At your service
Doug Kojetin has worked as a member of Bethel’s Facilities Management team for four and a half years, but he serves the community with more than his handyman skills. By Jamie Hudalla Doug Kojetin has green, blue, black and shiny keys. All kinds, he tells the Child Development Center kids, who have no clue what they unlock. But they like how the keys jangle, and they like “Mr. Doug” even more. For nearly two years, Kojetin has spent one or two days a week having lunch with them in their tiny red chairs. He cuts his breaks short so he can eat shredded beef tacos and read books to them about David and Goliath or the alphabet. This isn’t part of Kojetin’s job description as a residential maintenance specialist at Bethel, but he makes time for snowblowing paths for the children to walk and capping all the sharp bolts on… Keep Reading
A Student Response to “Take Back Bethel”
By Joshua Turek A few weeks ago, I attended a medical conference in Des Moines, Iowa. During the introduction lecture, our speaker made a casual reference to how humans have developed over eons and eons to have the anatomy that we do today. I looked around, and no one seemed concerned or surprised in the slightest. To most of them, and to the scientific community at large, this is accepted knowledge. And regardless of my personal beliefs, it is the world in which I will live and work. So, as a Christian, how should I interact with this scientific/medical community? Has Bethel prepared me for the world beyond the “bubble?” In the last Clarion issue entitled Who is Bethel?, there was an article called “A tug-of-war between theological truths.” One of the main components of this article was exploring the reasons and actions of a group that comes on campus… Keep Reading
Day of Movement: a photo essay
Oasis for Orphans club held the Day of Movement in the Sports and Recreation Center Saturday May 11. By Laura Osterlund Keep Reading
Committing social sciences
Alumni and faculty gathered to commemorate the closing of the Department of Anthropology, Sociology and Reconciliation Studies By Elena Vaughn Faculty and alumni gathered in the Eastlund Room Thursday May 9 to honor and celebrate the closing of the Department of Anthropology, Sociology and Reconciliation Studies (DASRS). There was initial time for mingling and then a mix of alumni and faculty shared their parting words. Many of the alumni speeches were nostalgic and fond, describing the home they found in the “I-pod,” their name for the department’s townhouse offices. Many described the professors as warm, inviting and intellectually challenging. James Hurd, professor emeritus of anthropology, gave the opening remarks and included a quote from poet W.H. Auden. “Thou shalt not sit with statisticians nor commit a social science,” Auden said. Hurd added to this line, saying, “We’ve been committing social sciences all these years and gotten away with it until… Keep Reading
More than a Bible study
By Zach Walker 162 Minnesota Hispanics attended the 7th Spanish-Speaking Seminar for Pastors and Leaders March 30, with the next conference set for May 18. Juan Hernández Jr. began his lesson. He gestured toward a PowerPoint on Revelation, a topic he teaches every semester at Bethel University. But this time, he taught in Spanish. His voice rang out through overhead speakers to a crowd of people just like him. A group who looked like him and sounded like him and worshipped like him. Hernández, Professor of Biblical and Theological Studies at Bethel University, led the seventh Seminar for Spanish-Speaking Pastors and Leaders March 30 at Bethel, with the eighth set for May 18. The turnout was record-breaking with 162 members of the Minnesota Hispanic community as well as Bethel students and faculty attending the event to learn about the historical, cultural and theological context of the book of Revelation. The… Keep Reading
Faculty load adjustments
Provost Deb Harless presented the recommendations and results of the Faculty Load and Structure Working Group in reducing expenses to reach target savings. By Emma Harville As budget shortfalls sent waves throughout the Bethel community in the past year, several working groups of staff were established last spring to work through these shortages and recommend changes in order to reduce costs. Provost Deb Harless and associate provosts Deb Sullivan-Trainor and Randy Bergen held a session Thursday morning to discuss the Faculty Load and Structure Working Group’s recommendations on how to address the budget, particularly pertaining to faculty course loads. The Faculty Load and Structure Working Group’s objective in meeting was to “identify one or more equitable systems for faculty loads that work across all four schools and result in cost savings” and reduce costs by $1,150,000. Each course allows faculty members to obtain a number of Teaching Equivalency Units (TEUs)… Keep Reading
Talking about the tension
Conversations arise around a recent statement released from the BTS department. By Sam Johnson On May 1, the Bethel faculty senate met in the Olson Boardroom to engage in a conversation about one of Bethel’s departments. The majority of the meeting was led by Gary Long, department chair and professor of Biblical and Theological Studies. Long spoke about who BTS is as a department amid questions from outside the community on the content that is being taught in the classroom. In March, Long said that he met with faculty senate president Chris Gehrz and board of trustees chair Julie White for two hours, discussing subjects like the group “Take Back Bethel” and a perceived theological drift going on within the department. In response to the reported drift, BTS faculty crafted a statement. Long said that the statement was agreed upon by all department faculty members. The statement’s content was affirmed… Keep Reading
$5 within 5 miles
By Taylor Fondie College students are often running tight on money and time, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy ourselves on a budget. Here is a list of ways to get the best bang for your buck! All these locations are within 5 miles of campus and offer a way to spend $5 or less. AMC Rosedale 14 1595 Highway 36 W, #1000, Roseville, MN 55113 Going to a movie at AMC can get expensive, however, if you go on Tuesdays AMC offers five dollar movie nights. Bring a friend and take a break from studying to watch your favorite new movie. McDonald’s 1313 W, County Rd E, Arden Hills, MN 55112 Get a cheap McFlurry, McDouble & small fry from McDonald’s and enjoy a walk around the trails of Lake Johanna. Be sure to go in and order your food to get an additional Bethel student discount for… Keep Reading
Planting leaders
Listening session informs students about presidential search By Elena Vaughn CarterBaldwin Executive Search co-founder Price Harding held a listening session in the Olson Boardroom to hear student feedback on the search for a new university President May 2, but only two students attended the event. CarterBaldwin is a faith-based search firm that looks for leaders for organizations such as Young Life, FCA and many universities. This search firm works to collect data on applicants and nominees, such as resumes and letters of interest, and conduct preliminary interviews. While CarterBaldwin initiates these first steps, the final decision is up to Bethel’s Board of Trustees. When discussing his motivation and vision for the company, Harding cited a desire to “plant leaders in organizations…so they can flourish…so the organizations will produce fruit for years to come for the Kingdom.” Bethel’s new president will be announced Spring 2020 and begin working that summer. The… Keep Reading
A resume of rejection
From one sinker to another: just keep failing. Maybe one day you’ll be a professional ping-ponger in New York. By Jamie Hudalla The warehouse in St. Louis Park looks like it might hang pig carcasses up on hooks or collect the ghosts of flour mill workers from 1890. My hands shake as I sit in the parking lot, but that has less to do with the warehouse and more to do with my job interview. I study who I am as I wait an hour and a half in the parking lot. What are your strengths, Jamie? Well, not driving. How do you deal with conflict? I’ve taken a reconciliation class, so, pretty well. What are your career goals? Fiction writing. Pray for me. I crack a window because I forgot to wear deodorant and it’s a balmy 40 degrees. At 1:55 p.m. I walk in the door of the… Keep Reading