Asbury Student Congress’s first-ever Town Hall was held in the Stuce on Tuesday, Nov. 12. At the event, students gathered to hear pressing questions answered by the school’s president’s cabinet.
Student Body President Maggie Richwine hosted the event which featured President Kevin Brown, Provost Timothy Wooster, Vice President of Student Development Sarah Baldwin, Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics Mark Whitworth and Vice President for Institutional Advancement Mark Troyer.
One question submitted by a student asked about the LGBTQ community on Asbury’s campus. Brown took the lead on the response, concluding that given the Wesleyan tradition Asbury is based upon, the school’s stance on sexuality cannot be negotiated. He said that Asbury’s goal is to make every student feel loved regardless of their status in life, and that a person’s sexual preference does not determine their identity.
“Every student at Asbury is going to be loved, they’re going to be supported and they’re going to be encouraged. If they’re not, then we’re doing something very wrong,” said Brown.
Brown clarified that the tension comes from the disparity that affirmation and celebration of sexual minority preferences are not the same as being loved. Brown also said he wanted to remind students that sex and marriage are not the ultimate forms of relationship; God is.
Baldwin discussed her views on discipline and Asbury policies. Baldwin said the school has a transformational approach to discipline rather than a transactional approach. She explained that the school focuses on evaluating different levels of punishment depending on the situation, such as a lower level punishment for a bit of alcohol off campus compared to buying alcohol for minors on campus.
Baldwin also talked about chapel and the inclusion of more intercultural backgrounds into messages and said that next year’s sexuality symposium will include talks about sexual minorities.
Panelists were asked about potential increases in tuition; they have not officially announced an increase at this time.
Wooster discussed the Collaborative Learning Center. He revealed that they have finished designing the interior and plan to break ground sometime in late May 2020. The construction period will last 18-24 months.
“It’s definitely going to reinvigorate learning for students,” said Wooster.
When asked what they thought was the most pressing issue on Asbury’s campus, Baldwin said that it was students having a sense of belonging, and she discussed ways to increase that sense.
Wooster said enrollment is a pressing issue for the future based on the declining population of high school students. He encourages students and anyone else to spread the word about Asbury and its unique offerings and experience.
Other topics included potential plans to allow students into the Luce and the library on Sundays, as well as renovations to the Luce, such as the potential addition of a coffee and healthy snack shop.
The panel concluded with Brown encouraging students to get more involved in these types of discussions so there can be transparency on campus between faculty and students. He stated that he wants students to find their place in community and in mentorship the same way he did when he was in college. Brown hopes for more events like the Town Hall in the future.
