Alumni
Bethel Parent
A newsletter for parents of Bethel University students
The Resource Zone
Let Them Go, Let Them Grow
Are you familiar with the term "helicopter parents," coined to describe the hovering of helpful parents who may be unable—or unwilling—to let their son or daughter live independently?
While everyone hopes his or her offspring will avoid mistakes and poor decisions, the lessons learned by such choices may assist in the maturing process and help them "earn their wings."
Here is some advice from College of Arts & Sciences Dean of Students Jim Fereira, someone who knows a thing or two about "air traffic control"—the common mistakes parents make with college students. Here he offers healthy suggestions that will help students "fly" toward independence, avoid unnecessary crashes, and experience a safe landing.
Don't: Encourage your student to come home every weekend.
Do: Though we support regular contact with their families, students who go home constantly are not building relationships that are critical to getting established at college. The recommendation is for new students to hold off on going home for at least six weeks after they arrive on campus.
Don't: Do everything for them (laundry, tidy rooms, balance their checkbook, make appointments, etc.)
Do: Offering help is okay, but urge them to take over some of their own responsibilities.
Don't: Pay for everything.
Do: It's been shown that allowing students to help pay for their college expenses teaches them to value their education more. We don't want to impede their ability to take responsibility for themselves. Students need to be accountable for their expenses during the year; opening a personal checking account can be a good start.
Don't: Rush to the phone or the campus to resolve your student's conflicts with roommates or professors.
Do: Encourage them to fix their own relationships. It's fine to coach or mentor, but students need to learn to resolve conflicts. If problems continue, parents can direct a son or daughter to work with the residence hall staff, student life, or campus ministries to find solutions.
Don't: Check on class progress and grades regularly.
Do: There are privacy laws related to sharing student information with parents or guardians (FERPA; see box). Once students are in college, they have the legal freedom to deal with their own issues regarding grades or academic performance.
Don't: Make all their decisions for them.
Do: We have to help our children learn to make good choices rather than just tell them what they should do. Inherent in the learning process is the fact that they will make poor decisions at times—then we can help them learn how to deal with the consequences. When we disagree with their choices, be sparing with criticism and try seeing them as maturing adults.
College is a big transition for both students and parents, Fereira observes. Up to this point, parents are used to taking care of things. To continue that role tends to discourage students from handling responsibilities. The goal is to respect them as growing adults, interact with them as such, and pray for them always.
When questions arise or you feel stuck, campus resources—such as the Office of Alumni and Parent Services—are here to help. Give us a call at 651.638.6462.
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) is a federal law designed to protect the privacy of student educational records. At the grade school and high school levels, this law gives parents and students the right to review the student's educational records. For students age 17 and over who are attending college, FERPA transfers those rights directly to the student, though they can give permission, in writing, for their parents to access their records. More information about FERPA and Bethel's Access to Information policies is in the Student Handbook and Planning Calendar or can be viewed online at www.bethel.edu/registrar/ferpa.
Making Disciples
Student Service Opportunities Abound at Bethel
The Office of Campus Ministries promotes outreach opportunities as a means to spiritual growth—both for Bethel students and for the people and communities in which they serve," says Matt Runion, associate campus pastor. "Cross-cultural outreach can be a great way for God to shape students' worldviews, their understanding of the Lord's work in the world, and their specific call to be a part of it."
Runion serves as an advisor for students who participate in domestic and global outreach. Those efforts include Student Missions Projects (SMP, short-term mission teams during interim, spring break, and summer); Global Prayer Teams (focusing on unreached people groups around the world); World Challenge (awareness, advocacy, and prayer for global missions and justice); and Acting on AIDS (awareness, care, prayer, and advocacy for the global HIV/AIDS pandemic).
Students particularly drawn to local outreach can contact Donna Johnson, pastor of outreach ministry. Johnson oversees projects such as Twin Cities Outreach (weekly team-based volunteer activities that run throughout the school year); Monthly Outreach Opportunities (monthly team-based volunteer oppor-tunities); and Community Outreach Day (an annual, campus-wide, team-based community volunteer day held each spring).
The Office of Campus Ministries offers many ways students can participate in service or ministry projects; view them online at: http://cas.bethel.edu/campus-ministries/outreach
Bethel Chapel: A New Year of Inspiration!
Chapel at Bethel is a time to praise God, experience a spiritual lift, absorb great biblical teaching, and to gather in fellowship on a regular basis each week.
This year's theme is "Turn up the Heat." Monday services are designed to examine the "so what" of Christian living (Ignite the Fire), covering topics such as stewardship, relationships, and world issues. Wednesday (Fuel the Flame) is a time to explore the transforming power of God, and Friday (Feel the Heat) will provide an extended time of worship as well as present speakers who bear testimony to what happens when we respond to that power.
"We want students to see chapel as more than just coming to a service," says Sherry Mortenson, interim campus pastor. "It's about stewardship, relationships, and serving. We want to inspire them to become world-changers by having their lives transformed by, and for, Jesus Christ."
A new chapel producer, Chris LaRue, works with Administrative Pastor of Worship Emily Manders in planning graphics, media, and video resources to incorporate creative arts into the community worship experience. For a look at the chapel schedule for this fall, click on http://cas.bethel.edu/campus-ministries/chapel/index.html.
Missions Then, Missions Now
In the Steps of the Fisherman
DJ and Rachel Langefels
Ministry experiences during college years can enrich a student's spiritual life and lead to paths of service after graduation.
At Bethel, DJ and Rachel (Schwarze) Langels were involved in multiple student missions.
DJ, who majored in sociocultural studies, participated in SMP trips to Guatemala and South Africa and co-led a trip to Ecuador. He was involved in campus groups such as World Challenge, Open Circle, United Cultures of Bethel, All Nations Forum, and the Peace and Justice Committee. In addition, he served on a Vespers worship team and helped Associate Campus Pastor Matt Runion coordinate Bethel's trip to Urbana 2003.
Rachel also majored in sociocultural studies and was part of SMP trips to Guatemala, South Africa, and the Dominican Republic. For several years, Rachel worked in the Office of International Studies and spent the last semester of her senior year studying abroad in Guatemala. The couple currently serves at the New Faith Family Children's Home in Manila, Philippines.
"Going into Bethel, I had an undeveloped interest in diverse peoples and cultures and God's global kingdom," says DJ. "The learning experiences I had there, both serving overseas and interacting with people on campus, shaped me and refined my heart for the world. I am grateful for the professors, mentors, and friends who
helped mold me into who I am today."
Rachel adds, "The opportunities I was given at Bethel, along with the interaction with professors and staff, have helped make me who I am and ignited my passion for cross-cultural ministry, primarily in working with children in the Philippines."
Staying Involved: Tips for Parents
Webpage Offers Resources
Does the house seem quiet? Are you longing to send your son or daughter a reminder of parental TLC? The Office of Parent Services offers a webpage filled with helpful advice for sending a care package to your student.
On the "Parents" section of the Bethel website, www.bethel.edu/parents/services.html, click the section labeled "Services." There you'll find information on everything from the Campus Store to the kind of items students enjoy receiving in care packages (check out "Resources"). Also included is a listing of hotels and motels close to campus for visiting families, as well as details about student health insurance, chapel, career services, and other topics of interest.
Give a Hug, Send a Mug
Would you like to give your student a lift during final exams and helping a worthy cause? The Christmas Care Packages order form will be mailed soon.
Calling Bethel Moms
Fall is an ideal time to join one of Bethel's Moms in Touch groups! Both day and evening meeting times are available. For more information, contact group leaders Stephanie Brovold and Janet Beich at momsintouch@bethel.edu.
Bethel University Mission Card Offer
Bethel University has created attractive wallet-sized cards that display our mission and values. We would love to send you one with our compliments. To receive your card, contact the Office of Parent Services at 651.638.6462 (toll-free 800.255.8706, ext. 6462) or parents @bethel.edu.
Bethel in Your Inbox
Want to know about the next event, theatre performance, or concert? Interested in news about Bethel students and alumni? Get the latest in your inbox—sign up for Bethel eNews at www.bethel.edu/e-news/subscribe/.
What's for Lunch?
The 2007-2008 academic year is off to a great start: students settling into routine, adjusting to classes and roommates, grabbing a quick coffee at Market, or heading to the Dining Center (DC) for lunch or dinner.
Bob Schuchardt, general manager for Sodexho Campus Services (the company that provides food service at Bethel) says Market Square now boasts baja wraps with spicy chicken or beef, served hot or cold. He also announced the installation of a new executive chef, Vale Riggs.
Market continues to stock Bruegger's bagels, Caribou coffee, and Freshens yogurt products. The DC provides a wide selection of entrees, including pizza, "create your own" pasta, and Asian choices, in addition to a loaded salad bar. Emphasis is on serving baked-from-scratch flavor, whether it's the bread of the day, macaroni and cheese, or scrumptious desserts and pastries.
Student feedback is taken seriously. "We continuously rework our menu," Schuchardt says. "We talk with students and conduct surveys during the year." Service and providing well-balanced, appealing meals are important to the Sodexho staff.
Parents Weekend Ahead!
Preparations are underway for Parents Weekend 2007, October 26-28. Highlights will include four informative seminars, a Friday night Jazz Orchestra fest and a Saturday night concert with the combined musical talents of the Wind Symphony, Bethel Choirs, Symphony Orchestra, and Handbell Ensemble.
Parents will have opportunity to mingle at the Prayer Breakfast and Weekend Lunch. Don't miss the Royals football game Saturday or Community Worship Service on Sunday! Take a walk around Lake Valentine with your son or daughter and make some Bethel memories this fall.
Taking the Next Step CRC Update
Bethel's University's $105 million Taking the Next Step campaign is moving ahead thanks to the commitment of generous donors. The campaign is at $83 million, prompting praise for God's gracious provision.
This initiative will ensure Bethel's excellent, mission-sensitive education. When it comes to stewardship for Bethel University, however, the first area of campaign participation for our friends needs to be the Annual Fund, which bridges the difference between tuition and actual operating costs.
Gifts of all sizes help sustain the Annual Fund and count toward the campaign total, too. No form of giving has a more direct and immediate impact on daily lives of students and faculty. The consistent support of alumni, parents, and donors will strengthen the Annual Fund and benefit Bethel students far beyond the campaign.
The comprehensive resource campaign will end in spring 2008. In the meantime, the Bethel community is excited to watch the University Commons take shape. View the construction via webcam at www.bethel.edu/development/campaign/news/uc-webcam.html.
Think Spring
Study Abroad Program Deadlines Approach
New York City by
Jeremiah Satterthwaite
For many Bethel students, the opportunity to study abroad is one of the highlights of their college years. This fall, 97 Bethel students are studying in 17 countries, experiencing life in places such as England, Spain, Thailand, Cyprus, Canada, and Australia, as well as six U.S. locations.
Although autumn is in the air, it's not too early to think ahead to spring: October 15 is the deadline for spring semester programs in Guatemala and South Africa. Many non-Bethel study programs have an early November application deadline.
Students interested in taking part in off-campus programs are urged to visit the Office of Off-Campus Programs/International Studies and meet with their academic advisors as soon as possible.
The deadline for participating in interim study-abroad programs was October 1. New off-campus course offerings for this interim will include a history of science course in Europe and a vocal performance course in New York City.
For further information, check out the website at http://cas.bethel.edu/international-studies/
Questions? Contact Us!
Bethel Parent is an educational resource for parents. If you have questions, we're here to help. Submit questions to parents@bethel.edu and watch for answers in upcoming issues.
Navigators Orientation Welcomes New Students
The Navigators Program is a two-day orientation specifically designed to help multicultural, international, and third-culture students make the transition to college life at Bethel. It provides collaborative learning experiences with other incoming students to establish lasting relationships and prepare students for the challenges of academic and social life on campus.
Easing the Parking Crunch
Bethel's new University Commons will be a wonderful addition to the campus, but erecting a 110,000-square-foot facility is bound to cause some disruption. Much planning has gone into anticipating needs caused by construction, especially related to parking.
Although the construction will temporarily close 60 townhouse parking spots, 80 new permanent parking spaces will added by expanding the south and north sections of the upper East lots. The new lots are scheduled to be available at the end of October. Vehicles parked in the new spots must have permits approved by the Office of Security and Safety. Vice President for Campus Services Bruce Kunkel says that once the Commons is complete, parking areas affected by the project will be reinstated.
Bethel is committed to being environmentally responsible; the school will not cut down any trees to accommodate expanded parking. As at Lissner Hall, the new lots will be located under electrical transmission lines and built with permeable pavers to minimize water runoff. Many trees that had to be removed from the Commons building site have been recycled to other locations.
Drivers and walkers on campus will also need to co-exist with construction vehicles. "With construction comes increased truck traffic," notes Kunkel. "At times, travel will be slow-going, and motorists may have to exercise patience."
Office of Intercultural Programs and Services
Encouraging, Helping, Supporting
Carol Chang (right) talks with a
student
The Office of Intercultural Student Programs and Services is a vital part of the Bethel community. Cecilia Williams, associate dean for intercultural programs and services, and Carol Chang, assistant dean and the international student advisor, are on hand to offer help as needed.
Their goal is to promote cultural and ethnic diversity, and to advise stu-dents of color on matters pertaining to academics and career planning, as well as social, personal, and financial issues. In addition, they address some of the unique issues students from other cultures may face. "We serve three areas of student groups at Bethel," Chang says. "Multicultural students, international students from other countries (29 nations are currently represented in all schools of the university), and MK (children of missionaries) and TCK (third-culture kids) students."
The office works closely with ethnic and bicultural churches in the Twin Cites, and assists international students both before and after they enroll at Bethel. They help facilitate events such as multicultural chapels, retreats, special activities, and ethnic heritage celebrations. The Peacemakers Pro-ject, Moya, Voz Latina, First Nations, and Asian Christian Fellowship, MuKappa, and the International Student Association are groups that foster understanding of issues facing multicultural, international, and third culture students.
Encouraging the entire Bethel community to celebrate cultural differences, as well as unity in Christ, is the focus of United Cultures of Bethel, an integrative student network with a mission to connect all students of Bethel together in ways that both explore and respect cultural distinctions within all the various student populations. The Bethel Community Council, with its focus on ethnic and race relations, has been called the "conscience" of Bethel. The council comprises faculty, staff, and students.
Chang serves as the principal designated school official for many international students, as well as confidante and advisor. "Many students experience various forms of culture shock while attempting to adapt to life at Bethel," she notes. "They may also encounter language barriers and other issues. I am here to help them and to serve them, however I can." To learn more about the Office of Intercultural Programs and Services and diversity efforts at Bethel, go to http://cas.bethel.edu/student-development/diversity.
Question: Why Talk About Race?
A Conversation with Chief Diversity Officer Leon Rodrigues
Q: Don't services to students on the basis of race suggest that special care is required for them? Doesn't that single out people based on appearance? As believers, shouldn't we ignore race as a factor in our community life?
A: "I am not surprised when we receive this question. In reality, we allow students to self-select if they feel they need the services of the Office of Diversity and Community (ODC), just as we accept how they want to identify themselves ethnically. We call it ‘leaving the light on.'
"We are now serving white students and staff too, because we believe that ‘multicultural' means all of us. There are white students who have discovered that their lack of experience with diversity is a deficit and want to be allies or get real by engaging with diverse students.
"We also serve students—either adopted or international students and missionary kids—who are struggling with cultural or ethnic identity issues. These issues surface strongly during the college years. Researchers call it the splat effect—when a student hits the wall realizing for the first time someone may look at their physical characteristics and perceive them as ‘different.'
"Does it happen here at Bethel? Perhaps, perhaps not. We prefer to be proactive and to treat our students sensitively. My office and the Office of Intercultural Programs and Services offer the opportunity for students to engage with other students who seek to build community with each other and be cognizant of hegemony*. They find a haven in our programs where we are explicit about these issues and acknowledge their feelings. We teach skills that will help them understand these situations and address them when they arise. This is done with the goal to build unity and reconciliation in the Body of Christ."
*Defined by Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition as "the social, cultural, ideological, or economic influence exerted by a dominant group."
Don't-Miss Dates
October
| 12 | Fall Break | |
| 19 | Bethel Symphony Orchestra Concert • 7:30 p.m.* | |
| 26-28 | Parents Weekend | |
| 26 | Parents Weekend Concert: Jazz Orchestra • 7:30 p.m.* | |
| 27 | Parents Weekend Concert: Choirs, Wind Symphony, Orchestra, and Handbells • 7:30 p.m.* |
November
| 2 | Bethel Wind Symphony Concert, 7:30 p.m.* | |
| 12 | Bethel Chamber Ensembles Recital • 7:30 p.m.* | |
| 21 | Thanksgiving Break, begins at 5 p.m. | |
| 26 | Classes Resume | |
| 28 | Festival of Christmas Family Night Dress Rehearsal, 7:30 p.m.*, Tickets $5 each; $15 family maximum. (This concert is intended for families with small children.) | |
| 29-30 | 51st Festival of Christmas • 8 p.m.* |
December
| 1 | Festival of Christmas • 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.* | |
| 12 | Last Day of Classes | |
| 13 | Study Day | |
| 14, 17, 18, & 19 |
Final Examinations | |
| 19 | Midyear Commencement | |
| 20 | Residence areas close at noon (Christmas Break begins) | |
| *All concerts will be held in Benson Great Hall. |
Interim
| 6 | Residence areas re-open at noon | |
| 7 | Classes Begin | |
| 21 | Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (no classes) | |
| 29 | Last Day of Classes |
Bethel Theatre
The Star-Spangled Girl (in repertoire with Main Street)
October 31, November 1, 9, 10, 15, 16 •
7:30 p.m.
November 4, 2:30 p.m.
Main Street (in repertoire with The Star-Spangled Girl)
November 2, 3, 7, 8, 14, 17 • 7:30 p.m.
November 11 • 2:30 p.m.
Both productions will be presented in the Bethel Theatre.
For ticket information, contact the Benson Great Hall Ticket Office at 651.638.6333. Bethel students receive one free ticket per show with their Bethel student ID.
51st Festival of Christmas
"Light of Light to Earth Descending: Carols of the Nations"
Thursday-Friday, November 29-30, 8 p.m.
Saturday, December 1, 2 p.m., 8 p.m.
Tickets: $18 and $15
Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for the true Light that enlightens all has come into the world! Jesus Christ's birth is celebrated through carols from around the world in this year's annual Christmas celebration, performed by more than 300 of Bethel's talented student musicians.
Tickets are available for Festival of Christmas by mail order only until Monday, November 12. Ticket order forms will be mailed in October. For ordering instructions, please call 651.635.1999.
Credits
Bethel Parent is published four times a year for parents of Bethel University students. It includes stories about students, information about campus events, and opportunities for involvement at Bethel.
Office of Alumni and Parent Services
651.638.6462
email: parents@bethel.edu
Editor: Patty Thomson
Writers: Patty Thomson, Matt Runion, Jim Fereira, Kay Wible
Designer: Thomas Vukelich '82
Staff Photographer: Woody Dahlberg '69