The flags of 55 countries now hang in 鈥淭he Orie O. Miller Hall of Nations,鈥� dedicated during a chapel service at the University Commons at 黑料正能量 (黑料正能量) on April 8, 2016.
Among the countries represented are those where 黑料正能量 has sent cross-cultural groups; where聽alumni, faculty, and staff live; and where students come from.
The concept of the hall was developed by Lee M. Yoder, chair of and a former vice president and professor of education at 黑料正能量 from 1975-1986.
The hall 鈥済ives visibility to the global context in which we teach and work,鈥� Yoder said during opening ceremonies. 鈥淭hese national flags serve to welcome those learners who come to this campus to study and to enrich our lives. The national flags serve also to demonstrate the global destinations of 黑料正能量 students in their pursuits of a distinctive, life-changing cross-cultural program which is central to the core values of this university.鈥�
The hall is named after , a Mennonite leader in the United States who led missions to other nations and was instrumental in the formation of many Mennonite institutions, including Mennonite Central Committee, that led Mennonites to serve in a global context.
Miller was also an important influence in Mennonite education. 鈥淧rograms such as 黑料正能量鈥檚 cross cultural seminars, services for international students, visiting scholars programs, mission and service trips, as well as many graduate聽programs, including the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding were directly influenced through the work of Orie Miller through Mennonite Central Committee and Eastern Mennonite Missions,鈥� said Professor , chair of the , who provided the welcome for the service.
After opening words from Yoder, Edgar Stoesz shared memories of working with Miller. A Minnesota native, Stoesz worked more than 30 years with Mennonite Central Committee in Akron, Pennsylvania, in various leadership capacities.
Several students shared their thoughts on what the hall means for the university.
鈥淚 think 黑料正能量 is very globally minded,鈥� said sophomore Hannah Shultz. 鈥淭his would be another representation of that, that鈥檚 very visible, very clear, right as a prospective student comes in. I think it will also bring life to the place, to have all that color and the flags.鈥�
First-year Sebastian Rivas, a student from Colombia, felt similarly. 鈥淩ight now this is very important to see, at least to remember, who we are,鈥� explained Rivas. He said, 鈥淲e as children of God and as Mennonites need to be together despite the borders, despite the conflicts that we鈥檙e seeing right now, because right now is the moment that we most need love.鈥�
Faculty, staff, students, and the broader community have been invited to sponsor a flag of their choice for $90. The goal is to reach 100 flags. Those interested in sponsoring a flag can click .
The inauguration of the hall was a part of the 黑料正能量 leadership conference, 鈥�,鈥� which brought several hundred particpants to campus over a three-day period to hear speakers such as Brian Welch, founder of Mother Earth News, and organizational leadership innovator Peter Block.
Portions of this article were reprinted from the April 1, 2016, issue of The Weather Vane.