by Joyce Venida ‘13

The United Cultures of Bethel Organization (UCB) recently celebrated its 20^th reunion. UCB students past and present came together to reconnect and pay tribute to Terry Coffee, former director of multicultural development and founder of the organization, who passed away last year.

UCB is a support network for students of color at Bethel. It provides opportunities for fellowship and plans activities to help the entire Bethel community learn more about other cultures. For many students, UCB has created a safe place in which all students, not just students of color, can feel a sense of belonging. The reunion served as a platform to showcase how UCB has grown and to see how far Coffee’s vision has progressed.

The evening was attended by Bethel alumni and friends and colleagues of Coffee. The night began with a few words by Curtiss DeYoung, professor of reconciliation studies at Bethel and a good friend of Terry Coffee. Many past UCB students were emotional as they spoke in memory of their mentor, describing him as someone who provided comfort at stressful times.

Coffee and his wife Karen welcomed students into their home and their hearts. He often continued to mentor students after they had left Bethel. “He did a lot of things that are not part of the job description,” said Trina White Maduro '93, one of the first presidents of UCB, who then went on to dub him the “Jackie Robinson of Bethel” because of his gentle, nurturing personality and the way he committed to making a difference at Bethel.

President Jay Barnes described Coffee as a man who “had the ability to diffuse certain situations and ignite certain situations. He always had a sense of God’s presence and a call to commitment.”

As the night drew to a close, current UCB students were given the chance to connect with alumni, providing an opportunity for the different generations of students to meet and discuss what changes they can continue to bring to Bethel. They hope to continue what Coffee started, creating a place where people can build relationships and where students of color are given the encouragement and community to succeed.