First-year students set foot on campus one day, and the next, they stepped out in service to the local community.

For the first time, as part of their orientation program, some 300 EMU students with their orientation leaders spent Saturday, Aug. 28, volunteering at 17 non-profit organizations in and around Harrisonburg.

“It makes sense to me,” said student Terianne Kauffman from Paradise, Pa. “Mennonites believe that service is an important part of being a Christian, so why not start off the year [at EMU] with an experience like this.”

Debbie Keiser, Pioneer, Ohio, slices bagels for serving at the Our Community Place “fun festival.”
Photo by Jim Bishop

Ms. Kauffman and some 14 fellow students spent the afternoon stacking wood, pulling weeds and leveling gravel on a parking lot at the Valley Brethren-Mennonite Heritage Center west of the city as part of the “Community Learning Day of Service.”

Before the students swarmed to area non-profits, they were hosted by and treated to lunch at a number of locally-owned restaurants. Transportation to and from assignments was provided by Harrisonburg Transit and EMU vans.

At Booksavers, student volunteers looked up donated books on the Internet to determine prices for the used volumes that in turn are sold at discount prices to raise funds for relief programs.

“I’ve never done this before, but it’s kinda fun,” said student Jason Hostetter of Harrisonburg, working next to fellow student Maggie Parker from Wichita, Kan. “I’m amazed at how many books they have here.”

Another student group assisted at a “fun festival” sponsored by Our Community Place on N. Main Street across from The Little Grill, a unique restaurant that operates as a worker-owned collective. The group helped make and serve food, did face painting, played volleyball and interacted with festival participants.

(L. to r.): Marc Yoder, Belleville, Pa.; Paul Rutt, Luray, Va.; and Chris Lehman, Chambersburg, Pa., sort donated housewares at the Thrift Shop.
Photo by Jim Bishop

Some 15 students sorted through contributed toys and clothing at Mercy House’s thrift store, which helps raise money to support the homeless shelter.

Other students unloaded donated merchandise and sorted and priced clothing at the local Thrift Shop.

“I’ve never done this before (sorting clothes),” said student Kristi Kolb from Spring City, Pa. “I think it’s cool to help out in this way, and it benefits a lot of people in need. It’s interesting to see what people bring in,” she added.

“I think this gives freshman a better idea of the many different opportunities for service available in the local community,” said sophomore orientation leader Shannon Yoder from Harrisonburg. “If they are interested in getting involved in a certain project, they’ll know how to get in touch with the right people.”

The day began with welcoming speeches from Harrisonburg Vice-Mayor Rodney Eagle; Ron Copland, an Eastern Mennonite Seminary student and founder of The Little Grill restaurant; Adam Starks, a 2003 EMU graduate and manager of Panera Bread, which donated food to the event; and Sylvia Romero of the Shenandoah Valley Migrant Education Agency.

Deanna Durham
Photo by Jim Bishop

, community learning coordinator at EMU, felt that the event was “successful,” adding: “We wanted students to realize from when they first arrive on campus that they are not coming just to a college campus, but to a real community that has both needs and opportunities for learning.”

Michael Shank, a graduate student at 草莓社区, felt encouraged, even heartened, after a 90-minute meeting Tuesday at the campus.

EMU President Loren Swartzendruber called the forum to take questions and hear comments about the campus’ church-based, agreement that critics say makes the university unsafe for gays. (Read the president’s .)

At the conclusion of the 90-minute forum in Lehman Auditorium, Shank said he hoped the meeting was the beginning of the process of addressing the issue. Swartzendruber said he is uncertain what will happen next.

Swartzendruber called the forum, in part, as a reaction to gay pride demonstrations the past couple of weeks at EMU. Shank, a heterosexual, helped organize the protests to draw attention to the firing of a homosexual professor last year and to address safety issues related to sexual preference.

EMU, according to Swartzendruber, fired the professor because of homosexual behavior, not sexual orientation. The dismissal, he said, took place before he took office in January.

“There have been people who have been asked to leave because of sexual behavior, homosexual and heterosexual,” Swartzendruber told an audience that filled more than half of Lehman Auditorium.

The Mennonite church sanctions sexual behavior only within a marriage defined as being between a man and a woman. EMU, with its enrollment of 1,444 students, has the right as a private church institution to establish standards on behavior, Swartzendruber said. About 60 percent of EMU’s undergrads and 69 percent at the EMU Seminary are Mennonite, according to university figures.

Swartzendruber said EMU has followed the direction of the Mennonite Church USA on the issue. But the president said he would not tolerate bigotry and name-calling on the campus. “I personally will not tolerate a lack of safety,” he said.

Drawing A Line

Swartzendruber said he accepted that homosexual orientation is something that is not chosen. “I think the scientific evidence is clear on that,” he said.

But the church’s position is clear on the subject, he said. “The church has decided that is where they would draw the line,” he said. “We all draw the line somewhere. We do have differences of opinion where we do draw the line on that continuum.”

The community lifestyle commitment, which is signed by all students, staff and faculty, indicates where the church draws the line. The statement also speaks out against harmful discrimination.

Shank, 29, who grew up in a Mennonite Church family, spoke up during the forum. “It is hard to draw the line. I don’t think it’s being drawn on core Mennonite values,” he said of the nonviolence aspect of the belief.

Campus Issue

The forum attracted EMU Seminary student Allan Reesor-McDowell. The 22-year-old is a 2002 graduate of the university who wants to work with church-based groups.

“This has been real good,” Reesor-McDowell said after the forum. “There’s been a lot of tension surrounding this discussion about sexuality and sexual orientation.” The forum allowed people on both sides of the issue to have their say “in a ,” he said.

Reesor-McDowell, who is from Toronto, Ontario, did not get up to speak at a pair of microphones set up for comments. “I would affirm the statements the church has made,” he said. “Whether or not I will always have a clear idea of what that always means, I am not sure.”

Swartzendruber thought the meeting went well and maintained a civil and respectful tone. “If some people feel it is not a safe place,” Swartzendruber said of EMU, “I am sure they will let us know.”

The president’s cabinet, he said, could discuss the issue. The term ends with commencement in less than two weeks. The summer vacation, Swartzendruber said, will give the administration time to review the issue.