An email from Campus Safety was sent out on Monday afternoon, notifying students that a registered sex offender had moved into a home adjacent to Goshen College. The email was intended to provide information to students rather than cause any alarm. 

Also, in an effort to ensure that students felt safe and valued, campus representatives from human resources and student life held a listening session in Newcomer 17 on Monday evening to ensure that students had a space to be heard. 

The email was released adhering to GC’s official policy on sex offenders, stating that when Campus Safety is notified of a sex offender living adjacent to campus, an announcement will be sent to students and employees. This excerpt can be found on page 59 of the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. In this case, Chad Coleman received a notification from the Elkhart County Sheriff.

This session, attended by administrators, PIN advisors, student leaders, counselors and other faculty members, was meant to provide an opportunity for open conversation and questions, acknowledging the range of emotions that could be felt by students and employees.

“I was really encouraged by the approach this time around,” said Emily Hahn, program director for sexual assault prevention education and advocacy. 

“This was an indication of some really solid progress that we’ve been working toward and there is learning opportunities for how to respond better in the future.”

GC owns all of the properties alongside College Ave., including the house the offender recently moved in. And while the college makes money off the property, a rental company they work through has the final say.

“We don’t manage these rentals ourselves,” said Ben Bontrager, vice president for finance and operations. “It’s managed through a professional service, [534 Rent], here in Goshen and we can’t control who lands in this home, whether it’s one we own or don’t own.”

The offender served a 15 year sentence after being convicted in 1992 and has had no repeat offenses. They have also maintained a steady job for the last 13 years. In a conversation with administrators in his home, the offender volunteered to stay off the GC campus. 

In the listening session on Monday evening, Bontrager said that the offender “demonstrated a willingness to communicate,” when they met with him in his home and expressed an openness to a conversation with whomever.

Ellie Nickel, a junior social work major and PIN leader, acknowledged the fact that GC values reconciliation, “And so a piece of that is making sure college students are okay and that is why so many resources are listed in that e-mail and available for students on campus,” she said. 

“But I think a piece of that too is knowing that we can’t just … classify a person by one of their actions.”

Marlene Penner, human resources director and Title IX deputy coordinator, who met with the offender in their home, said, 

“I believe Goshen College works hard at keeping students and employees safe. The recent campus safety email was issued not as a safety threat but as an informative message per our policy,” said Penner. 

“I realize the informative message can invoke a sense of fear but it also provides us with an opportunity to lean on our resources to work through the emotions that the informative message invokes.”

Hahn expressed the importance of the college’s response and the role it plays in providing space for students and reaffirming, “that it’s okay to ask questions and that we have a lot of people willing to provide really honest answers.”

Counseling services are available by appointment. Walk-in hours are 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. all weekdays except Wednesday which is 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. Additional details can be found on the Elkhart County sex offender registry.