Colleges in national spotlight

For those who haven’t seen it yet, the Associated Press wrote a story about Goshen (Ind.) College’s decision to beginning playing the national anthem before some sports games.

It's a good piece overall, though Goshen’s close connection to Mennonite Church USA could have been stated more clearly, as “ties” could be loose or strong, historical or present.

And the use of the word “ban” is misleading — playing the Star-Spangled Banner is not among the activities prohibited on campus.

Goshen and other Anabaptist schools also got national attention recently for a different practice — that of action to care for the environment. “Green Awakenings,” a report by Renewal, a national Christian student environmental group, lists Canadian Mennonite University in Winnipeg, Man.; Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Va.; Goshen College; Messiah College in Grantham, Pa.; and Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kan., among more than 50 campuses showing leadership in environmental concern efforts. — Celeste Kennel-Shank