Vietnam

They Can’tHelp but SingOn April 1, the Swarthmore CollegeGospel Choir and the BlackCultural Center both markedtheir 35th birthdays. In whatwas a joyous celebration ofsinging together in praise, choirmembers, under the musicaldirection of Vaneese Thomas’74, delighted an audience thatfilled the Friends Meetinghouse.They even caused severalpassersby to stop and listen—oreven allow themselves to beenticed inside.Singing with their wholebodies, swaying and clapping tothe rhythm, they performed aselection of songs both rousingand haunting. They concludedwith Paul Halley’s vibrant composition“Freedom Trilogy,”sung in 16th-century Greek, anAfrican language, and English.During the event, JaneJames, who retired as a memberof the academic computing teamin Information TechnologyServices in December, and“Just in Time” featuredsoloist Gerald Cox ’78 andthe trio of NiYa Costley ’97,Marissa Davis ’08, andJacqueline Edmonds ’74.Astrid Devaney, associate directorof alumni relations, werehonored for their longtime supportof the choir. Vice Presidentfor College and CommunityRelations Maurice Eldridge ’61spoke of its having “transformedthe College and made ita more welcoming place.”Reminiscing about thechoir’s founding during herundergraduate days in the mid-1970s, Thomas recalled fondlythe times when a few studentsgathered “wherever they couldfind a piano … singing becausethey couldn’t help but sing.”Luckily, they still can’t helpit—and their audience couldn’thelp but be enchanted.—Carol Brévart-DemmCOURTESY OF THE BLACK CULTURAL CENTER“Since most of the [Jewish] students here are secular, the way todraw them in was to have fun activities that were somewhat connectedwith the holidays occurring at the same time,” Ruach secretaryDaniela Manopla ’08 says.Although social events have consistently proved the most popular,Jethro Berkman, Jewish student adviser and a rabbinical studentat the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, also runs weekly groupson studying the Talmud and learning to lead services. “We’re tryingto provide opportunities to connect in a variety of ways—socially,culturally, through study, by coming to services. It’s important thatwe express the idea that all of these are valuable ways of connectingto Judaism,” Berkman says.Berkman, in his first year at Swarthmore, is one of three religiousadvisers on campus, all with offices in Bond Hall, which has becomea campus Interfaith Center. Berkman’s part-time position is fundedby Hillel of Greater Philadelphia and contributions from alumni.Father Ed Windhaus also arrived in fall 2005 as the RomanCatholic adviser. He was appointed by the Archdiocese of Philadelphiathrough the auspices of the Newman Community and alsoserves students at Bryn Mawr and Haverford colleges.Protestant adviser Joyce Tompkins has been at Swarthmore since2003. Her position is supported by Partners in Ministry, a consortiumof local Protestant churches whose congregational contributionsare supplemented by a small endowment. Tompkins advisesthe Swarthmore Protestant Community (SPC, also known as theSwarthmore Progressive Christians). Another student group is affiliatedwith the Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, a national evangelicalcampus mission.In 2006–2007, Tompkins will become a full-time staff member.In addition to advising the SPC, she will work with Associate Deanof Multicultural Affairs Darryl Smaw and two student interns toexpand interfaith programs. These will include a Religion on CampusWeek to be held in January 2007. According to Tompkins, thisevent will embrace all faiths on campus. “Because of the growingdiversity of the student body, we’re seeing representatives of morediverse religious traditions, including followers of Hinduism, Islam,Ba’hai, Sikhism, and students who self-identify as pagans. TheInterfaith Center seeks to support all religious expression and topromote dialogue among these different groups.”—Lauren Stokes ’09 and Jeffrey Lottjune 2006 : 9