Category: Campus News

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By Maria Monteros

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee shared his personal faith experience, including the death of his first wife and his journey from businessman to politician, with the Trevecca community in Tuesday’s chapel service.

The Tennessee governor agreed to share his testimony when a Trevecca student invited him to speak in one of university’s worship services.

Lee told students about the tragic death of his first wife when their four children were young and how that time solidified his faith.

“The Lord does his most powerful work, I’m convinced, in the midst of struggle and difficulty and pain,” he said. “I could speak for hours about what God did in the nearness that I felt in the most broken of days. I believe that to the degree a person is broken they can experience wholeness.”

Lee highlighted how his experience as a businessman, his mentorship program with men in prison and his involvement with various passion projects led him into the political scene.

“That brush with public policy and state agencies started making me think maybe, maybe I should use my life in a greater way. Maybe I should consider the next step,” he said. “This had not been something I planned on or aspired to or thought was really in my path was being the governor of the state of Tennessee, but it was on my heart.”

Trevecca President Dan Boone spoke before and after Lee spoke on stage, initially introducing the governor and asking students to be respectful with their comments when Lee left the building.

In his introduction, Boone noted Lee’s work with Men of Valor, a prison ministry founded by a Trevecca alum, and showed a picture of when Lee signed a declaration honoring Homer Adams, a former Trevecca President. Adams was present and offered the opening prayer.

When Lee was alone on the podium, two students stood up directly in front of him carrying signs in protest of his policies on immigration and his decision to follow through with Donnie Johnson’s execution. At the same time, a group of seven to 10 students also walked out of chapel.

“I thank you for your passion. I appreciate that,” Lee said, addressing the protesters. “I had to make the decision to allow the criminal justice system as designed by this state and desired by the people of Tennessee my decision to follow the law of Tennessee and allow that execution to take place.”

He also encouraged students to stand up for what they believe in and be leaders in their own way, even within their own friend groups.

“I encourage you and challenge you in your days ahead to be courageous to stand up for what you believe just like these two people,” he said. “These two people have stood up for what they believe in quite frankly a respectful way.”

The two students stood and held up their signs throughout Lee’s time on stage.

“I decided that I would rather be remembered for what I did not what I didn’t do,” said Rachele Stanley, sophomore social justice major, who held up a sign advocating for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients. “I believe it is very scary for a lot of people here on campus who are children of DACA who are frightened that this man was coming to speak to us especially if he opposes their existence here.”

Trevecca is one of the universities in Tennessee that partners with Equal Chance For Education (ECE)— an organization that provides scholarship for DACA recipients.

Erykah Lewis, junior social justice major, said she didn’t participate in the walk out because she wanted the governor to see minority students.

“I think there is more strength in staying and letting him see my face,” Lewis said. “I feel like if we keep moving towards walking out and protesting, then we’ll never understand what happens when we engage in conversation where we can come to a compromise.”

Michael Carlson, junior religion major, was motivated to go to chapel because of Lee’s work with his father, Carl Carlson, in Men of Valor— an organization meant to equip previously incarcerated men to reintegrate into society.

“I thought [Lee] handled the protest gracefully,” he said. “I think he tried to make his point clear, of his priorities and service. His motivation is to serve Christ for others.”

Anthony Senecal said he “appreciated the humanity” behind the message of Lee’s testimony.

“I hope [Lee] makes decisions grounded in the freedom that God desires for all people,” he said.

The university requires students to attend chapel at least 24 times each semester, but for this service, students were given credit regardless of whether they were present.

A blank card and a pen was place on every chair in chapel for students to write letters of feedback or gratitude to the governor.  Boone said he plans to deliver the cards to the governor on behalf of Trevecca students.

Find more coverage here and here.

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By Naomi Overby

Around 20 students and faculty and staff gathered in the Fireside Room in Bud Robinson to talk and pray during chapel on Tuesday.

The event was hosted by a few faculty members who had heard from students that they were uncomfortable attending chapel if Gov. Bill Lee was speaking.  Some students on campus expressed concern about Lee’s views on issues like immigration and tuition for DACA students.

“When the chapel schedule came out…we just started listening to students, having conversations with each other. There were faculty that were being curious about how to be a part of charitable discourse but also how to support students,” said Elizabeth Nunley, assistant professor of social work.

Twelve students and 10 faculty and staff members attended the meeting.

Trevecca President Dan Boone hosted meetings, one with faculty and one with all employees, in the days leading up to Lee’s visit on campus.

During those meetings, faculty were told they were free to support students who had concerns or felt unsafe about the visit. A few faculty members had the idea to host an alternative event that students could come to in order to feel heard, seen, and safe.

Nunley said that there was a desire to help students discern the differences and options of protesting versus community conversations or safe spaces.

“That’s really what we wanted to offer. It is a protest to not go, to show up in a space, and speak your truth. It happened in a way that felt meaningful and productive,” Nunley said.

The event started off with the attendants circling up for prayer and a few words shared by faculty members.

Announcements were made to let students know the intention of the group, giving students a space to still share community without attending chapel. Students and faculty then moved to sitting in a circle and introducing themselves and were given a space to say why they attended and any concerns they had. The event closed out in prayer.

Baskets were placed in the room, one containing materials for students to still participate in the letter writing to Gov. Lee or to other people, and the other was for prayer requests.

Ariana Catalan, a senior business management major, comes from a family of immigrants, and has friends and family who are DACA recipients.

Catalan attended the event because she feels directly affected by the governor’s visit to campus, and is thankful that professors let students know by hosting this event that they are concerned for them.

“I feel more assured about our safety. I feel that there are people who actually care for us or care for DACA recipients,” Catalan said.

Find more coverage here and here.

By Maria Monteros, Kayla Williamson, Kallie Sohm and Naomi Overby

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee’s visit to campus generated multiple conversations and meetings in the weeks leading up to his appearance in chapel.

As word spread that the governor would be speaking in chapel it garnered mixed reactions from students and faculty on campus. Some said they were looking forward to having the Republican governor on campus and others questioned why he would have a platform in chapel.

Some students and faculty expressed concern about how the governor’s visit impacted students of color or students with DACA status.

Earlier this year, Lee signed the proclamation establishing July 13 as Nathan Bedford Forrest Day. Nathan Bedford Forest was a Confederate Army general and an early member of the Ku Klux Klan. Students also expressed concern about anti-immigration rhetoric and policies from the governor.

Prior to Lee’s scheduled chapel, Boone met with two clubs on campus, Walden, a student organization for African American students, and Futuro, a club designed to engage middle Tennessee Latino college students in professional development.

He also spoke at the SGA’s first Town Hall meeting of the semester which was open to all students.

“I believe that we have student groups that have been negatively affected by some of the choices the governor has made. They are wondering, ‘Is this an endorsement by Trevecca of some of the things he has done?’ I wanted to meet with our students to say very clearly to them, no this is not an endorsement.” said Dan Boone, university president.

Boone said that during those meetings with Walden and Futuro, he addressed that there would be people brought to campus who have been “champions” for them, and that the same standards will be held when they attend. Other students will be asked to respect those visitors as well whether they disagree with them or not.

Aside from immigration and the Nathan Bedford Forrest proclamation, Boone said students may be wondering his position on the equal tuition act for DACA students.

Mariam Fawzy, treasurer of Futuro, said she isn’t opposed to healthy conversation about differing views, but that some of Lee’s rhetoric, particularly during his campaign for governor, felt like an attack to several Latino students on campus.

“This is a human rights issue. This is no longer ‘I’m a conservative or a liberal.’ What message are we passing really because he will be coming here to talk about the love of Jesus…but is he really putting that into his work life?” she said.

Several students said they were excited to hear the governor’s testimony and thank him for his work on prison reform and pro-life measures.

Lily Moll, a junior, said it was an honor for Trevecca to host the governor. She’s followed his career as the founder of the Lee Company and then governor.

“His testimony is moving, powerful and worth taking a listen to,” she said. “I was encouraged and excited to hear that he was coming to campus to speak because I believe his message reaches beyond politics by inspiring those of the Christain faith.”

Some students told Boone they were eager to thank the governor for his work with Men of Valor, a Christian prison ministry and mentoring program. Additionally, students have told Boone that they appreciate the pro-life position Lee holds.

Trevecca is a non-partisan campus and doesn’t endorse political candidates, said Boone. Had Lee wanted to talk about any political topics, he would have said chapel was not the space for him to come and speak. However, since Lee wanted to share his testimony, Boone said it was appropriate that he speak in chapel.

“It’s where the people of God gather to hear the stories of the people of God,” Boone said.

Several Trevecca students intern with politicians, both Republican and Democrat, and Boone said having politicians on campus is an educational as well as a networking opportunity for students.

“I want our students to go into politics. I want our students to be open about the way that God might speak to them about going into politics. I want them to see examples of people for whom that is their story. I’m hoping that many of our students who feel like they can serve God in that field will hear (Lee’s) story and it will inspire them to go into politics,” Boone said.

The bigger picture of the visit with Lee, Boone said, is that it is the “toe in the water of how we’re going to deal with the [2020] presidential election.” Ideally, he hopes to establish a culture of respectful dialogue, hospitality to those who will come to visit on campus, and enriched opportunities for conversation between students. Boone wants to get ahead of the campaign.

“When we get to the presidential election, then we’re able to enter it at the level of ‘Let’s talk about the issues, why particular candidates attract or don’t attract you.’ Let’s try to get ahead of that this time instead of it just hitting us in the face,” said Boone.

Ultimately, Boone hopes Lee’s visit and visits from other politicians in the future, give Trevecca a chance to show that followers of Jesus can show a different way to handle discussion and debate around political issues.

“I think the divide comes because our world has taught us to divide… The world we live in is enemy centered, shame based, divisive, and very mean spirited. Anytime you get into politics in the world you find that’s the mind set people rush to all the time. We have been affected living in that kind of world,” Boone said. “One of the opportunities Trevecca has is that we could give the world a very different picture of how you deal with someone whose ideas may be totally different than yours.”

Find more coverage here and here.

By Bailee Ford

Remodeled bathrooms, phone chargers to check out and more study rooms are a few of the improvements to the library over the summer thanks to the Waggoner family’s latest gift to the university.

Andrea Fowler, Trevecca’s new director of library services, explains that there are long-term plans to provide more technology for student and faculty use, introduce new types of study spaces, and utilize new approaches to providing librarian support to both on campus and online students equally. She hopes that every student continues to use these resources and reach out for help from the library as it continues to be updated.

The changes this year include the remodeling of bathrooms on all three floors, general paint touchups, and new library resources. Students can now check out phone chargers, reserve more study rooms than before, and schedule research appointments with librarians.

Last year, the Waggoner family established the Waggoner Family Foundation, valued at $20 million. The proceeds of this foundation, which are estimated to be about a $1 million a year, go to scholarships and the care and upkeep of the library.

“The Waggoners gave a portion of their most recent large gift to Trevecca for the maintenance and upkeep of the library. The library staff is very appreciative of this generosity and is excited about what the gift can do to update and improve the library building in the coming years,” she said.

Don and Zelma Waggoner are two hardworking individuals that have a very loving history with Trevecca, said Dan Boone, university president.

“They are very humble Nazarene business people who started a uniform cleaning business in the basement of their house,” Boone says. “He would pick up dirty uniforms from different places and they would work through the night to wash, dry, iron and get the uniforms ready to be delivered the next morning.”

After building up their business for many years and eventually selling it to invest in real estate, Trevecca remains the Waggoner family’s primary beneficiary.

“They were the primary donors for the library, the sole donors for the Reed Bell Tower, and major contributors for the Zelma Waggoner Performance Hall in the Jackson Music Building,” Boone says.

A portion of the donation is dedicated specifically for bathroom renovations at the library that cannot be spent on other buildings, Boone explains.

“A part of it is used for freshmen scholarships and part of it goes into a scholarship endowment so we’re able to award scholarships to returning students out of that,” Boone explains. “Most of their gifts in the last few years have been for student scholarships, not buildings.”

After the budget is figured out for an on-campus construction project, it then goes to the Public Spaces Committee, who plans out the design in a way that would fit the existing building and Trevecca as a whole.