Laura C. Cattell

Laura C. Cattell, an environmental science and justice, peace and conflict studies major from Honey Brook, Pa., won first place with her speech, “Structural Violence in the U.S. Education System.”

Listen to the podcast of Laura’s speech as she gave it during chapel on April 3, 2009.

In the bi-national contest she competed against winners from other Mennonite-related colleges and universities in the United States and Canada.

Building a more just world

In describing structural violence, she presented a case study of two high schools in the Philadelphia area, one in a wealthy suburb and another in a nearby economically-distressed area in the city. As persons and organizations worked within the system for a more equitable distribution of resources and program funds, the formula used to allocate federal funds was changed to include parameters such as poverty and ESL and consequently provide more resources to communities with little indigenous wealth.

“If we are to do true peacebuilding, we must address structural violence,” Cattell said in her speech. “Service and individual change are needed, but without advocacy it is short-sighted. As Christians, we must continue to serve those around us, but must also embrace the role of advocacy in building a more just world.

Challenging and engaging coursework at 91短视频

“Challenging and engaging coursework at 91短视频 promoted me to speak about the power differentials that maintain and entrench structural violence, I chose to speak specifically about the education system because in theory it gives all kids the same chance at success,” Cattell said.

“I am grateful for such a wonderful opportunity to articulate the problem of structural violence in the education system and to [91短视频] professor Gloria Rhodes for her guidance and encouragement on this project,” she added.

In April 2009, Cattell was among 10 recipients of the annual “Cords of Distinction” award. The students were selected for their “significant and verifiable impact” on the university and on student life, for their contributions to developing the institution’s positive image, for substantial contributions to the Harrisonburg-Rockingham County area and beyond, for their high academic and social standing and their embodiment of 91短视频’s shared values of Christian discipleship, community, service and peacebuilding.

Cattell will begin working in October with the Maryland Conservation Corps at the Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary (). This award-winning AmeriCorps program engages young adults in extensive natural resource management and park conservation projects. The program has been managed by the Maryland Park Service since 1984.

She is a member of Frazer Mennonite Church, Malvern, Pa.

Nick Stoddard winner in 2007

91短视频 has participated in the oratorical competition for the last seven out of eight years, with Nicholas L. (Nick) Detweiler-Stoddard of Harrisonburg winning the grand prize at the bi-national level in 2007 with his speech, “Connect the Dots.”

The contest was established in 1974 by the directors of the C. Henry Smith Trust as a way of honoring the late Mennonite historian who taught at Goshen (Ind.) College and Bluffton (Ohio) University. Smith is well-known for his numerous books on Mennonite history and his particular attention to the peace commitments of the Mennonite tradition.

It is administered annually by Peace and Justice Ministries of Mennonite Central Committee U.S. Students from every Mennonite and Brethren in Christ college in North America are eligible to participate. At 91短视频, the contest is sponsored by the departments of Bible and religion, language and literature and justice, peace and conflict studies.

Laura Cattell (r.), first-place winner in the C. Henry Smith Peace Oratorical Contest with first runner-up Brianna Oelschlager. Absent: Second runner-up Barry Weixler-Landis.

Laura Cattell, a senior environmental science and justice, peace and conflict studies major from Honey Brook, Pa., won first place with her speech, “Structural Violence in the U.S. Education System.”

Brianna Oelschlager, a sophomore biochemistry major from Sellersville, Pa., was first runner-up with her speech, “Basic Needs as the Basis for Peace.”

Barry Weixler-Landis, a junior economics and justice, peace and conflict studies major from Harrisonburg, Va., was second runner-up with his speech, “Your Piece of Peace.”

Other contestants were: Nathan Kauffman, junior history and social science major, Goshen, Ind.; Grant Sprunger, junior business administration major, Dalton, Ohio; John Tyson, senior biblical studies major, Lansdale, Pa.; and Ethan Zook, senior biology and secondary education major, Harrisonburg, Va.

Winner addresses violence in education system

Ms. Cattell gave her award-winning speech in university chapel Friday, Apr. 3. (Click to listen to the podcast of ‘Structural Violence in the U.S. Education System’)

In describing structural violence, she presented a case study of two high schools in the Philadelphia area, one in a wealthy suburb and another in a nearby economically-distressed area in the city. As persons and organizations worked within the system for a more equitable distribution of resources and program funds, students’ performance in the lower-income school began to improve, she reported.

“If we are to do true peacebuilding, we must address structural violence,” Cattell said in her speech. “Service and individual change are needed, but without advocacy it is short-sighted. As Christians, we must continue to serve those around us, but must also embrace the role of advocacy in building a more just world.”

Cattell received a cash prize and entry in the bi-national competition with winners from other Mennonite-related colleges and universities in the United States and Canada.

2007 winner represented 91短视频 nationally

91短视频 has participated in the event for the last seven out of eight years, with Nicholas L. (Nick) Stoddard winning the grand prize at the bi-national level in 2007 with his speech, “Connect the Dots.”

The contest was established in 1974 by the directors of the C. Henry Smith Trust as a way of honoring the late Mennonite historian who taught at Goshen (Ind.) College and Bluffton (Ohio) University. Smith is well-known for his numerous books on Mennonite history and his particular attention to the peace commitments of the Mennonite tradition.

It is administered annually by Peace and Justice Ministries of Mennonite Central Committee U.S. Students from every Mennonite and Brethren in Christ college in North America are eligible to participate. At 91短视频, the contest is sponsored by the departments of Bible and religion, language and literature and justice, peace and conflict studies.

In addition, many majors include opportunities for internships, where students apply classroom learning to “real world” settings.

Beyond this, a number of students majoring in the sciences, particularly biology or chemistry, are supplementing their laboratory experience with original research projects on and off campus with 91短视频 professors.

91短视频 students Elisa Troyer and David Showalter (l.) look at a sample trace on the computer screen as part of an electrophysiology setup in an instrumentation lab with 91短视频 chemistry professor Matthew Siderhurst. Photo by Jim Bishop

This year, the departments of biology and chemistry are benefiting from seven grants from federal and state agencies or from private foundations, according to Doug Graber Neufeld, professor of biology and chair of the biology and chemistry departments.

“These grants are critical to help to support the many students involved in independent research projects, with the subjects of studies ranging from molecular neurobiology, to the chemistry and ecology of insects to water-related issues in developing countries,” Dr. Graber Neufeld said.

“The past year saw 17 students involved in research projects during the year, with an additional 10 students involved in summer internships with 91短视频 biology or chemistry faculty.”

Work in Cambodia and Thailand

Graber Neufeld and colleagues from Buffalo (NY) State College used funding from an ongoing National Science Foundation grant to take six students, including two from 91短视频, to work in Cambodia and Thailand this summer. The program gives opportunities for students to work alongside local scientists on issues of drinking water quality and sewage treatment.

Another group of six students will be selected to return with him to Cambodia and Thailand the summer of 2009 to continue the work on water issues. The work is a an outgrowth of two years that Graber Neufeld spent working through Mennonite Central Committee on environmental issues in Cambodia.

Allison E. Glick, a junior chemistry major from Pekin, Ill., was among the students who spent last summer doing research in Cambodia.

“I looked at the concentration of pesticides on water spinach still in the field,” Glick noted. “It was a greatly enriching experience where I learned as much about the research process in a location like Cambodia as I did about pesticide longevity,” she added.

‘Connecting theory with practice’

With the help of a $25,000 Jeffress Grant, a Virginia foundation, along with USDA funds and Hawaii Department of Agriculture funds, Matthew Siderhurst, assistant professor of chemistry, is continuing earlier research on pest control in Hawaii, isolating hormones to use in creating more effective insect traps for ants and beetles. 91短视频 students David N. Showalter and Elisa Troyer worked with Dr. Siderhurst last summer in the Suter Science Center laboratory.

Showalter, a senior biochemistry major from Harrisonburg, is writing a paper on the project the fall semester that he “hopes to have published in a scientific journal.”

“I anticipate doing graduate work in biochemistry, and this experience is helpful preparation that I wouldn’t otherwise get,” Showalter said. “It’s proving a valuable way of understanding analytical methods and connecting theory with practice.”

Greta Ann Herin, assistant professor of biology, has participated for two summers in the Shenandoah Valley Molecular Biology Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) sponsored by the National Science Foundation. Students participating in the program investigate the modulation of glutamate receptors that are important in brain function. 91短视频’s portion of the REU amounts to approximately $21,000, including supplies and stipends for the student participants.

Students ‘develop independence’ as researchers

“The goal is for the student to develop independence as a researcher by conducting his/her own research project, gaining skills in the laboratory, being exposed to the primary literature, participating in scientific presentations and discussions,” Herin said.

An 91短视频 faculty group from a cross-section of departments have formed the Shenandoah Anabaptist Science Society (SASS) for constructive engagement of science and religion.

The group has received a three-year, $15,000 matching grant administered by the the Metanexus Institute Local Societies Initiative, a Philadelphia, Pa.-based organization, with funding from the John Templeton Foundation.

SASS steering commmittee member Roman J. Miller, professor of biology at 91短视频, said the Society “provides resources and a formal context to encourage the integration of Christian faith – particularly in its Anabaptist expression and convictions concerning peacemaking and service – while helping students learn more about major real-world issues at the intersection of science and Christian faith.”

Students Doing ‘Cutting-edge Research’

Stephen Cessna, associate professor of chemistry, in collaboration with James M. (Jim) Yoder, professor of biology, secured some $100,000 in grant funding from the National Science Foundation for laboratory equipment for plant psychology and ecology laboratory courses.

“This is not trivial stuff. These students are doing cutting-edge research,” Graber Neufeld said. “As a bonus, a number of students wind up having their research published in scholarly journals or being invited to give presentations at professional conferences.”

He noted that two 91短视频 students, Laura Cattell and Allison Glick, will present findings from their research in water treatment and pesticide use in Cambodia at a conference in Pennsylvania in November 2008. One of Dr. Siderhurst’s students presented at a meeting this summer.

“All the grants we’ve received are involving students in these research projects,” the 91短视频 professor said. “For a school our size, that’s rather impressive.”

Some people ride bikes just for fun. Some people ride bikes just for exercise.

But two people at 91短视频 ride bikes just for work – hard work.

Jonathan Lantz-Trissel, 91短视频’s recycling coordinator, pulls a recycling cart hitched to his bicycle during a pickup on Tuesday afternoon.
Photo by Jim Bishop

Jonathan Lantz-Trissel, 28, and Laura Cattell, 18, use the university’s newest and most unique bicycle to collect about a ton of recyclable materials from around campus each week.

With seven round trips, the two recycling workers haul their custom-built bike, which pulls an 8-foot trailer, to 24 recycling collection points on campus every week.

They haul hundreds of pounds of paper, hundreds of cans, hundreds of bottles and just about anything else 91短视频 recycles – all without paying $2.75 a gallon for gas.

“Biking is one of the most radical things you can do,” said Lantz-Trissel, 91短视频’s full-time recycling coordinator who suggested the bike-trailer system to university officials last August. “And I get to do it at work. I love this job.”

How The Bike Works

To haul 2,000 pounds of recycling with one bike every week, no ordinary bike is worthy of the job.

An Iowa-based company, Bikes at Work, designed and built the 44-pound trailer, Lantz-Trissel said.

The metal trailer can haul about 300 pounds at one time, and Cattell said it is relatively easy to drive the bike while pulling it.

“I’ve only crashed two times, and hopefully no one saw me,” she said. “The secret is taking wide turns.”

To pull the heavy trailer, Lantz-Trissel had Shenandoah Bike Company install tires twice as wide as normal tires, and add additional spokes to the wheels. The company also installed an enhanced braking system that uses “disc brakes,” which work like car brakes.

How The System Works

Lantz-Trissel said his bike-trailer idea stemmed from his previous job as a bicycle messenger in Philadelphia.

“I found that I could get around Philly twice as fast on a bike than anyone in a car,” he said. “Plus, it didn’t make a lot of sense to ride my bike to work, then jump in a truck to do the recycling runs.”

Two days a week, he and Cattell, a freshman from Honey Brook, Pa., drive to the “top” of campus and work their way down the hill stopping at every building and dorm.

Cattell, who helps Lantz-Trissel as part of a work-study program, drives the bike-trailer while Lantz-Trissel rides his regular bicycle beside it to make sure items don’t fall off.

“We used to take turns, but then my bike broke, so I ride the trailer bike because his bike is too big for me,” she said.

After they collect the goods, they separate the glass, cans and paper and then load everything onto a tractor-trailer. Once a month, 91短视频 takes the big trailer to Dave’s Recycling in Harrisonburg.

“It just makes me feel good,” Lantz-Trissel said. “I know that we’re doing something that contributes to the betterment of the community and of the planet that we live on.”