campus update Assault prompts emergency preparedness review At approximately 9:15 am Monday, April 16—the same day the Much of the meeting was spent in discussion of the following: a nation learned of the mass killings at Virginia Tech University— review of disaster plans, including lockdown procedures; emergency Seminary student Adelin Romana Baciu assaulted Seminary notification and communication procedures; mental health inter- professor Russell Burrill in his office at the Seventh-day Adventist vention protocols; and a Christian response to violent behavior. Theological Seminary. No weapon was involved in the assault. Administration will also be making subcommittee assignments to Office staff who heard the struggle and calls for help went to the joint committee, including completion timeline expectations Burrill’s aid and called Public Safety and the police. Baciu later as- for the four areas mentioned above. saulted a police officer and medic personnel. At the joint meeting, it was reported that Seminary faculty and Following the assault, Burrill sought medical attention, was staff would participate in a Safety Awareness meeting, and that released, and returned to the classroom that same afternoon. Provost Knight will work campus-wide with the deans and depart- Baciu was arraigned Wednesday, April 18, on charges of assault ment directors to determine needs and plans for Safety Awareness with attempt to murder and assaulting a police officer. He remains meetings with the entire university in the near future. in police custody in St. Joseph, Michigan, on a $250,000 cash Dr. Andreasen has assured faculty, staff and students that the bond. A trial date will not be set until results from medical evalua- university has clearly defined procedures and processes and trained, tions are received. responsible individuals tasked to carry out those procedures in In a move to formalize the campus response to this assault and to case of emergency. There is a functional Emergency Operations the horrific tragedy at Virginia Tech, Dr. Andreasen chaired a joint Center protocol in place. Although the university has prepared as meeting of the Public Safety Committee and the Risk Management best it can, the events of April make clear that no plan can provide Committee on April 19. The committees reviewed the assault a guarantee against tragedy. Andrews University is committed to incident response actions of Public Safety, University Relations, giving its best efforts to safeguard the precious human resources on Student Life, and the Seminary. The committees also received a our campus. review of our campus Emergency Preparedness Drills and Plans. Pedersen papers donated The Center for Adventist Research, housed in the James White Library, recently re- ceived the personal papers of early Seventh- day Adventist missionary Emmanuel Pedersen. The papers were presented by Børge Schantz, a retired professor of religion and specialist in Islamic relations, who was a personal friend of Pedersen, as well as members of the Pedersen family, during a regularly scheduled chapel service at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary on April 17. Above left: Borge Schantz, who facilitated the donation of the Pedersen papers, provided insights into Pedersen was born in Odense, Denmark the life of his friend at a Seminary chapel service. Above right: Kirsten Hills (nee Pedersen) and Glenn Pedersen present the papers to Merlin Burt and President Andreasen. in 1904, and served the Adventist Church in Denmark in many capacities through- out his life, including stints as a literature in 1971, he traveled to Iran as a guest for Adventist Research. “Many records and evangelist, teacher, pastor and missionary. the 2,500th anniversary of the founding of much information have been lost to the In 1937, he and his wife, Esther, went to the Persian Empire by Cyrus the Great. ravages of time. Dr. Pedersen’s materials Uganda as missionaries, where they helped The collection contains official corre- help us preserve important documentation establish Bugema University. From 1943- spondence, personal letters, sermons, per- on how people interacted on important 53, the couple served as missionaries in sonal mementos, photographs, books and projects.” The Pedersen Collection will Kenya. other items. “This collection is particularly be housed in the Center for Adventist Even in retirement, Pedersen served as valuable because it provides information on Research and will be a great resource for an advisor to the president of the General early mission work in Africa,” commented researchers. Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, and Merlin Burt, director of the Center for SPRING 2 0 0 7 l F O C U S 5 campus update Spring graduates number 457 On Sunday, May 6, 457 graduates were service, Johnsson also re- added to the worldwide list of Andrews ceived a Doctor of Divinity, alumni. honoris causa. Johnsson is The weekend began with a consecration the former editor-in-chief service by David S. Hall, Sr., enrollment co- of Adventist Review and ordinator at Andrews, who spoke on “Those founding editor of Adventist Who are With Us.” Jon Dybdahl, professor World. He is the third-lon- of world mission, presented “Going Home gest continuous editor of for the Holidays?” at both the graduate the official magazine of the and undergraduate baccalaureates. Several Adventist Church, having campus departments also held pinning and worked there for 24 years. dedication services on Sabbath afternoon. Johnsson has authored 20 The graduation vespers service was followed books and more than 1000 by a reception for graduates and their fami- articles. He received his Professor of Hebrew Bible and ancient Near Eastern languages, Roy lies, hosted by President Andreasen. doctorate for his contribu- Gane was awarded the J.N. Andrews Medallion during the graduate During this year’s graduate commence- tions and lifelong commit- commencement ceremony. Pictured, l-r: Richard and Virginia Clark, Roy ment ceremony, Roy Gane received the ment to the Seventh-day and Connie Gane, and their daughter Sarah J.N. Andrews Medallion, the highest award Adventist Church. Andrews gives to its scholars. Gane is The undergraduate commencement Maranatha is a nonprofit Christian professor of Bible and ancient Near Eastern speaker was Dick DeVos, president of The organization which mobilizes volunteers languages. He is also director of the PhD, Windquest Group and 2006 Michigan to build schools, churches, orphanages, ThD, and MTh programs in the Seminary gubernatorial candidate. His talk, “Will You clinics, and houses around the world. Since and a member of the exclusive interdisci- Hear Him Knocking? Putting Your Faith to its foundation, Maranatha has constructed plinary honor society, Phi Kappa Phi. In Work in the World,” was well received. nearly 3000 buildings and sent over 45,000 2005, he received the Daniel A. Augsburger Dolores and Leon Slikkers, philanthro- volunteers to 61 countries. Excellence in Teaching Award. pists and entrepreneurs, received Doctors of Dolores and Leon Slikkers received their William G. Johnsson, assistant to Law, honoris causa. The Slikkers are widely doctorates for their dedication and com- the president for interfaith relations at known for their contributions to the plea- mitment to improving the quality of life the General Conference of Seventh-day sure boating industy. Inside the Christian of those around them, their generosity to Adventists, was the graduate commence- church, however, they are known for estab- worthy causes, and their encouragement of ment speaker. He challenged the students lishing Maranatha Volunteer International, others to serve. to “Embrace the Impossible.” During that with John Freeman William G. Johnsson Dick DeVos Dolores & Leon Slikkers 6 FOCU S l SPRING 2 0 0 7 campus update SIFE team named regional champions The Andrews University Students in Free Noel, David Roe, Cherise Sandy, and Ryan Enterprise (SIFE) club were named regional Thornhill. champions at the competition held in Dr. Ann Gibson, faculty sponsor of the Cleveland, Ohio on Wednesday, March 28. SIFE team, was honored as a Sam Walton As winners of the regional competition, the Fellow in recognition of her role in advising Andrews SIFE team will be competing at the Andrews SIFE program. the national competition in Dallas, Tex. on SIFE is an international organization May 6–8. of university and college students involv- Led by Jason Webster, a senior market- ing more than 800 colleges in the United ing major and president of Andrews’ SIFE The 2007 SIFE team States. Students in each club are challenged chapter, the team presented their annual re- to develop outreach programs that al- port and a 24-minute overview of this year’s Presenters at this year’s competition low them to practice skills learned in the projects to a panel of over a dozen corporate also included Lauren Nembhard, junior classroom with focus on market economics, judges. This year’s SIFE projects included: accounting major and vice president of success skills, entrepreneurship, financial Teach a Child about Business, a program Andrews’ SIFE chapter, Gabriel Montes, literacy, and business ethics. Although part involving Ruth Murdoch Elementary senior accounting major and recreation of the School of Business Administration, School students; computer literacy training center manager, and Kira Finnegan, senior membership in the SIFE program is open for students and their families as part of information systems major and assistant to any Andrews