Issuu

THE

TABOR VIEW MAY 2020

INSIDE: October Graduation Online Learning Adaptations Students of Color Alliance Urban & Rural Perspectives

Table of Contents 3

Student Opinions

Urban and Rural Perspectives

Students of Color Alliance

Small Business in a Large Pandemic

October Graduation

8-9

Ring by Spring

Shonda Ratzloff and Social Work

A New Definition of “Homeschool”

12-13

Professors Adapt to Online Learning

Opinion

Tabor IT: Behind the Screens of Virtual College

THE

STUDENT VIEW

What do you miss most about campus?

Any face-to-face interaction with others Eating food that I didn’t have to cook Friends In-person classes Sports Everything, my dorm, having lots of workspaces and not having to deal with family

When do you wake up while in quarantine?

I sleep till noon I get up bright and early I don’t get up

What’s your favorite way to connect with your friends? Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok, etc. Email or Facebook Zoom I don’t have friends Texting Facetime or phone call Marco Polo

From 1 to 10, how bored are you?

An Urban Perspective by Kedarius Flowers

In the city of Detroit there have been very few differences in the people since the stay-at-home order was announced by Michigan’s governor. The coronavirus didn’t affect the city as much as other places may have. People are still out living their lives, seeming not to care too much about the virus. I work at Walmart as a cart pusher, and every day that I work, at least 200-300 people are there shopping.The employees have to wear masks, so I’m given one when I get to work. Personally, I wouldn’t be going to Walmart or anywhere else if not for my job. Fortunately, with the nature of my job, I don’t have a lot of contact with people. The streets aren’t as busy as usual, but there are still way more people out than there should be.

But a lot of normal stuff has still been affected. Certain places are closed down, like malls and electronics stores. Those stores could be closed down for a month, maybe more. Also, there are places that only allow a certain amount of people to enter, like Target and Costco. Most restaurants only allow up to five customers in the store at one time, which seems to be the biggest factor affecting the city. A lot of people have been protesting to lift the stay-at-home order, but plenty aren’t taking the right precautions. It is a total mess in the city right now, and I wish people would understand that we need to take things more seriously.

A Rural Perspective by Terran Hoyt

It was Monday... or was it Thursday? The days blend together now. Whichever day it was, I was terrified that day. I thought the world was ending. I thought the tiny scratch in the back of my throat was surely a sign of a positive. I cried. I panicked. Then came a Friday... or maybe a Sunday. I drove across town and saw Main Street still filled with cars. I walked my dog in the sun. I sat on the porch with my family and played games. I argue with myself about whether to remind myself that we are in a pandemic and that this is a crisis and not a vacation or to let myself enjoy this moment free of anxieties. At times it feels like my small community is a world away from the utter chaos COVID-19 is wreaking. You won’t find us on the news; we have a mere three

cases. There’s no panic and no obvious signs of a global pandemic, other than a barer-than-normal toilet paper aisle in Dollar General. There’s a looming sense of distrust in the government. The word ‘conspiracy’ flies around loosely at the grocery store. Some wear gloves and masks and carry a pocketsized hand sanitizer. Yet some carelessly step closer to me in the checkout line for my dozen eggs that now cost over $5, scooting 5 feet, 4 feet, 3 feet away instead of the 6-foot bubble that feels safe. Each day holds extreme uncertainty, like I’m in a weird twilight zone that I haven’t yet figured out how to navigate. But, I wash my hands, stay 6 feet away, and fall 6 inches to my knees and pray that the Great Physician would rescue our world the way he sees fit.

Students of Color Alliance by Toby Penner

While growing up in England, Arkansas, and near Dallas, Texas, Kolby Bunch-Dennis experienced gun violence that took the lives of two young people who were close to him. The racial undertones of these events have motivated Bunch-Dennis to make a clear impact on Tabor’s campus regarding education surrounding racial naivety and ignorance. Due to the efforts of Bunch-Dennis and a group of students, a new student organization called Students of Color Alliance (SOCA) has been approved and accepted by Student Senate. President Bunch-Dennis, Vice President Lanaisha Johnson, Secretary Joseph Tii, and Treasurer Marcus Miller, along with adviser Emir Ruiz Esparza, plan to provide a safe environment for students of color to talk about racial issues. “We plan on educating the masses around Tabor and telling them about the issues that students of color face in America, and specifically on this campus,” Bunch-Dennis said. “And once we educate, pray that builds awareness and from awareness we’re able to communicate with people

that are not of color, so we can be able to come together as a community and strengthen one another.” The building blocks of SOCA began in the spring semester of 2019 through discussions by students who are now considered founding members. The organization started to formally take shape during Interterm in 2020. Some specific goals that Bunch-Dennis said he hopes SOCA can achieve are changing the atmosphere of chapel and organizing events that highlight the cultural backgrounds of students of color on Tabor’s campus. Bunch-Dennis and the rest of SOCA would most of all like to bring people together. They do not want their work to sever relationships between people of different races or cultural backgrounds, but rather strengthen them. “So, this is our organization’s (purpose): to educate and build people of color and not of color, and basically strengthen both of us so we can understand both of our backgrounds and where we come from,” he said.

Small Business in a Large Pandemic by Avery Unruh

As stress, anxiety and brokenness sweep across the nation, millions are overwhelmed with the reality of an unknown future. These feelings are just a few that have touched hundreds of thousands of small businesses across the United States as they have been presented with a heavy burden to carry. Just a few blocks away from Tabor College’s campus lies Rhubarb Market, a small coffeehouse and roaster owned and operated by Hillsboro natives Tim and Alissa Unruh. Alissa is one small business owner who has faced the hard choice to close or remain open during this pandemic. “We want people to know that our decision to close was to do our part in preventing the spread of COVID-19 moving forward,” Alissa said. Opportunities for financial help during this economic crisis have come to the rescue for some businesses, but these small business loans are not guaranteed. “We have applied for two applicable loans of which both have been denied,” Tim said. Even as Rhubarb Market has ceased its production of baked goods for the time being, the Unruhs have found creative ways to continue while cutting production cost during Kansas’s stay-at-home order. “We are selling whole beans at Dale’s Supermarket,” Tim said. “We have been using minimal utilities, and we have also stopped ordering supplies because we have ceased the production of our products.” During this pandemic, the Unruhs have used the extra time to repaint Rhubarb Market’s storefront, as well as make changes to the interior of the store.

Photo from Rhubarb Market at Molly’s Mercantile Facebook While the future may be unknown to many small business owners, Alissa said that she and Tim are determined to reopen Rhubarb Market as soon as possible, placing the customers’ safety as a first priority. “We trust that God will provide, and we are going to work hard to reopen in the near future, using our best judgment and government recommendations to help make that decision.”

October Graduation by Layci Froese

With the Coronavirus pandemic stirring fear in America, colleges decided to close their doors for the spring semester, including Tabor. Because of this decision, the May 2020 graduation was moved to homecoming weekend in October. Madison Byrd, a senior at Tabor, said she had been looking forward to her graduation in May. “Graduating from college has always been a huge personal goal, so it is a very big deal for me,” Byrd said. “I do, however, think homecoming weekend was a great alternative date. The 2020 graduates will be missing out on many of their lasts as the spring semester comes to a halt. For some like Byrd, though, their semester internships are still providing future job security. “Textron Aviation has put all of their employees on either a furlough or a reduced work week,” Byrd said. “I am currently on an eight-week furlough, which has been another strange transition, but I am grateful to still have a job lined up once all of this is over.” Though these changes came suddenly and unexpectedly, Byrd said she has been able to learn more

about finances and company practices through the effects of COVID-19. While Byrd can continue her internship through the remainder of the semester, Dwight Rahming, another senior, has experienced a pause on his preparation for future employment. “I’m an international student, and I had just received an internship offer, which allowed me to get hands-on experience,” Rahming said. “Sadly, the pandemic has caused my internship to be put on hold.” Seniors were looking forward to entering the real world, either finishing schooling or proceeding with education to earn graduate degrees. “I’m just ready to be done with school,” said Rahming. “I understand it’s for the safety of everyone during this time.” Although the pandemic has caused difficulty for the transitioning seniors, confidence in God’s plan brings peace in a time of chaos. Byrd has learned to cope through a couple of intentional practices. “Staying positive and open-minded is something that has helped me during this time,” she said.

Ring by Spring by Emily Crow

Wyatt Dickinson and Emily Kemling Met: August 19, 2016 Engaged: August 27, 2019 Wedding: July 25, 2020

Jaden Marker and Anna Schroeder Met: January 13, 2019 Engaged: January 20, 2020

Benaiah Rundus and MacKenna Doyle Met: 2013 Dating: 2017 Engaged: January 5, 2020

Austin Weaver and Maddie Ediger Engaged: March 16, 2020

Seth Swedorski and Morgan Ediger Engaged: March 1, 2020

Shonda Ratzloff and Social Work by Toby Penner

Shonda Ratzloff’s senior year at Tabor is ending differently than she expected. Along with the changes regarding graduation, end-of-year traditions and goodbyes, she is also experiencing a change in her job placement through Tabor’s social work program. Before the COVID-19 pandemic forced all Kansas schools to transition to online learning, Ratzloff was receiving valuable workplace experience in the Newton school district’s special education program. After spring break, she switched to a new placement in McPherson where she works with United Way. She has been communicating with the greater McPherson community to ensure that families and individuals are receiving the essential items they need during the pandemic. Ratzloff said she decided to change her major from elementary education to social work in the fall of 2018 after working at Prairie View Mental Health Center in Hillsboro during the previous summer. She said she enjoyed the unique, one-on-one interactions with children, and she wanted to make a difference through a career with those interactions. Ratzloff said she has thoroughly enjoyed her time in Tabor’s social work program. “The professors are awesome,” she said about Dr. Lara Vanderhoof and Prof. Mary Gill. “They are just the best.”

After she completes her degree, Ratzloff said she hopes to obtain a job as a case manager, which would include working with kids to improve in areas such as social skills. She said she also intends to earn a master’s degree in order to work within a school system.

A New Definition of “Homeschool” by Angela Vix, guest writer

Campuses that used to bustle with activity now host empty classrooms, hallways and offices. Dorm rooms have been deconstructed and packed away, stages and sports centers abandoned. Tabor students are now forced to adjust to a new way of life amid the COVID-19 pandemic that includes online classes, stay-at-home orders and an absence of on-campus life. In addition to learning from home, switching completely to online classes has also been a challenge for some students. Brenna Peters, a graphic design major and studio art minor from Hesston, Kansas, said it is not ideal to take art classes through an online format. “A big part of art classes is the critique time,” she said. “It is harder to critique a photo of a drawing rather than the physical drawing because sometimes the lighting and camera angle make it look a little different.” With an abundance of free time and nowhere to go, school work keeps students busy. Kara Schlotthauer, a junior from Fairview, Oklahoma, said her workload hasn’t lessened any. “I’m kept pretty busy all day working on homework,” she said. “Each of my professors adapted to the new format differently, so it’s been difficult to keep them all straight.”

Working from home does not alleviate the stress that comes with college-level assignments. Each student deals with this tension differently. “To relieve stress, I have been doing puzzles…and communicating with friends through social media,” said Peters. Madison Gallagher, a junior from Wichita, Kansas, said she has enjoyed doing activities she didn’t have time for while being on campus. “I go on runs, walk the dogs, go camping, bake and cook, and anything else to stay busy,” she said. “It’s actually kind of nice to have extra time to paint and read like I used to growing up.” Every student has found different aspects of the pandemic to be difficult. For those from out-of-state, perhaps the most difficult change has been living away from Tabor and the surrounding community. “Being away from the town of Hillsboro in general has been the most stressful part of the transition for me,” said Schlotthauer. “I had really found a love for the town and its people…You just can’t have the same consistent relationship through the computer as in person.”

Professors Adapt to Online Learning by Allison Maxfield, guest writer

Professors have quickly transitioned to teaching classes online amidst the coronavirus outbreak. Business Professor Melinda Rangel said she has completely altered how she teaches her classes in the online format. “There have been multiple technical issues, and students don’t have laptops,” Rangel said. Some teachers have found online resources such as Zoom and YouTube play a helpful role in teaching students and engaging them in activities, though holding synchronous classes has not been easy. “Many of my students are working full-time– some tell me up to 50 hours a week,” she said. “Trying to find a time that meets everyone’s schedule is nearly impossible.”

Through all of the stresses, she said she wishes classes were still on campus, though there are advantages to staying at her home in Newton. “I like having a flexible schedule and not having to drive every day,” Rangel said. Bible Professor Douglas Miller said he thinks these changes are causing more stress and work for his two classes this semester, Christian Faith and Gospel of John. “I have had to learn how to teach online on the fly, adjusting courses that were not intended to be delivered that way,” Miller said. According to Miller, stress has increased about teaching, engaging and evaluating the students, as well

13 as the uncertainty of how well the adaptive methods are working for students. English Professor Deborah Penner, who has taught online courses for three years, said she has found teaching online easier in some ways compared to others. “None of the courses have been a challenge,” said Penner. When first starting to teach online, all her courses were built on Canvas, but the sudden transition from in-person to online has its difficulties. “Creating a complete online course in the middle of a semester while teaching it with just one week to prepare has been a challenge for many professors,” Penner said. Penner has similar worries as Rangel about her students, though she said she works to maintain contact with her students via individual conferences. “I am concerned about my students and their access to technology and skill in using it,” Penner said.

Overall positivity and thankfulness flows from these professors as they continue to provide for students and keep classes running smoothly. “A big thank you to all my Tabor colleagues who have been so positive and helpful during these adjustments, and to students who express gratitude even as they are under stress and disorientation,” Miller said. Photos from @taborcollege Instagram

**The Value of a Team** by Toby Penner

Athletes in all sports can be upset or even angry during the time of their canceled spring seasons, and rightly so. After all, many athletes put as much time into their sports as an employee puts into a full-time job, and the payoff of that time and effort has been taken away by no fault of our own. There is room for frustration here. It is natural, and it is evidence that we care about the sports we play. But the frustration must make room for learning. A canceled season causes us to ask important questions. Those questions should be voiced, and we should learn from them. One question at the forefront of my mind since March: why do I now have such little motivation to train compared to just a few weeks ago? The answer may seem obvious, but it is also very complex: a team. No wonder I am less motivated now—I have been separated from my team! Although track and field is often labeled an individual sport, no track and field athlete will deny the importance of teammates on the track, in the ring or on the runway. I experienced this importance in a new way this year when I began running the 800 meters, the longest event

of my career. Because some of my training and that of the longer distance runners overlapped, we would run some of our workouts together. Most of these workouts were brutal; we were pushed to our physical limits. But enduring them with my teammates (literally running in a pack) gave me the mental strength to complete these training sessions and to encourage my teammates along the way. As I have thought about this, it occurred to me that the same is true for the Christian. Just as I have had less motivation to train since being separated from my teammates, there are days where I have little motivation to seek Jesus wholeheartedly or to obey His call. The Lord created human beings for community—to be part of a team—in all aspects of life. Let’s all make a special effort during this pandemic to reach out to those who are on our various teams in life and thank them for pushing and encouraging us. And let’s never forget that even though the body of Christ is physically separated, nothing can ever come between God’s team.

Opinion pieces are marked with ** for readers’ convenience

Tabor IT: Behind the Screens of Virtual College by Caleb Kliewer, guest writer

The Information Technology Office at Tabor has new challenges, but the staff thinks that these challenges will be for the best. “In the process of (the pandemic), people seemingly not only survived but succeeded in making massive shifts,” said Chris Glanzer, director of IT infrastructure. “And I think that just added to their bag of tricks.” In light of the pandemic, responsibilities and challenges have increased the workload for Glanzer as well as Wayne Kliewer, director of IT operation, and Kyler Claassen, IT Helpdesk. Before the online shift, IT was dealing with background issues and day-to-day tasks such as helping personnel and students remember passwords and install software. Because of the unpredictability of this pandemic, new tasks include making sure everyone can still work at home, one way by loaning out old laptops. “(Staff and faculty) go home but also their spouses and their kids are at home,” Kliewer said. “Well, if they had one computer at home, who gets to use it? So, they’re able to borrow a laptop from us.” Moving the college online and connecting to the network have been difficult. “I knew our servers wouldn’t be able to handle the amount

of people that were going to be using them,” Glanzer said. “So we set up a new server for that, then I set up another one of them as backup. Then all of a sudden, within two days we were using one of them heavily.” Keeping up with the immediate needs for remote services is difficult, as well as the constant shift of national guidelines. “(The country’s guidelines will) change the scope of our work or what was expected,” said Glanzer. “We ended up doing a bunch of webinar things that typically aren’t our thing. But someone’s gotta do it.” Kliewer said that supporting users is harder because they can no longer work out connectivity problems on their computers in front of them. “It takes quite a bit longer to troubleshoot a problem because you have to rely on and communicate with the person,” said Kliewer. “And they have to be able to tell you what it is that they are seeing because you can’t always see what the problem is.” While COVID-19 has changed things up, the IT crew are still working hard to keep Tabor connected. “The world is changing every day massively, so you roll with the punches,” Glanzer said. Photo provided by Chris Glanzer

Serving And Learning Together

WORK EXPERIENCE WITH

WORLD EXPERIENCE

mcc.org/salt A year-long, cross-cultural service experience

@thetaborview Letters to the Editor:

The Tabor View invites readers to share their thoughts on issues with our campus community by submitting concise letters to the editor. Anonymous letters and those that are libelous or in poor taste will not be printed. Email your letters to karaschlotthauer@tabor.edu. Would you like to join the Tabor View staff or see your pictures from around campus featured in the Tabor View? Email karaschlotthauer@tabor.edu. Keep an eye out for our next survey to be featured in Student Opinions.

Advisor: Aleen Ratzlaff; Editor: Kara Schlotthauer; Graphic Designer: Brenna Peters; Writers: Toby Penner, Terran Hoyt, Avery Unruh, Emily Crow, Kedarius Flowers and Layci Froese; Cover photo by Michael Klaassen and other photos by Michael Klaassen. The Tabor View offers students and faculty a window into the happenings on campus. Our student writers uncover stories behind the scenes, keep people updated, and inform with accuracy and clarity. We strive to present precise, detailed information in our articles. Opinions expressed in the articles do not reflect the opinion of the Tabor View.

#iamsalt Mennonite Central Committee