3 A Vision For CMU 6 A Modern Day Miracle 9 Students say thanks for support THE CANADIAN MENNONITE UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE r WINTER 2008 Editor’s Note he transition from high school to univer- sity is a challenging time for Christian T youth. It is a time when they ask: “Who am I?” “What do I believe?” And “Why do I believe it?” If they don’t take time to wrestle with those questions, they run the risk of hav- ing someone else supply the answers. It’s also a time for finding out what they should do with their lives. In his book, After Virtue, philosopher Alasdair MacIntyre writes: “I Kirsten Hamm of Altona, Man. writes a note of gratitude on the “Wall ‘O Thanks” during the November can only answer the question ‘What am I to do?’ 26 Tuition Freedom Day at CMU. See story page 9. if I answer the prior question: ‘Of what story do I find myself a part?’” For Christians, the story that gives meaning and shape to life comes Table of Contents: from the overarching narrative of God’s work in history. 3 A Vision for CMU: A Conversation with CMU is a place where students can take time to wrestle with life’s big questions. It’s a place President Gerald Gerbrandt where they can learn—as CMU’s theme verse 6 The Miracle of CMU for the year puts it—to love God with all their heart, soul and mind, and their neighbours as 9 News from CMU: themselves. Tuition Freedom Day; Peace Journal Finds New CMU is embarking on a process of find- ing out how it can best help students in the Home; New Book about Growing Up in Turbulent future—how it can help them develop their Times; Course Combines Theory, Practice; God given talents and minds so they can serve Outtatown Students Learn From Poor in Canada; the church and the world more fully. At the Students Learn About Ministry Opportunities; same time, the university is seeking its place in God’s grand story for the church in Canada. Habits of Defective Sermons Described; Blazer Your prayers and support in this important Women Win Championship; Business Professor endeavor are greatly appreciated! Hired; Homecoming, 2008; Winter Lectures Explore John Longhurst, Editor Art, Incarnation MOVING? 19 People & Events Drop us a line, fill out the web form at 21 Alumni News www.cmu.ca/alumni.html or email [email protected] 23 President’s Message Design and Layout by: The Blazer is a publication of CANADIAN MENNONITE UNIVERSITY, published three times a year. Editor/Communications Director: John Longhurst | Alumni/Constituency Relations Coordinator: Eleonore Braun J8DJFE Printed in Canada by Friesens, Altona, MB | Made with recycled paper (30% recycled, 20% post consumer). ;<J@>EJKL;@FJ Publications agreement number 40686550 | Vol. 3, number 2. ISSN-1715-5843 Phone: 204.480.8233 | Email: [email protected] Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Canadian Mennonite University, 500 Shaftesbury Blvd., Winnipeg, MB R3P 2N2 www.samsonstudios.ca Ph. (204) 487.3300 | Toll-free: 1(877) 231.4570 | Fx. (204) 487.3858 | [email protected] | www.cmu.ca On the cover: Michael Friesen, Jonathon Dyck, Zach Peters, Dylan Tarnowsky and Jesssica Dyck at the Manitoba Legislature. 2 winter 2008 A Vision for CMU n 2007 CMU initiated a vision- how we intend to work at our mission, ing process, called “Seeing 2020,” to keeping in mind the unique dynamics Iimagine where the university might and realities of CMU, along with the be 12 years from now. As part of the pro- particular challenges and opportuni- cess, a dozen or so people, both internal ties that we face. and external, wrote short papers on key elements of the larger environment Blazer: What is central to CMU’s within which CMU finds itself. Then, in vision? October, last year, over 70 people gath- ered for a retreat to reflect on how CMU Gerbrandt: CMU has been called might most effectively advance its mis- into being to serve the church and sion within that context. In the inter- the larger society. It is, as I frequently view below, President Gerald Gerbrandt say, “a university of the church for the reflects on the process thus far, and on world.” Our success is not measured what CMU might become in the future. solely by student numbers and bal- anced budgets, critical as they are, Blazer: Why conduct a visioning pro- but more significantly by how well we cess now? serve the church and society. Students, of course, are important since it is pri- Gerbrandt: CMU is at a critical junc- marily through them that we have our ture in its development. We have come impact. But the vision of CMU always a long way since our founding in 2000, looks beyond itself. in some ways surpassing the original The draft vision statement we now vision, in other ways falling short. The are testing speaks of our vision in two goal of “Seeing 2020” is first of all to ways. First, that the church—most develop a vision statement, and then especially the Mennonite churches secondly a strategic plan which will that support CMU, but others, too— inspire faculty, staff and friends of see CMU as providing intellectual, CMU, as well as guide the next decade emotional and spiritual leadership as or so of growth and development. the church in Canada transitions into a This vision statement will spell out post-modern context. This leadership springwinter 20062008 3 CMU is at is needed both when Christians are First of all, CMU needs to grow its a critical gathered together as a church commu- reputation as a university. This will nity, as well as for when they scatter for require us to expand academic pro- juncture in its mission. grams so we can offer the breadth and development This leadership is reflected especially depth of programming typical of insti- in how we inspire and educate students, tutions of our size, while continuing and also through the contribution of with a solid core in the classic areas of our faculty and staff, and through spe- knowledge. cial events, conferences and lectures. Second, we need to grow in stu- Second, we hope that the larger dent numbers. Despite demographic society—even if it does necessar- and other challenges, we believe such ily understand CMU’s Christian faith growth is possible. This is not based on orientation—will nevertheless recog- blind faith in growth, but on the con- nize CMU as a place which prepares viction that CMU’s particular charac- students not only to succeed in their ter and strengths have the potential to vocation—which it does—but also to make a greater impact upon church and make a difference for good in whatever society. context they find themselves. Third, we need to do some capital This is an ambitious vision. But I expansion. For example, Menno Simons believe that the needs of the church, as College needs better space, and the well as society, call out for an institution Main Campus needs a new library and like CMU. classrooms. In all of this we need to continue our Blazer: How can CMU accomplish commitment to excellence in every- this vision? thing we do, along with fostering a rewarding workplace experience for Gerbrandt: The detailed planning will all faculty and staff. take place in the next stage of the pro- cess, but we have already identified a Blazer: What do you mean by “particu- few general areas. lar character and strengths”? 4 winter 2008 Gerbrandt: As our mission statement Blazer: What does this visioning pro- states, CMU is a Christian university, cess mean for programming? rooted in the Anabaptist faith tradition. When I look at the world in which we Gerbrandt: We will develop detailed live I see stories of war, terrorism, injus- plans later, but we already know that we tice and fear. But I also see a spiritual need to strengthen the arts and sciences hunger among many young adults, even core at the Grant and Shaftesbury cam- as they say they are disenchanted with pus. We need to do this in a way that the institutional church. I believe that gives students a well-rounded educa- CMU’s Anabaptist faith tradition has tion—one that prepares them for life much to say in this climate today. as part of the people of God, and that We can provide a message of hope out at the same time gives them skills they of this tradition in at least four ways. need to thrive in a career. First, there is our commitment to edu- We also need to strengthen our pro- cating for justice and peace, a commit- gramming at Menno Simons College, ment that colours all of our programs. and continue to grow the Outtatown Second, we believe learning takes place program. We will also want to look at through thinking and doing. Practica ways to increase the diversity of our requirements, internships and a co-op student body, of implementing a co-op program represent this emphasis. program, and of finding ways of using Third, we are committed to generous technology more effectively. hospitality and radical dialogue. CMU The next stage of the process will be welcomes all, fostering dialogue across an exciting one. Our task is to work the many chasms which divide people together to respond to that need and today. opportunity. And when I say “work And, fourth, we strive to model com- together,” I mean not just those of us munity at a time when individualism is who work for CMU, but also that amaz- rampant.