Nata Fontan did not always want to be a therapist, peeking into people’s lives. Now, as he fields a series of probing questions, those roles seem to be reversed. “Since I was young, my dream was to be a college professor,” he said, leaning back in a squeaky chair, fingers entwined.  Fontan is in his office on the first floor of Wyse 118, pausing for an interview between counseling sessions with Goshen College students. In 2018, he graduated from GC with a bachelor’s degree in social work, but his story begins thousands of miles south. Fontan grew up in Argentina...

By Jakyra Green • November 3, 2022 • Features

A group of 100 or so people convened in the College Mennonite Church-Chapel this past Sunday for a hymn sing. It wasn’t just any hymn-sing; hymns were paired with artwork in “Voices Together,” with reflections on the art and hymns happening between songs. Three people presented, all graduates of Goshen College: Bradley Kauffman, general editor of “Voices Together;” Adam Tice, text editor; and SaeJin Lee, co-chair of the visual arts committee. The first hymn, led by Lee, was number 732: “Open My Eyes (Abre mis ojos).” “As we are singing the songs in the hymnal but also looking at the...

By Phil Witmer-Rich • November 3, 2022 • Features

Duane Stoltzfus, chair of the communication department, received an email on Feb. 7 with the subject line, “question from a journalist.” It was from Malcolm Gladwell, renowned journalist and podcast host of “Revisionist History,” which Gladwell describes as “things overlooked and misunderstood.” He was planning a series of episodes about the Minnesota Starvation Experiments. In the early 1940s, conscientious objectors were faced with a dilemma. By definition and principle, they could not morally justify going to war. But the war was precisely where their country was headed. “By World War II,” Stoltzfus said, “We had the Quakers, Brethren and Mennonites...

By Phil Witmer-Rich • October 28, 2022 • Features

If you sit in the back of a concert on campus, you might hear an unexpected sound: the slight click-click-click of knitting needles. Upon investigation, the odds are that you will find Beth Bontrager, an administrative assistant in the Mennonite Historical Library and subscription manager at The Mennonite Quarterly Review. Along with her professional work, Bontrager is an avid knitter — and she has been for years. “My grandmother was an avid knitter, tatterer, crocheter, sewer, [and] quilter,” Bontrager said. “[She] and my mother taught me to knit when I was … 8 years old.” Wherever she goes, it seems...

By Daniel James • October 28, 2022 • Features

Fall break — a time of rest and recovery for many students here on campus. Or is it? For Mia Yoder, sophomore environmental science major, fall break was a time of exploration. Yoder, a transfer student from Portland, Oregon, used her days off to discover the rural and urban ranges of the Midwest. She kicked off her break by taking the South Shoreline Train to Chicago alongside some of her close friends.  “I’ve never taken a commuter train before; that was sort of an adventure in and of itself,” Yoder said. When she and her friends finally arrived in the...

By Eliza Alemán • October 28, 2022 • Features

The arrival of autumn in Goshen brings the perfect weather for a multitude of fall festivities. Kercher’s Sunrise Orchards, a well-known Goshen spot for fall fun, is a great place to head once there’s a chill in the breeze — and the drive to the orchard is only five minutes from Goshen College’s campus.  This year, Kercher’s is celebrating their 100th anniversary. William Wheeler Kercher purchased 40 acres of land in 1922. Since then, five generations of Kerchers have seen the business that the orchard has brought in, while the sixth toddles through when they visit. A group of GC...

By Sarah Miller • October 13, 2022 • Features

Squeals of excitement erupt from the chorus of children who are pointing their fingers at a fading rainbow overhead. “Do you see it?!”  The rainbow momentarily stopped outdoor play for the children and staff of the Campus Center for Young Children (CCYC).  CYC is an early childhood program devoted to meeting the needs of families from Goshen College, College Mennonite Church and the larger Goshen community. Currently, 53 children ranging from ages 1 to 5 are enrolled at CCYC. The children usually arrive at 8 a.m. and spend the next hour or so outside on the playground.  On this particular...

By Mariela Esparza • October 13, 2022 • Features

Located in the foothills of the Himalayas in Mussoorie, India, Woodstock School lays claim to one of the most picturesque campuses in the world. State-of-the-art facilities and residential halls look small compared to the towering mountains and surrounding trees. “Woodstock is a world of its own,” said Shoaib Ansari, a second year computer science major who attended Woodstock from second grade to graduation. “That’s what I’ll always describe it as.”  “It’s an international school, so you don’t feel like you’re in India,” she added. “When I used to go there, it was like going to a different world. When it...

By Phil Witmer-Rich • October 13, 2022 • Features

It is not a novelty to see pets around campus. Many of us have seen students and even faculty members walk their furry animals throughout the day. From dogs to rabbits, Goshen College has it all.  Whether it is anxiety, depression, loneliness or any other aspect that is negatively affecting one’s experience on college housing, getting an emotional support animal can have a positive impact. Many students may have wondered how to obtain permission to bring and keep a furry friend on campus. However, it is important to note that these pets are recognized as a service or emotional support...

By Fernando Daza • October 7, 2022 • Features

For those who haven’t played pickleball, first assumptions generally follow a pattern: “What kind of name is that?” said Andrew Hartzler, professor of accounting. “That’s for older folks, right?” wondered Gilberto Perez, dean of students. “I thought it was a dumbed-down version of tennis,” said Rebecca Stoltzfus, president of Goshen College. “To play pickleball is to admit you’re old.” Pickleball may have a reputation for being a sport for people in their encore years, but an intergenerational mix of Goshen community members are challenging that. After playing pickleball for the first time, these newcomers had three things in common: they...

By Caleb Shenk • October 7, 2022 • Features

Dan Eash-Scott raised his arms in victory.  Four entire cobs of corn in 90 seconds made him champion of the corn-eating competition. “I love eating corn.” Eash-Scott, a junior history major, said, “My dad never realizes how many ears we’ll need, so I compete with my brother for who’s gonna get that last ear. This was honestly just a warm-up for Thanksgiving dinner.” Corn-eating competition? Only in Indiana. The “corn festival,” with a corn-eating competition and various other corn-themed activities, was held this past Friday on the outdoor basketball court from 6-7:30 p.m.  At first, people were just milling around,...

By Phil Witmer-Rich • October 7, 2022 • Features

Ingredients: 2 eggs, canola oil, garlic, onions, bell peppers, and salsa of choice   Dice the onions, garlic and bell peppers and keep them separated   Heat up the canola oil on a medium heat in a medium size skillet. Add garlic and onions and cook them until fragrant. Add bell peppers and cook them until partially cooked (3-5) minutes. Add salsa of choice on the pan and cook everything for 10 minutes and reduce the heat   Make two small spots for the eggs and crack them on the salsa mixture (make sure they get covered with salsa)  ...

By Gonzalo Barahona Hernandez • September 30, 2022 • Arts

A group of 21 Goshen College students traveled to Ecuador to experience their Study-Service Term (SST) this past summer. Ecuador is a popular SST destination for students, and while many experiences are shared among the groups, there is always something that makes their time abroad unique. The group arrived in Quito, Ecuador’s capital city, on May 6. During the journey there, Joel Yoder, class of 2022, began to think: “What am I doing? This was maybe a mistake.”  “It was hard for me to realize I was actually going to another country for such a long time,” he added. “The...

By Sarah Miller • September 30, 2022 • Features

While many professors may choose to relax in their free time, Ryan Sensenig, professor of biological and environmental science, runs a mini agricultural operation selling grass-fed beef. Sensenig and his wife have three to four cows on their farm at all times. These cows are eventually butchered, and the meat is sold to friends and other Goshen faculty members.  Being grass-fed, specifically prairie-fed, it is much healthier than other kinds of beef and usually sells out quickly.  However, Sensenig is clear that the animals’ primary purpose is ecological research. “The animals are there for the grass, not the other way...

By Amelia Witmer-Rich • September 30, 2022 • Features

The Michiana Mennonite Relief Sale was held this past weekend at the Elkhart County 4-H Fairgrounds. Since their first sale in 1968, they have been raising funds to support the Mennonite Central Committee, a worldwide ministry of Anabaptist churches.  One of the sale’s highlights is its famous apple fritters. Sold by Yellow Creek Mennonite Church, the fritters undergo a multi-step process. “First is peeling, then pouring, slicing, batter, and then they’re fried, drained, sugared, and bagged,” Deanna King, relief sale volunteer, said. Shifts of 17 church members rotate to keep the assembly line moving. A specific, time-honed recipe includes a...

By Phil Witmer-Rich • September 30, 2022 • Features