Wit file photo of Louise Matthews standing in front of the international flags displayed in The Lion and Lamb Peace and Arts Center. Photo taken by Payton Stephens.
Bluffton alumna Louise Matthews is still making appearances on campus since her resignation last fall. The former director of the Lion and Lamb Peace Arts Center and caretaker of the Nature Preserve, Matthews spent 26 years working for Bluffton University before this part of her journey came to an end in October of 2021. However, after a semester’s passed, Matthews still feels connected to the student body and culture.
“Bluffton really feels like my place still,” said Matthews. “Being a former staff with many friends and colleagues, I consider them my people, and my husband, Lawrence, and I still attend the music, academicand athletic events on campus.”
One of the biggest places where Matthews still finds her involvement is in supporting and advocating for LGBTQ+ students on campus.
“I feel that supporting LGBTQ+ Bluffton students is so necessary because when discrimination and bias marginalize people, other people have a responsibility to speak up and advocate for justice and equity,” said Matthews.
In a time where these students still might experience adversity on campus, such as flyers for events supporting LGBTQ+ student events being torn down, Matthews said she still chooses to spread kindness.
“A simple kindness doesn’t eliminate hatred and adversity, but it shines light and gives us hope, so it feels like each kindness matters.” said Matthews. “We can help people to understand the impact that their actions and attitudes have on others.”
Matthews said she draws inspiration from Dr. Martin Luther King, Kr., and Mother Teresa.
In particular, she said “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that” from King is important to her.
Matthews also offered a heartfelt message for students who may be struggling due to adversity they’ve faced throughout the past year.
“I would say you are not alone,” Matthews said. “You are okay. Find a safe person in wish to confide and know that there is an accepting and welcoming community of people on campus where you can feel and know you belong because you matter.”
Andrea Burden, freshman nutrition and dietetics major said it’s important for students to have supporters like Matthews.
“If you have supportive people around you, you’re more prone to be yourself,” said Burden. “It’s great having all these people around us who aren’t against us and just want to be allies because it’s great to know when someone cares.”
Burden continued by noting some of the people she’s found the most support in since coming to Bluffton.
“I feel like I can trust my advisors because they always do a good job at expressing that they care, specifically Dr. Jackie Wyse-Rhodes,” said Burden.
Inspired by Matthews’ ideas on spreading kindness and positivity, Burden also shared some of the ways she is able to stay positive when overcoming negativity and adversity that she and her friends have seen and experienced on campus.
“First, I take time away to play videogames and calm myself down,” said Burden. “This allows me to take some time to think about why people might do the hurtful things they do and put things into perspective. I also surround myself with my other friends who are also LGBTQ+, because it’s great to know that I’m not alone in what I am experiencing.”
When experiencing negativity, it’s often an easy response to reciprocate by putting more negativity back out into the world. On a university campus filled with many different views, beliefs, and cultures, this can be especially so. However, supportive staff on campus as well as voices like Louise Matthews can help to remind others to balance all this negativity with love, kindness, and positivity.
