That’s the question EMU students, faculty, staff, alumni and guests will tackle at a forum Jan. 22, beginning at 8:45 a.m. in the Suter Science Center that is open to the community. Read more about the event…

The university is hosting the morning-long event to foster a sense of ownership and excitement in plans to renovate the existing science center and create a sustainable learning environment. The “how green?” question invites people to dream about innovation and how sustainable building fits with EMU’s core vision and mission.

“There’s no doubt EMU is committed to building green,” said President Loren Swartzendruber about the upcoming event, noting that EMU is well-known for its energy-efficient buildings.

The school’s historical commitment to sustainable building is well documented, he noted. “Now that we are in the planning phase of a significant building project, we are considering how to mesh our values and dreams with the realities of appropriate funding goals and a booming new field in green technologies,” the president stated.

The forum will include input on Anabaptist theology and sustainability by retired sociologist Dr. Calvin Redekop; a summary of EMU’s track record on sustainability by Eldon Kurtz, director of EMU facilities; an overview of green design and building with Bill Barnard, LEED-AP certified architect with the . The event will also include discussion on EMU’s principles of sustainability.

Current students who are part of a new “green design” class this semester at EMU will also participate. They will gather ideas at the forum to research throughout the coming semester.

Planners hope that a building project that has the backing of the campus and broader community will:

• Model the community’s theological commitment to creation care and God’s mandate in Micah 6:8 to “do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God.”
• Serve the university well from a pedagogical perspective.
• Attract students and faculty who share EMU’s core values.
• Showcase the university’s creativity, innovation and motivation.

The forum will be held from 8:45 a.m. to 12 noon, Tuesday Jan. 22, 2008. It is free and open to all.

The event is sponsored by the university’s Creation Care Council. See more at www.emu.edu/begreen. Email questions to begreen@emu.edu or phone 432-4348.

“Blue Like Jazz//Live,” a solo theatrical multimedia performance based on celebrated author Donald Miller’s book, will be presented 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30, in Lehman Auditorium.

Professional actor Jason Hildebrand incorporates video, projected motion graphic and an original jazz soundscape in presenting a personal, raw and humorous reflection on spirituality, God, and community.

Hildebrand, also a dramatist and performance coach, has performed in theater, film and television and tours the globe with his critically-acclaimed solo performances.

He also works with organizations, theater and film companies and educational institutions in various capacities across North America and in Europe.

“Blue Like Jazz//Live, besides being an amazing theatrical experience, seeks to provide a catalyst for drawing people into a deeper exploration of the soul and to foster community,” EMU campus pastor Brian Martin Burkholder said.

The event is sponsored by the Student Government Association, Campus Ministries, Young People’s Christian Association and Campus Activities Council.

General admission is $5 at the door; free with EMU I.D.

Some area children will open Christmas packages who may otherwise not receive any gifts, thanks to the efforts of several ²ÝÝ®ÉçÇø students.

For the second year, EMU social work majors sponsored a project to buy gifts for a holiday drive coordinated by the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Department of Social Services (DSS). The students raised more than $800 toward this year’s drive from EMU faculty, staff and fellow students.

The project benefits about 460 clients, most of them children of needy families.

DSS gave the students 24 clients’ first names and a Christmas wish list for each.

majors Heather M. Hernley, Megan R. Yoder, Emiley F. Wagler, Sarah G. Yoder and Gabrielle S. (Gabby) Lewis spent more than four hours shopping, then returned to campus and spent an evening wrapping and labeling the gifts.

EMU social work professor Jane Wenger Clemens helps deliver more than $800 in gifts.
Photo by Gretchen Hostetter Maust

Jane Wenger Clemens, assistant professor of social work, and Gretchen Hostetter Maust, office coordinator, delivered the gifts to DSS on Dec. 7 for a Christmas party held Dec. 11.

“As social work students, we feel a connection to the community and wanted to respond to a local need,” said Heather M. Hernley, a senior from Luray, Va. “It felt good to support this project, and we were pleased with the response in financial gifts from the campus community.”

Look out, Harrisonburg, the college students are coming.

EMU wants to introduce its newest group of first-year students to the community by some direct involvement in local service programs.

For the first time, as part of its orientation program, some 300 new EMU students and student orientation leaders will spend Saturday, Aug. 28, working with non-profit and other social service agencies.

“We want our students to understand that they are not coming just to a college campus, but to a real community that has both needs and opportunities for learning,” said Deanna F. Durham, community learning coordinator at EMU.

“We require all first-year students to do 15 hours of community service their first semester. This ‘Day of Service’ is designed to introduce them to the many non-profits and social service agencies in our communities and to accomplish some much-needed work in our community just before school starts,” she added.

The program will begin at 10 a.m. in Lehman Auditorium with a welcome and comments from Vice-Mayor Rodney Eagle, Ron Copeland, an EMU student and former owner of The Little Grill restaurant; Adam Starks, a 2003 EMU graduate and manager of Panera Bread; and representatives from local non-profit agencies.

In addition, locally-owned restaurants and Panera Bread have agreed to host and provide lunch for the students or donate food for lunch. Local non-profits will host the students for an afternoon of community service. Transportation will be provided by Harrisonburg Transit and EMU vans.

Participating restaurants include Little Grill, Chanello’s Pizza, Lil’ Italia, Calhoun’s, Mr. J’s Bagels, Panera Bread, Bombay Indian Restaurant, Taste of Thai and the Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community (VMRC) cafe.

The organizations where students will work include Black’s Run Greenway, The Children’s Museum, Gift and Thrift, Artisan’s Hope, Booksavers, A World of Goods, Salvation Army Thrift Store, Camp Kaleidescope, Camp Still Meadows, WVPT, Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, Glen Eco Farm, Our Community Place, Highland Retreat, Rockingham Memorial Hospital, Crossing Creeks, Mercy House, VMRC and Valley Brethren-Mennonite Heritage Center.

Activities will run through 5 p.m. that day.