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2008-12-02 issue:

One complaint sparks 400 calls and emails

by Anna Groff

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Goshen (Ind.) College fielded more than 400 calls and e-mails during the week of Nov. 10 after the Mike Gallagher Show criticized Goshen for not playing the national anthem before sports games.

After attending a Goshen basketball game, a man complained to the conservative radio talk show, which has 4 million listeners, that the national anthem was not played.

Bill Born, vice president of student life for Goshen, was interviewed by Gallagher on the show on Nov. 10.

On the show, Born said: "This practice of ours has been longstanding … since our inception 114 years ago. We recognize that it likely will ensue some disagreement. But, again, given the freedoms of our country, we're appreciative of that opportunity to express faith and love in different ways."

On Nov. 11, Gallagher asked that listeners call Goshen and ask them to change the policy.

"There were a handful of supportive comments amongst the mostly dissenting voices," said Richard Aguirre, Goshen College director of public relations on Nov. 17.

Some of the calls accused the college of being unpatriotic or suggested that because Goshen students receive federal or state student aid that there is—or should be—an obligation to play the national anthem, said Aguirre.

"The volume of phone calls and e-mails, which peaked on Nov. 11, has steadily declined,"said Aguirre, "and at this point, external communications about this issue have declined."

"We have just moved on from this particular agenda that was set by others," said Goshen President James Brenneman. "Those of us who lead Mennonite institutions certainly don’t want to create wedge issues that divide us."

A Nov. 11 story in the South Bend (Ind.) Tribune noted that not all Mennonite colleges and universities share the same policy on the national anthem.

"In this specific case," Brenneman said, "the national anthem provided the opportunity to discuss … one response that some Mennonites historically have about being faithful to the lordship of Christ.

I welcome the opportunity to be in dialogue with people with varying views … both internally and externally. That’s part of the missional task in communicating to the 'world.'"

Brenneman said 1 Peter 3:15-16 provides helpful instructions for these types of issues: "Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an account of the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence."

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