Campus Colloquy Gets a New Style

Pacific Union College's weekly colloquy program has long been a time for students and faculty to congregate and enjoy fellowship, dynamic speaking, and music. This quarter, however, some changes have been made to the format. These changes, including cutting the praise singing, are part of the administration's plan to make colloquy a more distinctive experience.

"By having colloquy in the church, the assumption is that the service is always religious, but we are trying to deal with a broad range of programs," says President Richard Osborn. "We felt that by having a more quickly paced program, greater interest would develop with a focus on broad campus and community issues. I'd like to see colloquy be a time when our entire college community gets together to hear news about campus, to gain new perspectives on social, political, and spiritual issues, share the joys and sadness in our community, which we saw at the memorial service for the Newton 4, and comes together to support each other."

A new feature entitled "Tell Me Something I Don't Know" has replaced the musical segment. During this time, our academic dean Nancy Lecourt dialogues with various students and faculty concerning rather astonishing bits of departmental news flying just beneath the general campus consciousness.

For example, the other day we learned that our very own Rodney Vance, a professor in the Visual Arts department, authored a children's book entitled De'Monte Love. The book narrates the amazing story of a 6-year-old boy, De'Monte, who led a group of stranded children and infants to safety amid the carnage of Hurricane Katrina. It seems the extraordinary talents and interests of our students and professors too often goes unnoticed. "Tell Me Something I Don't Know" is an attempt to bring these gifts to light.

PUC Campus Colloquy takes place every Thursday at 10 a.m. in the PUC church. Students are expected to attend at least six colloquies each quarter.