Taylor University Magazine (Spring/Summer 1984) Taylor University
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Taylor University Pillars at Taylor University The aT ylor Magazine Ringenberg Archives & Special Collections Spring 1984 Taylor University Magazine (Spring/Summer 1984) Taylor University Follow this and additional works at: https://pillars.taylor.edu/tu_magazines Part of the Higher Education Commons Recommended Citation Taylor University, "Taylor University Magazine (Spring/Summer 1984)" (1984). The Taylor Magazine. 165. https://pillars.taylor.edu/tu_magazines/165 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Ringenberg Archives & Special Collections at Pillars at Taylor University. It has been accepted for inclusion in The aT ylor Magazine by an authorized administrator of Pillars at Taylor University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. l\ Spring /Summer 1984 $ Sammy Our Being Here Is a Miracle Preparing for Job Hunting Publisher Magazine SPRING-SUMMER 1984 Taylor University Dr. Gregg O. Lehman President Board of Trustees Officers, 1984-85 ri^ John McDougall, Chairman Dr. John O. Hershey '38, % Vice Chairman ^^11 R. David Boyer '61, Secretary f" 1 Robert C. Gilkison '57, Treasurer VVs^ " «s ^^Km^. ^1 National Alumni Council WSt&\ i 1 Officers 1983-84 Roselyn (Baugh) Kerlin '56, President Dave Sorensen '71, President-EIect f fM~^ 1 Diane (Lundquist '69) Oldham, im^ • 1 Secretary page 3 page 16 page 19 Joseph L. Fritzsche '69, Past President Editor Our Being Here is a Miracle 3 Wilbur Cleveland '49 Sammy 6 Class News Editor Brenda McCollum '85 Sheltered by the King 9 Photographer Dan Boyd '69 The Bright Side 11 Latin America: A Gargantuan Task 12 Job Placement Doesn't Just Happen 14 The Great Evangelical Disaster 16 Taylor Clubs 18 On and off Campus 19 Class News 25 The Presidents' Associates 32 COVER: Few, if any, in Taylor's history have wielded so great an influence in so short a time as Sammy Morris. His contributions to Taylor's heritage and history are so remarkable that the memory of his influence is being rekindled in these pages through an article by Barbara Stedman. This story also reaffirms Taylor's steadfast adherence to the Christ-centered, Biblical faith that empow- ered Sammy and has energized a host of alumni since those early days in Fort Wayne. 2i Taylor University Magazine/Spring-Summer 1984 ^ Our being here is a miracle^ LV.'-y 'i^: m :i\ >.yTA>%-!A.^Mi •5^*^* S»- :-i.:4^ Taylor^s arm of hope reaches to Ethiopia and allows three students without support to enroll entirely on a faith basis. by Barbara Stedman '80 Taylor University Magazine/ Spring-Summer 1984 3 — Ethiopia is a communist nation. It undeiuoent a political revolution in 1974 and is now ruled by the military. Why anyone would want to leave for a while goes without saying, hut how anyone would gain permission to do so is another matter. Hanna and Kidan Alemishat and Mahedere Mulgeta knew they wanted to study in the United States, but that meant a long, difficult process of filling out government forms, being scrutinized and approved by the government, and finding a host institution here. They made it through the first two steps, but the third one still remained . THESE YOUNG ETHIOPIAN forms for international students, and out to these girls, outside their own women contacted their first some fast footwork had to be done scope of ideas, and the girls, in turn, Christian college and were to meet the deadline in filing correct have set an example of caring, polite- told they would be admitted only if forms. It was done, and by the first ness, and cooperation. They're ex- they could supply half of their funds. day of classes the University had tremely considerate of others." This was a generous offer, but ob- three new names on the student Speaking English hasn't been one taining even half of the $6300 each of roster. of their major problems, since they them needed was still an impossibili- Coming to Taylor at the last min- had been taught it as a second lan- ty. It looked as though, after making ute during an unusual year of initial guage in Ethiopia, but they're still it this far, they might have to put to overcrowding, the girls were as- smoothing out their "accents" and rest their hopes of education in signed to the only available beds— at uncovering occasional idioms. America. the Health Center. Only temporari- "Gross," "neat," and "cool" pre- Then someone suggested they con- ly, of course. Once some rearranging sented some confusion at first, but tact Taylor University. was done a few days later, they were now Kidan's "thumbs-up" gesture Steve Manganello, Director of As- moved into Olson Hall, but even verifies unquestionably that she sociate Programs, heard of their sit- then the only space open at first was knows the meaning of "cool." uation and remembered how Dr. in the second floor lounge. They A few adjustments in social cus- Thaddeus Reade had admitted a pen- didn't seem to mind, though they did toms have come, too. Our American niless African — Samuel Morris wonder why they had been quaran- fashion of handshaking was new to back in 1882. He knew there was tined in the Haakonsen Health Cen- them; they were used to bowing, only one way he could respond: ter. For all they knew, this was the then giving a kiss on the cheek and a "These were three Christians in need, typical initiation ritual all American different style of handshake. If some- and they were asking for our help. college students went through. They one entered the room, particularly On an individual basis, of course, we were just happy to be in. an older person or a stranger, they know that we need to put out that Before too many more days would stand immediately as a sign of extra effort, make that sacrifice, and passed, the girls were settled into respect. The "pick-a-date" activity help." He presented the situation to regular dorm rooms . and faced for their dorm wing also took them Dr. Lehman, and both felt that Tay- with a new adjustment . living by surprise at first: "We would never lor University needed to respond that with 290 other girls. Hanna, 21, and ask the man, and when we do date in same way. "So," says Steve, "we Kidan, 19, are the only children in Ethiopia, it's to consider that other stepped out in faith, as an institu- their family, and Mahadere, 20, has person as a future mate. Here it seem tion, not knowing where the money one sister (attending Defiance Col- that people date just for fun." would come from, and said, 'Come lege in Ohio), so the sudden addition The attitude of young Americans on in, and we'll find a place for of more than three dozen "sisters" toward parents took them aback at " you.' was just one of the many adaptations first. "In Ethiopia," Mahadere says, Despite all prior doubts held by they made. "if my mother tells me to do some- many involved in the process of get- "It was scary at first, " Hanna says. thing, I have only to do that; I do ting them to Taylor, Kidan, (The other two nod vigorously in not ask questions. We treat parents Mahedere, and Hanna stepped off a agreement.) "But everyone was very with much respect, but here parents jet onto American soil on August 29, friendly to us and made us feel famil- are treated more like friends." 1983, with barely three days to pre- iar right away. They all said, 'Hi! Family has provided the stability pare for classes. But all wasn't How ya doing?' and made us feel for their happiness during an unsta- smooth sailing yet. The U.S. Gov- welcome." Deb White, their hall di- ble decade in Ethiopia. Kidan and ernment's Immigration Services had rector, remarks that "people have Hanna's mother is a teacher, and inadvertently sent Taylor the wrong taken a special interest in reaching their father is a sales manager; 4 Taylor University Magazine/Spring-Summer 1984 Thrilled to be at Taylor: Kidan (left), Mahedere, and Hanna. Mahadere's father, former vice- through high school grades, and now three years — knowledge about Jesus mayor of their city, is no longer liv- they're pouring themselves into such Christ. Regardless of what majors ing, but her mother continues as a classes as computing, French, math they choose, and regardless of what homemaker. Both families live in and Bible. occupations they settle into, teaching Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's modern Most of all, says Kidan, "I've been their fellow Ethiopians more about capital city of more than one million challenged to increase my spiritual the Bible and Christianity is their ul- people. Since most Americans seem knowledge." All three of them have timate goal. "We will share with our to think that Africa has only wild been raised by Christian parents with own people the good things we've animals and jungles and mountains, strict upbringing in Ethiopia's pre- seen and been taught here." Hanna says, they have surprised dominant Orthodox church, but Mahadere sums it up best: "My their new friends with pictures of now they're getting their hands on being here is a miracle. Jesus is the modern architecture and six-lane the Bible in a way they've never one who is taking care of us, and He highways. known before. Between wing Bible is the one who has the greatest place Now, as the girls have put one year studies. Biblical literature class and in our lives. " Against all odds, and of college (and their first Midwest chapel speakers, they've developed a not knowing (still) where their fi- winter) under their belts, they have new, insatiable hunger for Bible nances will come from, Mahadere, adopted a new set of challenges for knowledge.