e BCONNECTING ALUMNI AND FRIENDS OF CMU, FALL 2012 CANADIAN MENNONITE UNIVERSITY e BCONNECTING ALUMNI AND FRIENDS OF CMU Editor’s Note n this issue of The Blazer, we are delighted to in- Itroduce our readers to CMU’s Connect campaign. But let me first share a few notes about some of the everyday ways we connect with our constituencies. Fall has been an exciting and dynamic time at CMU. We were pleased to welcome and connect with 618 new and returning students to our undergradu- ate and graduate students on CMU’s Shaftesbury campus, including 73 Outtatown students who were heading out on the road in Canada and to their site Table of Contents destinations, later this year, in South Africa, Burkina Faso, and Guatemala. 1 President’s Message At CMU’s Menno Simons College in downtown Winnipeg, faculty and staff are connecting with 957 2 CONNECT: Building For Learning and Service students taking Conflict Resolution or International 8 New Builder’s Circle Development Studies. Menno Simons College opened the doors this fall by welcoming students and friends 9 New Opportunities at Redekop School of Business to its beautifully refurbished campus space, providing 11 CMU Opens Graduate School of Theology important new teaching and gathering places. and Ministry Fall is a time of connection for our alumni, many of whom were able to visit and meet with old and 12 Next Steps for CMU: Outtatown Prepares Students new friends during Fall Festival 2012. Also joining 13 MSC Campus Newly Expanded and Refurbished us were representatives of supporting churches who were able to join in and enjoy the rich array of activi- 14 The Courses We Teach: International ties and re-connect with their university at CMU’s Development Studies annual opening program. 16 Fall Festival 2012 In November, we will begin to connect with our communities through the vision and initiatives of 24 Alumni Reflections: Arnold Boldt new CMU President, Dr. Cheryl Pauls, as she offers her gifts, wisdom, and energy, and begins her leader- ship of this special university. And in the everyday life and rhythm of the uni- versity, we connect with people through prayer and actions arising from our faith foundation. Join with us this fall as we embrace the mission The Blazer is a publication of Canadian Mennonite University, and vision of CMU, collectively growing opportu- published twice a year. nities to connect with one another, helping extend God’s peace and grace in our world. Editor - Nadine Kampen; Assistant Editor -Tammy Sawatzky; Church and Alumni Relations Coordinator - Eleonore Braun Nadine Kampen Contributors: Matt Dueck; Cheryl Pauls; Kenton Lobe; Carolyn Townend; Ray Director, Communications & Marketing Vander Zaag; Lindsay Wright. Designers - Melody Morrissette, CMU Design Team Installation of CMU President Dr. Cheryl Pauls Printed in Canada by Friesens, Altona, MB takes place Sunday, November 25, 2:30 PM Publications agreement number 40686550 | Vol 7, No 2 ISSN- 1715-5843 River East Mennonite Brethren Church Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to Canadian Mennonite University, 755 McLeod Ave., Winnipeg 500 Shaftesbury Blvd., Winnipeg, MB R3P 2N2, | Ph.: 204.487.3300 Toll-free: 1.877.231.4570 | Fax: 204.487.3858 | www.cmu.ca Cover photograph: ft3 www.ft3.ca Fall 2012 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE “Only Connect!” erhaps those who haven’t delved into E. M. Forester’s experienced navigation skills. It is a library that offers the PHowards End quote it most often. I’ll admit that I haven’t necessary time, expertise, and shared spaces to sort, sift, as- patiently traversed the novel’s pages, yet “only connect!” was sess, discern, and open new insight and wisdom from all that the first thing to flash through my mind when I heard that has been collected and remembered. CONNECT had been selected to focus CMU’s Library/Learn- It is a library and envisioned book and resource centre and ing Commons and Bridge campaign. I hear the phrase’s im- public café that can resource and help connect our larger perative expression like a call, an engaging, enabling, freeing community and constituency to CMU. And, as anyone who sort of call that makes us want to be more trusting, generous, has seen our cramped basement library site will attest, it is a wonder-filled and faithful in relation to God, to one another, new library that will most effectively enhance CMU’s work and to all the created things with which we’ve been entrusted. going into the future. Such a call has sustained and compelled me while teach- As well, CMU needs a bridge at its divided Shaftesbury ing at CMU; I’ve heard it in the hopes and concerns of stu- campus so that students, staff, guests, and the public have a dents as much as in the way across Grant Avenue university’s program that is safe, accessible, designs and mission. and, on short winter days, And, through this call, a little less windy and I assume the honour cold. of connecting with the Still, the CONNECT hopes and concerns campaign on which CMU of you, the friends of has embarked isn’t only CMU, as I begin my ten- about a library or cross- ure as CMU’s president. ing the street. It goes The tie-ins between much deeper and draws the term CONNECT attention to the church and CMU’s capital bodies, businesses, in- campaign are relatively dividuals, and govern- straightforward. ment whose partnering CMU needs a library and ongoing generosity and learning commons enable this university to to help it achieve its pri- thrive. This support is vi- mary task as a univer- tal to CMU. Thank you! sity – that of building CMU needs a library and learning I look forward to being understandings that en- in conversation with you gage both the world and commons to help it achieve its primary about new ways that CMU one another. That said, might “only connect” to in the midst of today’s task as a university – that of building the reconciling forms high-tech flow of infor- understandings that engage both the of inventiveness, whole- mation, it’s not always ness, and transformation obvious why a univer- world and one another. to which we together are sity still bothers with a committed and called. library at all – until one considers how much libraries are keeping up with the times. A library continues to be a vital connector. Today’s libraries provide critical access not only to volumes of invaluable hard copy materials, but also to vast online storehouses of online research and resources that aren’t available without cost or Fall 2012 1 BUILDING FOR LEARNING AND SERVICE By N. Kampen tunity to bring this important capital ping young people to live out their faith project to completion. and make a difference in a challenging very now and then, an opportu- “This bold venture commits $11-mil- world. With the commitment and sup- Enity emerges with the potential to lion of new capital to ensure that CMU port of many alumni and friends, I am make a significant impact. CMU today is well positioned to meet its commit- confident that we can bring this project faces such a prospect. A long-cherished ments to scholarship, faith, commu- to its successful completion.” dream for a new library, learning com- nity, worship, experiential learning “The new library and learning com- mons and bridge – and the impact they and service. These new facilities will mons and bridge will greatly enhance the will make - is coming true thanks to provide CMU with an essential and learning experience at CMU,” says CMU visionary founders and leaders, gener- vital resource,” says CONNECT Cam- Board Chair Marlene Janzen. “This ous supporters, a strong campaign fun- paign Chair Elmer Hildebrand, CEO of project will create a wonderful space for draising team and the commitment of Golden West Broadcasting. “One of the students, faculty, and the community to CMU Board, Council, faculty and staff. things that really excites me about this connect. The Board is one hundred per At this time CMU’s broader communi- Campaign is the project’s ability to im- cent in support of this venture!” ty of alumni and friends has the oppor- pact the future of our church, by equip- 2 Fall 2012 Early Campaign Gifts Set the Bar and staff. In the 12 years since 2000, CMU has Working with a strong CONNECT “We are deeply grateful for the lead- established itself as a dynamic Chris- Campaign Cabinet, Elmer Hildebrand ership team that is driving the CON- tian university. Membership in the chairs a group whose members are well NECT campaign, for the great work of Association of Universities and Col- known for their generosity and com- our development staff, and for the tre- leges of Canada and an expanding mitment. This Cabinet includes Art mendous support from the CMU com- and solid array of program and degree DeFehr, Philipp R. Ens, Bill Fast, Janice munity,” says CMU President Cheryl offerings, have become increasingly Filmon, Bert Friesen, Charles Loewen, Pauls. “We are also very pleased with attractive for a diverse and growing Jake Rempel, and Tamara Roehr. On the work of the architects, ft3, in de- student body. The launch of both the September 30, Hildebrand released signing a highly functional yet exciting Redekop School of Business in 2011 and news that progress towards the final project, along with the experience of the Graduate School of Theology and goal had already passed the $5.5-mil- our contractor, Concord Projects. To- Ministry this fall, are among significant lion mark thanks to leadership gifts gether they have been working closely new initiatives.