national anthem
February 3, 2010
Anthem Discussions Continue
The Goshen College community gathered in Newcomer 19 during lunch on Monday to continue discussion of the national anthem. A variety of responses were expected from the President’s Council, and the present community stated exactly that. The discussion took the form of a question-and-answer time with President Jim Brenneman. Faculty, staff, students and community members were present and active in the discussion, including a man from Pennsylvania. For some, like Heather Zimmerman, a Goshen College student, the national anthem is simply a part of the athletic ceremony. Zimmerman plays soccer for the women’s national team of Guam. Before each game,...
January 27, 2010
A Star-Spangled History (?)
O! say can you see by the dawn’s early light What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming? Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight, <—— This line in the handwritten 1840s version O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming? originally read “Whose bright stars and And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air, broad stripes, through the clouds of the fight” Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. O! say does...
January 27, 2010
Allegiance and respect: Goshen College decides to play anthem beginning in March
The Goshen College President’s Council announced last Friday that beginning in March, an instrumental version of the national anthem will be played at select sporting events followed by a prayer. More than a year ago, a spectator at a Goshen women’s basketball game expressed his disappointment that the college didn’t play the national anthem before sporting events. The issue received national coverage after the fan forwarded the e-mail discussions to talk show hosts such as Mike Gallagher. Although this opened a discussion about patriotism and allegiance at Goshen College, it’s not the first time the college has confronted the issue....
January 23, 2010
Instrumental anthem to be played at sporting events
It was announced Friday by the Goshen College President’s Council that an instrumental version of the national anthem will be played at some sporting events (depending on the sport’s tradition to play the anthem), and it will be followed by a prayer. The decision will be implemented at the beginning of the spring sports season in March. “We have a diverse campus,” said Bill Born, the Dean of Students, “that represents different faith perspectives.” In fact, Goshen College’s student body represents 40 Christian denominations, as well as several other religions. Taking into consideration the different perspectives of both current students...
November 11, 2009
Campus Conversation About National Anthem Continues
Last Wednesday, Nov. 4, over thirty students and faculty gathered for a town hall meeting in Newcomer to discuss the new proposal to allow an instrumental version of the national anthem to be played before sporting events. Carolyn Schrock-Shenk, associate professor of peace, justice and conflict studies, and Ross Peterson-Veatch, associate academic dean, facilitated conversation. The purpose of the meeting was solely for campus conversation. Schrock-Shenk said, “None of us have the whole truth, we all only have pieces of it.” A number of students at the meeting said they would be more comfortable if a patriotic song, such as...
November 4, 2009
Jim Brenneman on why GC doesn’t play the national anthem at sports games
The following is a letter from President James E. Brenneman to the Goshen College community on November 12, 2008. It is reprinted here in conjunction with the current administrative re-examination of Goshen College's policy of not playing the national anthem at sporting events. Dear GC community, Greetings to you on this mid-November day. I wanted to communicate with all of you about events that have transpired over the last few days that you should be aware of in relation to Goshen College’s long practice of not playing the national anthem before athletic competitions. Our practice of not playing the national...
October 28, 2009
Task force seeks compromise for ‘anthem’ at sports events
After at least six years of discussion about the inclusion of the national anthem before Goshen College sporting events, a newly formed task force has proposed a compromise on the issue: providing the option to have an instrumental version played. In the past, the college has chosen to not play the national anthem before sporting events—a common tradition among many sports, particularly indoor sports—due to its affiliation with the Mennonite church. After years of brewing discussion, in October of 2008, the idea of changing the school’s tradition and playing the national anthem was being seriously considered. In fact, a task...
October 28, 2009
National Anthem Task Force Proposal
The following is a copy of the proposal submitted by the national anthem task force to the president's council. National Anthem Task Force--Proposal Background Goshen College, as a Mennonite college, has a history of not playing the national anthem at sporting events. However, over the past number of years, as the campus community has become more diverse, a growing number of students, faculty and staff have questioned this practice. In response, a Task Force comprised of administrative faculty, teaching faculty and students was formed to review this practice, facilitate discussion, gather thoughts and ultimately submit a proposal on GC’s future...