Author’s note: It’s no secret that student experiences are key to a vibrant campus environment. And the experiences and behaviors of faculty and staff have a big influence on students’ lives.
After speaking with over 100 people on their experiences on the Bluffton University campus, I have chosen to share a few with you that best represent the range of what I heard, including both positive and negative experiences. Wherever you are right now — walking to Marbeck for a meal, sitting in the quiet of Musselman Library or taking a much-needed break in your room — get ready to hear the voices within our campus. This is part of a series exploring the ways campus has changed over the last four years.
Do it for the students
Vice President of Advancement and Enrollment Management Robin Bowlus understands the responsibility that comes with being in a leadership role. After making many difficult decisions to improve and sustain our vibrant campus, Bowlus often reminds herself why she does this job.
Art by Emily Griffioen ’19 hanging in Bowlus’ office. Photo by Payton Stephens.
In spring of 2016, Bowlus attended the annual student art sale outside Sauder Visual Arts Center. Artwork from a typography class made by Emily Griffioen ’19 caught her eye immediately.
On first glance, Bowlus mistook the art as layered typography spelling “Why.” Despite the typography actually being a “V” and “Y,” the original interpretation made Bowlus think. She purchased the artwork and it hangs above her desk to this day.
Bowlus says she looks at it and asks herself why she is doing this job. She always answers her own question simply, “The students.”
Eyes opening to cultural intelligence
Senior communication major Travon Mason noticed a positive change in the efforts of anti-racism and cultural awareness on campus.
Mason attended Cultural Intelligence training last fall. The trainings were led by Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Tyson Goings, Assistant Professor of Health & Physical Education Chad Shutler and Multicultural Student Affairs Graduate Assistant Leslie Beasley.
“Before the trainings I felt like it wasn’t totally equal here,” said Mason. “I didn’t see all the different races or cultures sharing problems. Honestly, I kind of saw campus in black and white.”
The seating arrangements created groups for discussion. Each group had a mixture of students, faculty and staff from different departments, cultures and backgrounds.
While Mason was hopeful he still wasn’t sure what to expect. He tried going in with an open mind and leaving his judgements at the door. This proved to be a beneficial way for Mason to get the most out of the discussions and assignments.
“I was able to understand the meaning of not just being Black, but that other races go through the same things,” said Mason.
Mason was able to see how people with differing racial identities and cultural backgrounds are judged and stereotyped. These realizations helped him better relate to people on and off campus.
Feeling unsafe and unheard
Julia shares a troubling story living in fourth floor Old Ropp last semester (out of fear of retribution from peers Julia requested a pseudonym be used to keep her anonymity). She says the limited number of residents on the floor made it quiet and comfortable. She said that went away when one resident decided to allow her boyfriend to move into her single room.
Julia and other residents on the floor noticed the man beginning the first week of classes. At the time, it wasn’t clear that he was living in the hall full time, and it took over a week for the women to figure out he wasn’t a Bluffton student.
Residents complained to the Resident Advisor Kayleigh Michael about seeing him walking around shirtless and in and out of the women’s bathroom and showers. Multiple residents also reported feeling physically ill from the smell of cigarette smoke coming from the room.
The first incident report was filed by Michael on Aug. 29. At least eight more would follow.
The boyfriend was asked by Michael and Hall Director Stacey Chirewa to leave multiple times. Eventually he was physically escorted out of the building by Chirewa and told not to return. Chirewa confirmed that she escorted the man off campus at least four times. On one occasion he became verbally aggressive when Michael asked him to leave.
“I didn’t even feel comfortable walking to the shower in my towel at that point,” said Julia, who started going home on weekends because she felt unsafe.
The Witmarsum confirmed Julia emailed Vice President of Student Affairs and Athletics Phill Talavinia and former Director of Residence Life Steve Burrell three times each to set up a meeting throughout September.
On Oct. 6, Julia emailed President Jane Wood to request a meeting. Later that day Julia received a response from Talavinia to set up a meeting. She had three meetings with Talavinia, one of which included Burrell.
“Steve just seemed annoyed with the situation, that’s the energy I got from him,” said Julia. “And Phill just took me like a joke. He literally took a phone call and was on the phone for 30 minutes during a meeting.”
The Witmarsum requested comment on the quote above and Student Life not responding to students from Talavinia.
“Without broader context of how this impacts your story, I cannot comment,” said Talavinia. “In your previous question regarding timely responses, we heard that there were some challenges in response times from Student Life staff. We take this seriously and have already begun the process of reevaluating all trainings and office protocols to improve response times.”
Julia’s story is one of many stories where students have reported contacting Student Life and not receiving a timely response.
Burrell did not respond to requests for an interview.
The last sighting of the boyfriend was in late November.
Burrell left his position from Bluffton University in February.
“I feel like we [the students] don’t have a voice,” said Julia. “Honestly, because of this, if I could go back in time, I wouldn’t choose Bluffton.”
Finding your people
Senior middle childhood education major Steven Liptak appreciates Bluffton for giving him his closest friends. Liptak played soccer for three years at Bluffton, and despite his love of the sport and his teammates, he found his friend group off the field.
Last year Liptak and his friends got together in Hirschey Annex lobby and had PowerPoint night.
“Everyone had to make a PowerPoint of whatever they wanted and then present it in front of the whole group,” said Liptak.
Many PowerPoints included each of the friends within the slides and made everyone laugh, Liptak says.
With many friend groups on campus being united through sports teams and majors, Liptak is thankful he was able to find and bond so deeply with his friends.
“If it wasn’t for Bluffton, I wouldn’t have found these people, the people I see being at my wedding one day,” said Liptak.
Struggling to connect
Assistant Professor of Biology Sarah Lehman has noticed a change in student dynamics since her start at Bluffton University in fall of 2019. Lehman has used group work in multiple classes to try to keep her students engaged.
This past fall Lehman was collecting research for a dissertation about using case studies in her Anatomy & Physiology I course. She put students into assigned groups to use the case studies to assist in grasping the content. Lehman quickly observed students struggling to engage with each other during the group activities. Many sat in silence rather than tackling the activity together through discussion.
“It seemed as if the students preferred to work alone on coursework,” said Lehman. “Before Covid, it felt as if students enjoyed and embraced working in groups.”
In previous semesters Lehman had different results when creating group assignments. She says the students were much more willing to verbally work together.
“While there could have been other factors — the room we were in, etc.— I wonder if some of the hesitancy was because of Covid instruction over the past few years,” said Lehman.
Lehman has found published research pointing to this shift in student interactions and involvement post Covid. She hopes in the future students can find ways to enjoy working together and see the benefits of group discussion again.
Community distance
When I came for my overnight visit in spring of 2019, I was immediately given a sense of community that I had only dreamed of finding.
From the Houshower House all the way to the residence halls, faculty and staff I had never met before greeted me by name and gave me well wishes during my visit.
My host for the night introduced me to all her friends and brought me along for a night of college excursions. I got to show my nonexistent bowling skills at Southgate Lanes, try Dumpster Fries, sing “Sweet but Psycho” at the top of my lungs and end the night playing cornhole in the Ramseyer Hall lobby.
Before I even started my freshman year I saw what college life would be like. I had never been more sure of myself than when I chose Bluffton.
Since the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic, the Bluffton community I fell in love with has become isolated. The combination of quarantining, social distancing and masks has separated the student body into cliques. Even if someone is still friendly to those outside of their group, they don’t go out of their way to hang out with them.
I just want the intertwined community back. The community where the sport you play, what building you live in, the major you choose or what you look like doesn’t determine if you talk to someone outside of classes.
I want future Bluffton University students to live all four years surrounded by the community I felt my freshman year rather than just catch a glimpse of it.
