance in independent research, demonstrating initiative, integrity, knowledge of subject and high technical aptitude. Read more about one of his .

Leah C. Lapp was recognized as outstanding first-year chemistry student. Mario J. Hernandez was named outstanding second-year biology student.

Winners of the STEM poster contest, upperclass division are: first, Samantha Kauffman and Marchelle Smucker; second, Eli Wenger; third, Diego Barahona; honorable mention, Tyler Brenneman; Kyle Johnson and David Nester; Aron Harder, Austin Engle, Dylan Grove, James Paetkau, Ben Zook, Andrew Troyer and Collin Longenecker.

Winners of the STEM poster contest, underclass division are: first, Leah Lapp and Melissa Kinkaid; second, Seth Weaver and Jared Bergman; third, Linda Ouedraogo and Caroline Lehman.

Bible and Religion Department

The winners of an essay contest in the field of Bible, theology, church history and philosophy, sponsored by Haverim, the alumni association of Bible and Religion Department, were recognized. Justine Nolt won $300 and first place for her analysis of Eucharistic theology. Christina Hershey won $200 and second place for her treatment of Lancaster Mennonite Conference’s decision to leave Mennonite Church USA.��Janaya Sachs was awarded $100 and third place for her exegesis of 1 Corinthians 5.

Center for Justice and Peacebuilding

��The following students were recognized by Executive Director Daryl Byler: Caitlin Morneau, for publication of an article on restorative justice; Kajungu Mturi, for his work with Harrisonburg High School’s Peer Leaders program; Matt Tibbles, for work with youth at Harrisonburg and Rockingham County Boys and Girls Club; Jennifer Chi Lee, for overall leadership to CJP; and Myriam Aziz, Sho Igawa, Christine Kindler, Agnes Chen and Isabel Castillo for their Arts and Peacebuilding film productions.

Education Department

Five students were selected as Teachers of Promise by Don Steiner, interim department chair: Dorothy Hershey, Rebekah Hertzler, Erick Luna, Miranda Lyle and Amy Nussbaum. Teachers of Promise is a statewide honor recognizing gifted pre-service teachers.

Paul Lankford was awarded the Courage to Teach award, which is modeled after the principles of Quaker educator Parker Palmer. “Paul was selected for his dedication and effectiveness in teaching, genuine caring for students, value-based and highly principled behaviors, reflective thought and practice and a passion for teaching,” Steiner said. Lankford was awarded a copy of Palmer’s Courage to Teach book.

History Department

Robert Cook was awarded the Outstanding History Student for his essay on Rockbridge County schools integration. A future social studies educator, he was awarded a copy of A History of the World in 100 Objects by Neil MacGregor.

Language and Literature Department

The following awards were presented by department chair Mike Medley:

• The Ray Elvin Horst Award for Excellence in Spanish: Maddie Gish
• Jay B. Landis Award (Literary essay): Jasmine Miller
• The Ervie L. Glick Award for Excellence in World Language Study: Anna Messer
• James Bomberger Award (TESOL): Jasmine Miller
• Carroll Yoder Award (English teaching): Quinn Kathrineberg
• Omar Eby Award (Creative writing): Kaitlin Abrahams

Mathematical Sciences Department

Junior Aron Harder was the winner of the department’s mathematics contest. Harder also won this contest as a first-year student. His prize was what Professor Owen Byer described as a “math geek” t-shirt. Second place went to first-year Austin Engle.

Seven members of the Engineers for a Sustainable World club won first place in the first- and second-year undergraduate design team division at the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Zone 2 Conference early March in Puerto Rico. Ben Zook, Dylan Grove, James Paetkau, Collin Longenecker, Austin Engle, Ben Stutzman and Andrew Troyer were recognized for their work.

Music Department

Jon Bishop was recognized as the Outstanding Senior in Music Composition Award. Jacinda Stahly earned the Outstanding Senior in Music Performance award.

Nursing Department

Professors Audrey Myers and Ann Schaeffer, Nursing Student Association (NSA) sponsors, presented the department’s annual awards.

Nina Simmons was given the Leadership Award, for her work in the NSA to involve all levels of students. She will work after graduation in the intensive care unit at Augusta Health.

Abbie Luther was given the Sacred Covenant Award. The sacred covenant is a model of nursing that honors the relationship between the nurse and the patient. “Nursing has shaped me and continues to shape me into embodying Christ in my everyday life,” said Luther. “One of the biggest reasons I decided to study nursing was because it allowed me to be the hands and feet of Jesus. As my future as a nurse unfolds, my hope is that I stay grounded in this simple truth. Kindness, presence, grace, love and compassion will be my guiding light.”

Leona Good��earned the Academic Achievement Award. “Nursing school has challenged me to step up because I know that my knowledge and education impacts the care I am able to give others. I am driven by the desire to be the best nurse I can be for my patients. As my journey into nursing begins this next year, I am looking forward to how my career will allow me to offer myself and form relationships with people in their most vulnerable times.”

Visual and Communication Arts and Theater Department

Lila Marks received the Matthew Alan Styer VaCA Scholarship Grant for excellence and dedication to photography. “Lila is a passionate and compassionate documentary photographer of human encounters,” said Steven David Johnson, department chair. Johnson added that Marks is an excellent student, receptive to critique and already approaching photography with a critical and professional acumen and interest. She is pursuing a vocation in humanitarian documentary photography.

The cast of earned a Certificate of Merit for Ensemble Acting from the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF). The cast includes Jeremiah Hines, Dylan Peachy, Collin Dutt, Abigail Greaser, Emma Roth, Clara Bush, Robert Weaver and Esther Ajayi.

Greaser and Bush earned nominations for the Irene Ryan Acting Competition. Roth is an alternate.

Ezrionna Prioleau was recognized for her outstanding work in stage management for The 39 Steps and recommended for the KCACTF national competition in stage management.

Academic Success Center and Writing Program

Janaya Sachs was honored as Tutor of the Year. “She has been a chemistry, mathematics, Bible and general-whatever-I-can-help-you-with-I-will-help-you-with tutor,” said Linda Gnagey, director of the Academic Success Center. “We want to thank Janaya for three years of support for many different students at many different academic levels and departments.”

Graduating tutors were also recognized: Kaylee Ferguson (biology), Leona Good (nursing), Jacob Hertzler (computer science), Andre Kalend (biology and history), Lamar Kiser (nursing), Timothy Martin (mathematics) and Sam Miller (biology). Quinn Kathrineberg and Luisa Miller were recognized by Professor Vi Dutcher, director of the Writing Program.

Common Grounds Coffeehouse

“Common Grounds Coffeehouse is routinely blessed to be led by exceptional students who give boundless creative energy and passion to their shared work,” said Rachel Roth Sawatzky, student programs director. She recognized three of the five managers who are seniors: Stephanie Anders, events manager; Maddie Gish, operations manager; and Ryan Thomas, finance manager.

Read more about their contributions .

Student Government Association

The spring 2017 executive council was recognized: Quinn Kathrineberg, president; Mario Valladares, vice president; Keyri Lopez- Godoy, secretary; Rachel Holderman, vice president of marketing; and Tyler Denlinger, treasurer.

Spring 2017 senators are Dera Nwankwo, Nicole Litwiller, Rebecca Cardwell, Val Hernandez, Seth Weaver, John Sanchez, Ali Zuercher, Carlos Garcia, Lamar Kiser, Leah Wenger, Luke Mullet, Caroline Lehman, and Victoria Barnes.

Campus Activities Council

Seniors Ali Hartzler and Jeremiah Robinson were recognized by Mike Yoder, assistant director of student programs and orientation for their commitment and dedication to providing creative and positive entertainment that engages the entire student body. Hartzler has been involved for two years with the tech department and as vice-president this year. Robinson joined CAC this year. Both have been instrumental in planning a variety of events, including the Color Run at Homecoming, the Presidents Ball, and Springfest.

Campus Ministries

Pastoral assistants were recognized: Rachel Breidigan, Maddie List, Grayson Mast, Janaya Sachs, Hannah Shultz, Alexa Weeks and Brittany Williams.

Ministry assistants were recognized: Sarah Regan, Bekah Mongold, Madalynn Payne, Nathaniel Nissley, Cameron White, Alex Wissler, Andrew Troyer, Dylan Grove, Austin Sachs, Jenna Lile, Maia Garber, Seth Weaver, Abigail Shelly, Ariel Barbosa, Justin Odom, Taylor Allen, Clarissa White, Lydia Haggard, Lindsay Acker, Kyra Lehman, Janet Spain, and Joseph Harder.

Residence Life

��Seniors and community assistants Eli Wenger and Becky Barrett were recognized for three years of service. Wenger’s “kind and welcoming” personality was noted as well as his ability to create enthusiastic participants in community.

Barrett “effortlessly gets along with all of her residents,” said Tyler Goss, resident director. “She is driven, organized and not afraid to speak up. She is a strong, grounded and welcoming leader.”

Goss also recognized Matthew Hunsberger, who has been promoted to assistant director of residence life after many years as a residence director.

Athletics

All second-semester athletics award-winners were honored. Their accomplishments can be viewed .

“We want our students to understand and be aware of how the criminal justice system works, and be aware of alternatives that exist,” said , peacebuilding and conflict studies professor and Department of Applied Social Science chair.

Rhodes describes the program’s restorative justice perspective as one that “promotes justice as healing, wholeness and reconciliation for all parties touched by crime.” Coursework will introduce students to restorative justice as a growing field of practice that offers alternatives to the traditional criminal justice system.

, a longtime professor of restorative justice at 91����Ƶ, notes that many colleges and universities have begun offering programs in criminal justice as the industry has grown in recent decades.

“Most, however, are taught with a conventional and rather uncritical perspective of criminology that assumes that if crime is violent, then our response must be as well,” Zehr said. “It is both timely and appropriate that a university rooted in an Anabaptist tradition would incorporate the peacebuilding approach represented by restorative justice.”

Rhodes said the program will emphasize the practical applications of restorative justice in the criminal justice system.

“Restorative justice has become kind of a buzzword in Mennonite circles,” she said. “In this program, we’re saying that it’s not only a way of being or a philosophical or ideological commitment. We’re crafting a minor so people can think about restorative justice as being useful in their career path.”

As part of the 18-hour minor, 91����Ƶ will begin offering a new course in criminology, with elective options drawing from various disciplines, including sociology, theology and peacebuilding. The program has been under development for several years, and was motivated in part by increasing interest from prospective students in studying criminal justice.

“The pairing of restorative justice with criminology is reflective of 91����Ƶ’s social justice and Anabaptist faith-based perspective,” said Deirdre Smeltzer, undergraduate academic dean. “The restorative justice emphasis will help students learn theory and practice related to helping offenders acknowledge harm and strive to repair those harms; this is in contrast to the typical punishment-based approach of most criminal justice systems.”

The new undergraduate minor is the latest example of several academic programs 91����Ƶ has created recently in response to growing interest in restorative justice, including a restorative justice in education graduate certificate offered through the master’s in education program and a new , offered by the . In conjunction with the new minor, the university has also just approved an accelerated five-year BA to MA in restorative justice.

“In order for homes—our residence halls— here at 91����Ƶ to become communities, we have to have neighbors,” he says. “We have to ask the question, ‘How are we, together?’ What do we make and create together through our interactions and relationships?”

Swartz has been named to a new position at 91����Ƶ in which he’ll help to grow this vision: as of Jan. 3, he is the campus’s first director of residence life, student accountability and restorative justice — supporting nine employees, approximately 35-40 student employees and the 650 students who live in campus residence halls.

The new role is responsible for “developing and maintaining residential learning communities that provide a safe, secure, and comfortable housing and residence life environment centered around a campus culture sustained by restorative justice practices,” according to , vice president for enrollment and student life.

“This new role more formally embeds the idea of a restorative community into our housing and student accountability functions,” Smucker says. “It is a great example of integration between the research and learnings on the academic side of the community with practice on the student life side. In this way we strive to be an exemplar.”

��91����Ƶ influential in restorative justice field

91����Ƶ is known both nationally and globally for its work in restorative justice. In 2016, 91����Ƶ’s began the in restorative justice in North America. The continues the legacy of Emeritus Professor , widely considered the “grandfather of restorative justice.” Since Zehr and others first developed the concept in 1970s, restorative justice has expanded from criminal justice venues into diverse settings, including university life, as a way of handling situations when harm has been done.

Instead of punitive measures that seek to attribute blame and punishment, restorative justice, commonly referred to as RJ, asks offenders to understand the effect of their actions on others and to take responsibility in a way that meets the needs of the victims. It has been implemented with wide success in K-12 education and higher education environments.

Expertise in restorative justice

Swartz is well-equipped to both implement and educate about restorative practices in a Christian higher education community. In 2014, he earned both a Master of Divinity degree at and a master’s in conflict transformation at the , while serving as a campus ministries intern and restorative justice facilitator and assistant residence director.

He then became the campus’s first restorative justice coordinator, focusing primarily on student support and accountability. Along with providing training, coaching and mediation, he spent a year researching the student conduct response system at 91����Ƶ. The input and data resulted in a 2015 assessment and recommendations. In fall of 2015, he was named assistant director of University Accord. In addition, he has served as an adjunct professor in the , and has also guest lectured in graduate and undergraduate courses in restorative justice.

Swartz’s work with residence life has roots in his personal experience as a resident assistant at Bethel College (Indiana), where he earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology. There, Swartz learned that “caring presence is perhaps the most important gift that students can provide each other,” he said. “Most of us really do want to connect deeply with at least one or two people, and student leaders are often well-positioned to make those connections.”

He took that student leadership experience, which he says was “restorative” before he knew what the term meant, into his professional life. Now he works to help other students understand the same principles of care and presence in the residential environment: “balancing support and accountability in order to recognize the harms that happen all around us, name the harms, and then work to empower healing and transformation for the sake of communities that truly care for each other and can offer hope to the world around us.”

Communities, he reiterates, are comprised of “homes and �Ա𾱲�����ǰ���.”