By Wesley Hague

I am hunted but never prey
I am guilty buy do not pay
I am lame, yet still I walk
I am silenced, yet still I talk

I have fallen, yet I stand
I am empty, you lend your hand
I am tired, yet I still go on
Weary yet, I sing your song

Without you I can’t compete
Without you I am not complete

By Stephanie Vincent

Greg Nash:
Go with God, all else will fall in place.

Lisa Kuepfer:
May God be with you wherever you go. Sometimes his way is the hard way, but it’s the best way.

Ben Ahrens:
Don’t come back.

Angela Gazeley:
Don’t get dead.

James Fretz:
Congratulations, and may God bless you where you may go. Especially Drew, whom I will mess; best RA ever.

Brandon Meyers:
Life is short, are you who you want to be? SEEK…HIM.

Rachel Neumeister:
Have a nice life.

Sarah Capeling:
Bye, I’ll miss you.

Jeff Hopkins:
Have good mosh pitting.

Interviewed by Stephanie Vincent

FULL NAME: Amanda Katherine Gray
STUDENT COUNCIL POSITION: Vice President and Finance Officer
HOMETOWN: St. Thomas, ON
CURRENTLY RESIDES: Emmanuel Bible College, Kitchener Ontario
HOME CHURCH: Eastwood Fellowship Baptist
FAMILY: Mom: Sharon, Dad: Bob, Older Brothers: Ryan and Darren
PETS: Stevie the dog
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND: Central Elgin Collegiate Institute, Graduating this year with BRE Missions and Christian Education
FAVOURITE BOOK AND WHY: “Don’t really have a favorite book, currently reading The Screwtape Letters, by C.S. Lewis and 1984 by George Orwell and enjoying them both.”
FAVOURITE FOOD: “Pasta and fruit, preferably not combined.”
FAVOURITE BIBLE VERSE: Romans 8:38-39 “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present, nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSON AND WHY: Overall throughout Christian walk, her youth pastor, Pastor Kyle, and throughout this year Karen Cornies. “They have both been people that I’ve been able to talk to and work things out with by talking to and people who have encouraged me a lot with who I am in God.”
MOST INFLUENTIAL BIBLICAL HERO: “Esther, because she had everything and was willing to lose it, even her life, for the sake of her people.”
MOST INFLUENTIAL CHARACTER IN FICTION: Anyone who has taken a dream of theirs and made it a reality.
DREAM VACATION: “Caribbean, Africa, or New Zealand, Europe (pretty much everywhere) in that order.”
IF YOU COULD CHANGE PLACES WITH ANYONE FOR A DAY AT EBC-WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY: “Any first year, without any extra-curricular responsibilities or commitments.”
A QUOTE FOR THE MASSES: The best way for people to defend themselves is through non-violent opposition, with intelligence and the principle of justice as weapons, rather than with the blind energy of anger: Dalai Lama
NAME YOU WISH YOU WERE GIVEN: Bridget, but likes the name Amanda, it’s a really pretty name, just wish it weren’t so common.
BLOOD TYPE: No idea, something common I’m sure
HOW DO YOU WANT TO DIE? “For Jesus (if not that, then something painless)”
EMBARRASSING STORY: I was caught on video somersaulting down the hall making weird noises.
SUPER-SHORT TESTIMONY: I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life, but no matter what God has never left me and time and again has shown me grace. I know that He has plans for me and I’m excited to see how He’s going to use me in my next stage of life.
HOW HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED GOD THIS YEAR: God has been present through everything this year, and is constantly reminding me that I am His child whom He loves.”

A Blind thought process by Jordan Vetro, Editor
By Jordan Vetro

On April 5, 2008 a group from the EBC community went on an outing to the Ayr Curling Club. I write now in response to said event. I hate Curling. Ever since becoming aquainted with it I knew that I would always hate curling. There’s just this horrible vibe about the whole thing that makes me want to vomit. The screaming and yelling in boomish enraged tones frighten me to an unknowable degree. I know I have to brace myself whenever I go anywhere near curling for a rough time, one that’s going to make me feel so fatigued. Curling is mentally trying to an intense degree. I mean, curling is just so dumb-never let’s you get a word in edgewise. The nerve of the whole business! Curling has bad hair, an annoying laugh. He makes fun of me all the time. He thinks he’s so great. Sometimes curling just makes me want to scream. And that’s what I think about curling. **
In terms of the sport, I enjoyed our time Gracing, and I look forward to going out to Grace once again next year. It’s a great time for the community to get together and participate in a challenging, but not too discouraging sport that allows for good fellowship in the midst of a great time.***

**Curling here, is meant to symbolize Tim Grace.
***Gracing is here meant to symbolize Curling
(This article is written at the allowance and encouragement of Tim Grace)

By Wesley Hague

Plot:
The plotline starts of with a creature known as the Nine Tail Fox, which is a demon in Japaness mythology attacks the “Village Hidden in the Leaves” to save the village. The Fourth Hokogae (Ruler, and strongest ninja) of the village sacrifices himself to steal the Nine Tail Fox inside a young boy. Unfortunately for the young boy, he gets stigmatized because of it and is generally treated as a cast-out as he grows up. That boy is Naruto.
Years later regardless of peoples opinion of him, Naruto is training to become a Ninja, and one day he wants to become the “Fifth Hokogae” Yet Naruto lacks a lot of the natural talent of his peers, and top of that he is constantly acting out to get attention. Yet despite everyone under estimation of him, Naruto is quite resourceful and hard working.

Cons:
The Japanese origins of this T.V. show are quite apparent. It contains a lot of “mysticism” talk of Chalkra and Chi and on top of that Naruto is later taught to use the “power” from the creature trapped inside him, which can be consider wrong. The humor can be considered crude at times, and for some episodes that humor can be taken a little to far and false way out of good taste. Some of the bad guys depicted in the show are quite evil and violent, yet for the most part these things are not shown. There is also quite a bit of combat.

Pros:
The show is chalked full of positive messages, as Naruto is constantly the underdog, being matched against opponents with a lot of natural talent, and inherited abilities. Yet Naruto trains himself hard, some of his worst skills because his strongest talents. He show a determination that only serves to inspire others who also would be consider out-casts.
Team work is also stressed, as Naruto and two others are assigned to a team together, and while Naruto still maintains a rivalry with some of them, he learns to work together with them and even the rivalry sparks that drive to do better and work harder.
Later in the seasons, they also address the issue of redemption which has former bad guys turning good.

Overview:
If you get exited at the idea of “Ninja Combat” and like Anime, well then this show might be for you. Once you get passed the sometimes annoying humor and you are comfortable with watching a show that has a lot to do with a lot of foreign mythology then Naruto could be an interested show.
I firmly believe that while it does have it share of negative elements, the messages that the show is lace with more than make up for the negative aspects of it. With the positive messages in this show I highly recommend this show, even for a Teenage audience if they are even remotely interested in it.

By Howie Lloyd Allen

This story begins in an evil war for world peace. There was an evil swords man named Kon. There was an evil black cloak that when worn made whoever wore it disappeared and were sent to his evil world. In this evil world men were destroyed by evil powers and the only way back is to get rid of the evil cloak. The more a person puts the cloak on the harder and the more danger they would be in. The evil cloak was made by accident. It was made for safety by a wizard named Hazzel. It was made by using magic on a pitch black robe which was originally was only worn in battle. The spell was supposed to give the one who wore it power to win the war but, if in danger by putting the hood up would send whoever wore it to a safe place for protection from all evil powers. The battles were long and the cloak showed who the leader was but, that was until a spell went wrong. The spell was not finished and instead of safety the spell changed the cloak into an evil curse.
The war began and the horses ran through the streets. The evil Kon wanted the cloak as he was from the dimension of where the humans who wore it would be sent. The cloak was usually carried or tied onto a flag. Kon won that war and stole the cloak.
Many generations’ later two brother hobbits were walking. Their names were Lukas and Martian. They lived by a black cave. They usually would walk through it and hide there to startle each other. These brothers wore a bright red cloak with a hood at the back.
“Lukas help!!! There is a monster in the cave coming towards me help he has sharp dagger like teeth.”
I am coming!!! Lukas draws his sword runs into the cave ahhhhh charge!!! Where’s the monster Martian? I do not know why I fall for stupid things like this. You little rascal one of these days I will get you back!!!
Martian was a prankster and was much better at pulling them then Lukas. Lukas loved his little brother and he was always scared something would happen to him.
The cave they were in was dark it had been many years since the war. The cave they were in was creepy. Spider webs and sticky rocks and puddles throughout the cave.
The two brothers walked until they saw a weird looking entry to another part of the cave. Lying on the ground was a dark hooded cloak Martian put it on and disappeared. He went to another dimension. He saw dark knights with hooded black capes that saw him and went after him. He ran hard to get away his heart was pounding he screamed for Lukas but he was no where in sight. Scared terrified all of a sudden he heard this screeching noise of a black dragon, he fell to the ground holding his hands to his ears doing anything just to stop the screaming sound of the dragon. He ran into a cave and hid then he saw Kon. Martian knew of the legends and thought they were just children stories to scare but he was wrong dead wrong he ran away as Kon chased him with sword in hand.
You have something that does not belong to you; he hissed you have the black cloak of the dimension soon you shall be stuck here and never to return. He began to sweat he took off the cloak and ended back in the cave with his brother.
Martin was huffing and puffing out of breath and all of a sudden he saw a knight wearing Kon’s armor he ran out screaming ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!! The man in the armor was his brother he smiled and said to himself told you I get you back.
In the house crying and still shaken from the cloak in his room was little Martin. His brother took the armor off and went home. When he got home his mother turned and asked what was wrong with Martin. He was in his room crying something about Kon. Oh by the way could you hang this black robe up? Your brother brought it home with him.
The legend has it that once the robe is put on the evil battle would begin all over the battle for world peace the battle between darkness and light.
It was night and the cloak began to glow then a voice from the robe said you will never escape Kon. Martian went down stairs to see the robe. The light of the robe caught his eye and he began to walk closer and closer he went to grab it when his brother Lukas began to come down the stairs he jumped grabbed the cloak and yelled at his brother telling him to go to his room there is something about this cloak that is not safe!!!
When morning came there was an earth quake the ground shook rocks split from the cracks and out of the split ground came Kon and his army. The two brothers knew that the legends were now true they must run to the wizard Hazzel and give him the cloak. The journey would be long but it had to be done. They packed some food and ran out the door into the dark woods.
As they journeyed the long journey to the castle to meet Hazzel the wizard they knew this was not going to be an easy journey. Kon and his army were released from their dimension. And Martian knew it was his fault. He did not know that the cloak on the ground was evil at the time it was just an ordinary black cloak he thought. Now some how he has to take it to a wizard and hopefully put and end to Kon and his army before they destroy our world and turn it into a world like there own.
Martian and Lukas were off through the woods on their journey. Lukas loved his brother they talked and walked together to be rid of the cursed cloak. Martian decided his prank days were over. He was young and scared with his hand tightly holding his older brothers hand. Afraid of the hell that may be ahead as Kon had been released and Martian had the urge to grab the cloak from his older brother and put it on. That is part of the curse because he knows the evil of the cloak and it is hard not to put it on after its small taste of the cool but very scary world.
Lukas every night would have to guard the cloak for two reasons one so Kon’s army could not get the cloak and two to stop his younger foolish brother from putting it back on.
They continued to walk when they both grew tired and fell asleep in a meadow. They slept to the sound of the birds and the whistling of the crickets. They slept for a long time when Lukas felt a wet nose pushing against his face. When he opened his eyes he saw five beautiful unicorns. Their hair was long and they had wings the two brothers jumped on the back of one of the unicorns and flew off.
They were flying peacefully until they heard this loud screeching noise. They covered their ears and the unicorn and they fell to the ground. The dragon flew with Kon on its back and the dragon blew fire burning everything in sight. Kon drew his sword and the unicorn charged Kon went to stab the unicorn but the horn of the unicorn pierced the dragon’s side and the dragon fell crashing to the earth. With the dragons last breath the unicorn was set on fire and Kon killed the unicorn with one slice of the sword.
Kon was about to go after Martian when Lukas grabbed Martian and took his sword and took an angry and hard swing at Kon. Kon was not about to leave without the black cloak. He went to grab it when all of a sudden Hazzel the Wizard appeared he grabbed the two hobbits and in a flash they were out of harms way and ended up in a castle.
The wizard turned to the boys and asked “who released the evil army of Kon? As the legend has it there will have to be a war. There must be a war for my evil mistake on that black cloak. I should have killed Kon and not tried to cast the power spell on the cloak, but it is a little late now. I guess there will have to be so they went to see the king.
We are going to need an army to beat this one. I really don’t think we stand a chance. Kon and his army have a curse spell that if they die as soon as someone puts the cloak on we start all over.”
The Wizard Hazzel grabbed the black cloak and led the boys to the throne room. The king was sitting very quiet. When he saw Hazzel he let him and the two boys enter. Then Hazzel said “Sorry to disturb you king but Kon has been released as the black cloak was discovered in a dark cave. We are back in the war which we were many centuries before like the one when you were only a child. We need an army and we know as long as the cloak stays in our hands we have victory. I need to finish the spell but if Kon gets the cloak we will never win unless we get it back”
Then they heard people screaming and dying by the sword of Kon and his army. The king knew the war had begun. The king’s army got their best armor on and prepared for battle. Hazzel grabbed the cloak and took it into a high room to finish the spell. He opened the magic book and began to chant. The cloak began to glow when all of a sudden kon took his sword and Hazzel grabbed his scepter and they fought. Lukas ran into the room and after Kon and grabbed the cloak and almost ran out the door when Kon was about to kill Hazzel but, Lukas ran straight at Kon pushed him out the window. Kon fell crashing to the ground but managed to grab the cloak.
The dark army had the cloak and the war had just gotten a lot worse. Now the unfinished spell would have made the dark cloak even more evil as it was now in the hands of Kon.
In the hands of Kon the black cloak laid. Lukas held his brother close tight in his arms. His brother martin began to cry as he felt this war was his fault. Martin was afraid that the war maybe over and the world destroyed all because of him because he stole the cloak and put it on. All Martin could think about was how guilty he was.
Lukas knew if one legend were true then maybe the legend of a dragon that only helps when the heart is in the right motive maybe true also. Lukas turned to his brother and said “Martin come with me were going to end this war. We can not kill Kon on our own we are going back to the cave where this mess all started.”
The two brothers grabbed a torch and headed home where the dark cave was.
As they entered the cave they saw two main doors one was Kon’s and the other was for the dragon. Lukas knocked on the dragon’s door. Then they heard a voice say “who needs my loving power. Only true love may receive it. I will not destroy enemies out of hate please speak so I may judge.
As the two boys explained their problem and Lukas told of how much he loved his brother the door opened. The dragon showed the two brothers red armor and two swords that when a person with a strong loving heart would easily cut through anything. It was powered by the love of the person who used it. If an evil person like Kon grabbed it would get so heavy that he would not be able to swing it.
They jumped on the dragon’s back and flew into battle. The dark army charged after them on their dragons but Lukas and Martin’s dragon blew fire that the army could not beat. The army was set a blaze and was defeated. Kon came after them and the dragon let Lukas down and flew Martin to safety. Lukas and Kon stared into each others eyes. Lukas drew his sword and so did Kon.
Their swords collided and martin jumped off the dragon and. Kon was about to kill him when Lukas jumped in front and took the death. Martin grabbed his brother and he ran carrying him to Hazzel.
Hazzel looked at him and did not shed a tear. He looked at Martin and with a smile said because he died out of love he will rise again to save you. Confused little Martin did not understand by sunrise the body was missing.
Martin was about to run after Kon and probably be killed when he heard sword fighting in the far distance when he got to see what had happened Lukas defeated Kon and the black robe turned white and all evil was now finished.
The dragon became their friend and protector. The two hobbits love was true and they all lived a very long time the end

By Jordan Vetro

In Douglas Adams’ Restaurant at the End of the Universe, Zaphod Beeblebrox, a self absorbed shallow sort of a person, is forced to undergo the greatest torture this universe has to offer. He is placed in a small booth, where he is shown, but the process of zooming out, just how small he is in the universe. This revelation of a person’s own insignificance in this grand universe, is supposed to be the most horrid torture in the universe. But Zaphod is unharmed. It seems he is so self absorbed, so assured of his own importance, that he is unscathed, saved by his own awareness of how important he is.
How sad for Zaphod. He is far too deluded to understand how important he is, and in light of this, and other aspects of his character, we, as readers, begin to see him as little more than an arrogant fool. Right? Because it’s obviously true that he could not have been as important as he assumed he was, yes?
Consider yourself for a moment. Are you at times guilty of the same sin as poor Zaphod. For our final devotional study, our final point of meditation, will be somewhat controversial. Not that I feel it should be, but we seem to have deluded ourselves to the contrary. I am about to imply that we are not wholly good.
We are fallen beings. Once at a closeness with God, we are separated. In this separation, we lost our significance in the universe. On their own strength, the human being is a failure. So why are we trying so hard to prove how important we are.
You disagree. The human being is important. You will take me now to the Psalms, you shall turn to the eight psalm. David proclaims “You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty! You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet.” Very good says I, there is the human being in all of its splendour. We are second only to God, and great in this universe. So how can I argue that we are so insignificant?
I can argue this based on what David says just before this quote “What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him?”
I want to quote a point made by John Calvin, at the very heart of his theology. Calvin wrote “When we think of what God gave us at our birth, and still graciously continues to give. . . we remember that we have nothing of ourselves, but depend entirely on God, for whom we hold in trust whatever he sees fit to give. Secondly, when we look at our wretched state… all confidence and boasting melt away; we blush for shame and feel truly humble.” This is a powerful thought. Going back to the prophet Isaiah, it is written that the greatest deeds of humans are, to God, as filthy rags.
But in the midst of the horrors of our race, he exalts us to the level that is shown. A little below himself.
I write to you today, not to discourage you with the lowness of your being, to encourage you, in that all that you are, you are loved by God.
You are exalted to a higher place than any of your human ambition could attain. You are a greater being than Zaphod Beeblebrox, not because you are a better person than him, for we are but molecules against God’s greatness, but because, in God’s greatness, he cares more for you than any other aspect of His creation.
This is my encouragement to you. Forget yourself, remember God. Know that you are greater now than you could ever be, because God sees you as something. Praise God, for you are great, because God is great.

From the Editor’s Desk

Welcome, one an all, to the final issue of the VOICE of Emmanuel Bible College. I extend a firm and uplifting handshake to all of you who have given us your time and readership since through the year.
Looking back upon the school year, I hope you, dear reader, have seen growth. I hope you have experienced joys. I hope you have seen triumphs and learned lessons about life. I hope you have taken away memories of God’s grace being extended to you. I hope you can see where God has shaped you. I hope you have shown love, as I hope you have been loved. I hope you have been forgiven your faults, and found forgiveness in yourself to heal the pains that others may carry away from our time here.
To the graduating students, you have done your work, and you have succeeded. You have met your goals, and those of us who remain behind are proud of you as your heavenly Father is proud of you.
To those of you who will be returning, I look forward to seeing you as we continue our work to the glory of God our Lord.
Be strong this summer. Whether it is right, we spend our time here within a cultural bubble. I hope that many of you do not go out into the world as lambs among wolves. Stay strong in the world, and leave the fingerprints of God upon the hearts of those with whom you interact, so that you may be proud of using the knowledge and growth that you have attained.
I extend to you, a hearty goodbye, though we are not yet complete. When I see you again, be it on earth or in heaven, I hope we can look back on our time here with pride and joy, that we had the opportunity to come together and learn, and grow and serve to the glory of God and the blessing of those who are with us here on earth.

Jordan Vetro, Editor

In This Issue

Main Page:
One More Word, If You Please: Jordan Vetro
Voice on the Scene, Wildcats with Brooms: Katelyn Unger

Creative Corner:
Contrast: Wesley Hague
The Cloak of Kon: Howie Allen

Devotional:
The Zaphod Beeblebrox Complex: Jordan Vetro

Opinions and Editorials
Why I Hate Curling: Jordan Vetro

Photo Gallery
Wildcats with Brooms

Spotlight on SLT:
Amanda Gray: Vice President and Finance Officer: Stephanie Vincent

Voice on the Street:
A Message to our Graduates: Stephanie Vincent

The Final Message From the Publications Editor: Jordan Vetro

To my fellow students, fellow servants of Christ, and each other, and to our other readers, those who care about the school and its community. I extend to you the greeting inspired by our brother the apostle Paul. Grace and Peace to you from God the Father and Our Lord Jesus Christ.
This is my last big statement of the year, I suppose. It is the conclusion of my thoughts, the closing of my mouth. Within the month we will depart from this place and perhaps, as we move out into the world, hopefully better equipped for life in Christ, I give you some thoughts to put in your bag and take with you in your journey.
In my previous editorial on the state of our school and the nature of ourselves as students (See “A Message to Our Students,” voiceofebc.com) My goal in writing the editorial was not to make apparent what I found to be the center problem in our school. I did not want to point fingers at people or institutions and create a witch hunt, where we might run about the campus yelling “this is the problem, this is the problem, this is the problem.” Rather, I simply wanted to present you with my own interpretation of certain facts, and remind you of how much you mean to the school as students. I also wanted to remind us to keep our hearts right in light of an institutional system. Again I say I am not against a system for its own sake, but it is the charge of every school, church, country or family to keep their hearts and their eyes on God, so as to keep their institution, if you will, on the right track. I urged you also to ask questions, to remain inquisitive and to respect how important your contributions are to the direction of this school.
I write to you again now, not only to speak my own mind, but to present the minds of some of our students in response to the release of that editorial.
After its publishing, and its quick and wide distribution about our campus, I was grateful for all of you who took the time to hear my thoughts. Those few moments were, in themselves, a sign of your willingness to at least become aware, and your interest in this school and its people.
Soon after that, diverse and intriguing responses began to arise from many people. Words like “Revolution” and “Reformation” entered into our conversations. There were many who saw this as my punch to the institution. I am sorry to those who held that misconception. It was not my intent, and I have regret if my thoughts put my name onto various black lists. I certainly do not feel like a rabble rouser. What I have done, I have done not only as a student, but as a member of the council. As the publications editor I see myself as a mouthpiece for the ideas of the students. As a council we are a voice of the students, and as editor, I feel it is my duty to provide the format for that voice. I still stand behind my thoughts and philosophies previously expressed, but it was not vendettas or spite that lead me to make those thoughts published. It was the consensus of various students and the need for a response from the council to the issue at hand that brought my words into the public.
In response to the editorial, many students began thinking about our campus. I was very glad to hear the buzz moving in our midst. That very night I gathered with many other students, passionate for the school, and we discussed what is to be done. Are our thoughts and expressions to die out and our voices fade away or are we to continue? Should we not show our caring for the school by continuing to seek ways to work out our ideas and grow, not only as a student body, but as a school. In light of these thoughts, we scheduled a meeting, a gathering of the community, to discuss and pray for the issues of the school.
One of my purposes in writing this article is to respond to that meeting, as some have been asking me to do. I know this response is a long time coming, but I needed some good reflection time before I presented my thoughts to you.
Again I feel the need to shed some light, and dispel some misconceptions about our “Community Gathering.” Many people referred to said event as “Jordan’s Meeting.” Again I apologize if my thoughts and expressions led you to think we were getting together to discuss my problems with the school. This meeting was the thought of many students, initiated not by me, but other caring members of our community. We wanted to gather simply to show our caring for the school, and to bring people from different aspects of the school together to communicate. I’m sure you agree that when someone has a genuine concern, it is better for them to express it to those who may address it, rather than grumble about it among those who cannot change things. This meeting challenged the students to bring their concerns to the right ears. It was also a meeting for prayer. I firmly feel that the community coming together for prayer is a great sign, both to God and ourselves, of the community we all desire to build.
My response to the meeting is somewhat mixed. I can see it both in light of what it succeeded in doing and where it did not succeed. I think, in its initial goal, the meeting was a success. We had representatives from both the staff and faculty brought together to pray for our community. I was very pleased by the turnout, which was, in itself, a sign of how many people cared about the strength of our community. At the same time I was concerned. I was concerned because we brought the ears of many members of the staff into that room, and I feel the students did not present what was on their heart. Many students have come to me after the meeting, unhappy because their concerns were not addressed. It was apparently for this reason, that so many left and did not return, leaving our final attendance at less than half of the original turnout. My challenge to them was to speak up themselves, but I do not know if this was accomplished to the degree to which anyone hoped.
In light of this, I want to challenge us to continue with good communication. Continue to ask questions. Ask them, not to those who can do no more than complain about them. Ask them to those who have the power to create change, and the passion that you share with them for this school. I think a large part of the reason our students were quieter during than after the meeting was that this idea of gathering with other aspects of the community was very new. Perhaps we could try gathering for discussion and prayer more often. It certainly couldn’t hurt. Lets keep praying as a group. If it’s organized or not, let’s get together and offer up some “we” prayers to God. Prayers that represent, not just personal desires, but desires that we all share. There’s power in that. Let us recognize that power.
Really, if you want to know my concerns, if you went to that meeting, if you’re reading now, to know what Jordan Vetro thinks about all of this, you have gained a right to hear it. In fact, you just did. Communication, friends, is key. From the staff, to the faculty, to the council, to the students. How many problems, such as the tuition increase, or the cutting of programs, might have gone more smoothly if communication were stronger. When I say this, I am not only challenging the people who need to be speaking, but the people who need to be listening. You, dear student, have an obligation to speak and to listen, just as we all do. I would like to see information given to students as they need it as soon as possible. I would like to see students responding constructively to that information. I would like to see more meetings where we get together and talk about the school. That is my hope for the school, and it is not far fetched.
Next year, I am not returning to the council. I will be a student, just like you. Whatever you can know, I can know. Whatever is available to you is available to me. The perspective given to you is the same as mine. I hope to say, amidst my work and stress, I will have the mind and heart in the next year to care about this community. I hope I do not have to say I should be on the council if I want to care. I hope we all are in a place to care about this school. I hope that, in this caring, we reach out, speaking and listening, communicating with each other, praying with each other. Keeping on track with our first and greatest love, Jesus Christ.
I am going to shut my mouth for now. This is, I think, the last you will hear from me as publications editor, but not, I hope, as a student. I have appreciated what my position has allowed me to do for the school. I hope I can say, and you can say, it was honourable and caring. I look forward to serving this school as it serves me next year, and I wish that same opportunity for service for you, be you student, staff, faculty, whatever. Whatever your community, whatever your position. May you bring grace and love to that community, as a reflection of Christ.
The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Jordan Vetro: Student Publications Editor, Student’s Council.