crossroads
fall/winter 2013-14, Vol. 94, No. 2
A leader among faith-based universities, Eastern Mennonite University emphasizes peacebuilding, creation care, experiential learning, and cross-cultural engagement. Founded in 1917 in Harrisonburg, Virginia, EMU offers undergraduate, graduate, and seminary degrees that prepare students to serve and lead in a global context. EMU's mission statement is posted in its entirety at www.emu.edu/mission. Board of Trustees: Andrew Dula, chair, Lancaster, Pa.; Wilma Bailey, Indianapolis, Ind.; Evon Bergey, Perkasie, Pa.; Myron Blosser, Harrisonburg, Va.; John Bomberger, Harrisonburg, Va.; Herman Bontrager, Akron, Pa.; Shana Peachey Boshart, Wellman, Iowa; Randall Bowman, Archbold, Ohio; Janet Breneman, Lancaster, Pa.; Gerald R. Horst, New Holland, Pa.; Charlotte Hunsberger, Souderton, Pa.; Clyde Kratz, Harrisonburg, Va.; Kevin Longenecker, Harrisonburg, Va.; Kathleen (Kay) Nussbaum, Grant, Minn.; Dannie Otto, Urbana, Ill.; Amy Rush, Harrisonburg, Va.; Jeffrey A. Shank, Sarasota, Fla.; Robert Steury, Goshen, Ind.; Anne Kaufman Weaver, Brownstown, Pa. Associate trustees: Jonathan Bowman, Manheim, Pa.; David Hersh, Line Lexington, Pa.; Chad Lacher, Souderton, Pa.; E. Thomas Murphy, Jr., Harrisonburg, Va.; Mark Prock, Virginia Beach, Va.; Judith Trumbo, Broadway, Va. Loren Swartzendruber, president; Fred Kniss, provost; Kirk Shisler, vice president for advancement; Andrea Wenger, marketing and communications director. Bonnie Price Lofton Editor-in-chief bonnie.lofton@emu.edu
Jon Styer Designer/photographer jon.styer@emu.edu
Braydon P. Hoover Mileposts editor braydon.hoover@emu.edu
Mike Zucconi Info/social media officer mike.zucconi@emu.edu
Marcy Gineris Web content manager marcy.gineris@emu.edu
Ricardo Fearing Web designer ricardo.fearing@emu.edu
Lindsey Kolb Photographer/proofreader lindsey.kolb@emu.edu
Carol Lown Mailing list manager lownc@emu.edu
Jessica Hostetler Project & office coordinator/ proofreader jessica.hostetler@emu.edu All EMU personnel can be reached during regular work hours by calling 540-432-4000, or via contact details posted on the university website, www.emu.edu. Cover: Simin Wahdat, 31, is the fourth Afghan woman to enroll as a graduate student in EMU’s Center for Justice and Peacebuilding (CJP). All of them are working to ensure that their homeland moves toward gender equality, maintaining the progress made thus far and building upon it. See story on page 8. Photo by Jon Styer, taken in the setting sun at the summit of the hill on the western edge of EMU. POSTMASTER: Submit address changes to: Crossroads Eastern Mennonite University 1200 Park Road Harrisonburg VA 22802
Cert no. SW-COC-001635
‘Courage is not the absence of fear’ I recently read Mandela’s Way by Richard Stengel and was impressed again by the legacy of Nelson Mandela, who impacted not only South Africa but the whole world. The first of “15 lessons” from Mandela’s leadership principles outlined by Stengel is, “Courage is not the absence of fear.” Mandela had plenty of reasons to be afraid on many levels, but it did not paralyze him from taking actions he thought were imperative. Among the many reasons I read widely is to remind myself that the challenges we face in our daily institutional and personal lives must be located in the context of much larger issues that impact millions of the world’s citizens, most of whom face life with far fewer resources than we have available. We have succeeded in securing funding Loren Swartzendruber '76, MDiv '79, DMin. for phase I of the Suter Science Center renovations [further described on pages 20 and 21 of this issue], which are scheduled to begin after the April commencement weekend. I am deeply grateful to the many alumni, students and friends of EMU who have contributed money and made pledges totaling more than $7 million for the project. I am so grateful for a strong cadre of EMU alumni, donors, and friends who embody our commitment to prepare those who will serve and lead in a global context. With your faithful prayer and financial support we attempt to lead the institution with another of Mandela’s principles, “It’s a long game.” Most of what is accomplished through this vision, with your wonderful support, will bear fruit for many years to come.
Loren Swartzendruber President
photo by jon styer
Crossroads (USPS 174-860) is published three times a year by Eastern Mennonite University for distribution to 14,000 alumni, students, parents and friends.