DIVINO

Prayers for the Israelis and Palestinians

Posted on October 20, 2023

The recent humanitarian crisis unfolding in the Middle East has evoked unspeakable emotions within our own campus and off-campus communities. As an Andrews University family, we are profoundly concerned, heartsick, and grieved by the loss of innocent lives. Consistent with biblical principles and our belief that each human on this earth is created in the image of God, we in turn, strongly condemn the violence against innocent lives in this conflict and mourn with those who have lost loved ones or have been deeply affected by these horrific atrocities.
 

As we continue to monitor the events in the Middle East, we encourage our Andrews community to practice empathy and respect for one another during this challenging time.
 

We also encourage our campus and off-campus families to pray for peace and protection for our brothers and sisters in the Middle East. As an Andrews University family here in Berrien Springs, we will pause for silence and prayer during our Engage Summit Friday evening worship experience this Friday, Oct. 20, at 7:30 p.m. in Pioneer Memorial Church.

We also encourage community members who need care and support in these heartbreaking times to take advantage of the resources offered by Telehealth and the Counseling and Testing Center

Danielle Pilgrim, PhD 
Interim Chief Diversity Officer

pc: Sunguk Kim, Unsplash

Celebrating Filipino American History Month

Posted on October 19, 2023

Oct. 4, 2023

Dear campus community,

Just over three decades ago in 1992, the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) first introduced October as Filipino American History Month with a formal resolution from the FANHS National Board of Trustees. The U.S. Congress later formally recognized October as Filipino American History Month in 2009.

This month-long celebration is intended to commemorate the first recorded presence of Filipinos in the continental United States. That occurred more than four centuries ago on Oct. 18, 1587, when Filipino sailors, then called “Luzones Indios,” came ashore from the Spanish galleon Nuestra Senora de Esperanza when it landed at what is now Morro Bay, California, north of Los Angeles and near San Luis Obispo.

This year, our own Andrews Filipino International Association (AFIA) has chosen “Tuloy Po Kayo” as the theme for our 2023 celebration. This phrase in Tagalog is used to invite someone into your home. Its translation is “Please come in!” I believe that this theme powerfully emphasizes and reinforces our University’s value of being an inclusive and welcoming community. Throughout this school year, Andrews University, through the efforts of the Office of University Culture & Inclusion and cultural clubs, including AFIA, will seek to provide opportunities for fellowship and building community through activities and events for the Andrews University family.

Here at Andrews University, we are grateful for our own Andrews Filipino International Association (AFIA) leadership for its work in putting together the following Filipino American History Month events for our Andrews University community that will help recognize and celebrate Filipino history and culture.

We invite you to join us at these events—“Tuloy Po Kayo”/“Please come in!”

Oct. 14: AFIA Sabbath
11:30 a.m., Michiana Fil-Am SDA Church
8454 Kephart Lane, Berrien Springs
Church service and potluck

Oct. 19: Kinetic Worship
7:30 p.m., University Towers Auditorium
Residence hall cocurricular credit and Filipino food

Oct. 21: AFIA Aunties’ Potluck
After church at Michiana Fil-Am SDA Church
Potluck at various locations at the AFIA Aunties’ houses

Oct. 28: Pickleball Tournament
Time TBD, Johnson Gym
Pickleball and prizes

Oct. 31: Filipino American History Month Tuesday Choice
11:30 a.m., Location TBD
Various Filipino games/dances and a short talk

You can find out more about these and additional Filipino American History Month events on the Andrews Agenda Upcoming Events calendar at this link.

Sincerely,

Danielle Pilgrim
Interim Chief Diversity Officer

Hispanic Heritage Month

Posted on October 19, 2023

Sept. 14, 2023

Dear campus community,

I hope that you all are having a fantastic Change Day! I wanted to pass along this letter to inform you about another exciting Andrews University celebration which begins tomorrow on our campus.

Over the last 35 years and starting in 1988, Americans have observed National Hispanic Heritage Month during the 30-day period of Sept. 15–Oct. 15. In particular, the date of Sept. 15 holds extraordinary significance in the Hispanic community because it commemorates the anniversary of the independence of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their own independence days on Sept. 16 and Sept. 18, respectively. We also think of our Brazilian community during this time—they commemorated their independence last week on Sept. 7.

As this month of recognition begins, I want to invite you all to join in with our campus community as Andrews University celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month under this year’s theme: “Estamos Unidos.” The phrase “estamos unidos,” in Spanish, means “we are united.” We’ve chosen this theme to highlight the unity amid the diversity among Hispanics/Latinos and the campus at large at Andrews University. I pray that the imagery of these words reflects not just what this month’s celebration will bring but also honors what the members of our diverse and beautiful Hispanic community bring to our campus each year.

In the month ahead, we look forward to the ways in which we can all be inspired to ultimately be unified in our love for Christ and for each other as we enter into this campus-wide celebration and year-round practice of “Estamos Unidos.”

As Hispanic Heritage Month begins, I want to give special thanks to our Andrews University Latino Association (AULA) for their efforts in picking this theme and in their hard work in planning these events in collaboration with Genesis Fellowship, the Center for Faith Engagement, and Impact (BSCF).

Here is a schedule of events planned for our Hispanic Heritage Month celebration:

• Sept. 16—Genesis Fellowship, University Towers Auditorium, University Towers, 11:45 a.m.
• Sept. 19—Tuesday Cocurricular Short Courses, 11:30 a.m.
• Sept. 22—Back-to-School Social
• Sept. 23–24—Conociendo a Andrews University Preview Event, prospective students and families can register at andrews.edu/visit
• Sept. 26—Tuesday Cocurricular Short Courses
• Sept. 28—Hispanic Heritage Month Chapel, Pioneer Memorial Church, 11:30 a.m.
• Sept. 30—Genesis Fellowship, University Towers Auditorium, University Towers, 11:45 a.m.
• Sept. 30—Night Market (collaboration with AFIA, SASA and KASA)
• Oct. 3—Tuesday Cocurricular Short Courses, 11:30 a.m.
• Oct. 13—AULA x Impact Vespers, University Towers Auditorium, University Towers, 8:45 p.m.
• Oct. 14—Genesis Fellowship, University Towers Auditorium, University Towers, 11:30 a.m.
• Oct. 16–20—Hispanic Heritage Month Spirit Week
• Oct. 17—Tuesday Cocurricular Short Courses, 11:30 a.m.
• Oct. 21—Noche Latina

You can find out more about these, and additional Hispanic Heritage Month events, on the Andrews Agenda Upcoming Events calendar at this link.

I hope you’ll take the opportunity to take part in some or all of our “Estamos Unidos” Hispanic Heritage Month celebration events.

As I wrote earlier, this month of celebration gives us a chance to honor and deepen the unity amid the diversity of our Hispanic/Latino community and the campus at large at Andrews University.

I believe that this month can and will give us an ongoing opportunity to be inspired by, and ultimately be unified in, our love for Christ and for each other.

Sincerely,

Danielle Pilgrim
Interim Chief Diversity Officer

Commitment to Increasing Access to Higher Ed

Posted on July 14, 2023

July 13, 2023

Dear campus community,

In recent weeks, there has been renewed discussion across the United States on access and equity in higher education, especially for historically underrepresented groups of students.

At Andrews University, this issue is close to our heart, and I want to share that we remain committed to providing educational opportunities for all. As a result, here at Andrews University, we will continue to employ recruitment and retention strategies that seek to include diverse racial and ethnic populations within our Andrews family. In all that we do, we are motivated by the laws of the Kingdom—to do justice, act with mercy and walk in humility with God.

As a number-one ranked university for campus ethnic diversity in the annual U.S. News Best Colleges rankings, we are eager to continue to strengthen and foster the diverse intercultural and international environment that is a valued and distinctive hallmark of our Andrews University campus and student life.

As a new school year approaches, we look forward to welcoming students from all backgrounds. I believe providing an inclusive and transformative faith and learning experience is essential to equipping and inspiring a diverse generation of leaders.

It’s also important that we work further to lessen education attainment gaps and to ensure opportunities for historically underrepresented, economically challenged and first-generation students to obtain an Andrews University degree. This goal is reflected in a wide array of Andrews University scholarship and financial aid opportunities that support these students.

As a diverse and global learning community, Andrews University will continue to respond to the Great Commission by extending Christ’s teaching ministry to all, endeavoring to ensure that each one of our students receives the best possible support in order to excel in an academic environment that prepares each student to be an effective World Changer for God.

Grace and peace,

Danielle Pilgrim
Interim Chief Diversity Officer

Celebrating AANHPI Heritage Month

Posted on April 20, 2023

Dear friends,

It is my pleasure to once again welcome you to our annual celebration of the Asian American, Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities during the month of April—one month early.

As many of you may know, the United States has designated the month of May as a time to recognize and celebrate what has been historically called Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month when the month’s celebration began in the early 1990s (and as an Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week, first celebrated in 1979).

However, since much of the month of May falls during our summer break, we have once again decided to celebrate this heritage month one month early in April when the majority of our Andrews University students and employees are still on campus and can still join in the events and activities.

As we prepare to celebrate this Heritage Month, the Office of University Culture & Inclusion would like to thank all of the student leaders of our AANHPI student clubs and organizations as they have worked to put this celebration together. These kinds of moments, and celebrations like these, are not possible without the hard work and innovative creativity of our Andrews students.

The Federal Asian Pacific American Council (FAPAC) has chosen the theme “Advancing Leaders Through Opportunity” for this May’s AANHPI Heritage Month Celebration. Our community continues to be better and stronger thanks to the contributions and leadership of our AANHPI employees and students all across our campus both now and throughout the history of our University. This is an amazing part of the enduring legacy of Andrews University.

It is also important to again note how imperfect the label AANHPI is at adequately capturing the diversity, complexity and beauty of all of the various cultures that the AANHPI acronym barely scratches the surface of encompassing.

A recent study captured some of this challenge well: “Asian Americans alone are the fastest growing minority population in the U.S., with Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders (NHPIs) as the 3rd fastest growing minority population. Despite this growth, AANHPIs are often left out of data due to sample size limitations and reliability. The lack of data integrity fails to reflect the diversity of the populations and their needs.”

The term AANHPI “includes people with ancestry from the continent of Asia and the Pacific Islands from over 50 ethnicities, with over 100 languages and dialects. There are distinct differences across the Asian and the NHPI ethnicities.”

As a result, I recognize AANHPI is an inaccurate/insufficient overall description for our brothers and sisters who make up this beautiful and varied community. Our goal is to continue getting better each year at celebrating and honoring the history and continuing legacy of all the various people groups that all help make Andrews University what it is. Thank you to each one of you in advance for continuing to engage with us as we continue on this journey and we work collectively to push things forward and more deeply each year.

Here are some of the highlights and events coming up this month:

The Andrews Korean SDA Church, Living Springs Fellowship, and Michiana Fil-Am SDA Church will have church services throughout the month.

• Andrews Korean SDA Church/Living Springs Fellowship, 8691 US Hwy 31, Berrien Springs MI 49103-9532
• Michiana Fil-Am SDA Church, 8454 Kephart Ln, Berrien Springs MI 49103

APRIL 1
Chinese Christian Fellowship Worship, Garber Auditorium, Chan Shun Hall

• Service begins at 11:30 a.m., Pastor Yang
• Chinese 30-dish banquet at 12:45 p.m., Whirlpool Room

APRIL 8
Mu-en Adventist Chinese Fellowship, Biology Amphitheater, Science Complex

• Service begins at 11:30 a.m.
• Potluck following

KASA Banquet, Section House, 5896 Sawyer Rd, Sawyer MI 49125

• Fellowship dinner begins at 6:30 p.m.
• Banquet activities begin at 8:30 p.m.

APRIL 15

• SASA Sabbath, 11 a.m., Ruth Murdoch Elementary School
• SASA Culture Night, 8 p.m., Newbold Auditorium

APRIL 22
Mu-en Adventist Chinese Fellowship, Biology Amphitheater, Science Complex

• Service begins at 11:30 a.m.

APRIL 29
Samoan Sabbath, Biology Amphitheater, Science Complex

• Sabbath School begins at 10 a.m. following the main service
• Social gym night/fundraiser at 7:30 p.m., Village School Gym

As we look forward to this month of celebration, reflection and understanding, I want to directly and specifically thank each one of you in the AANHPI communities for taking the time and effort to continue to invite our entire Andrews community into your cultural spaces and to engage with those of us beyond your community so that we can all better understand, celebrate and appreciate who you are, and including what you experience on an everyday basis.

Once again, I invite you all to join us whenever you can over the course of the next few weeks as we take the time together as an Andrews University family to intentionally celebrate and more fully honor each AANHPI member of our community.

Grace and peace,

Michael Nixon
Vice President for University Culture & Inclusion

#HEALTogether: Commemorating SAAPM

Posted on April 20, 2023

Dear friends,

As you may know, the month of April is recognized as Sexual Assault Awareness & Prevention Month (SAAPM) in the United States.

As we acknowledge the significance of this month, the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), the nation’s largest nonprofit anti-sexual assault organization, has provided the following tools to help commemorate SAAPM this year. This year, RAINN decided to focus on the theme #HEALTogether, which encourages the survivor community and their loved ones to come together in their healing from sexual violence and the dangers online. I encourage you to take a few moments to review this important online resource.

I would like to extend a special thanks to the Women’s Empowerment Association of Andrews University (WEAAU), the Andrews University Pre-Law Society, the Social Work Club, the Social Justice Club, and the Andrews University Title IX office for their support and help in collaborating to plan a powerful month of events.

In keeping with the name of the month, #HEALTogether, we are hopeful that these activities will raise awareness of the experiences of those who have experienced sexual assault (both men and women) and lead to more preventative measures.

Here are some of the events planned for the month of April:

SAAPM Kickoff
April 3, 11 a.m.–3 p.m., Campus Center
Come by the Campus Center for all the information on SAAPM Events, a BTO cookie and to receive a safety whistle keychain (while supplies last)!

Bagels & Boundaries: Movie Screening
“Then Everything Changed” (Title IX)
April 4, 11:30 a.m., Buller Hall Room 150 (cocurricular credit provided)

Movie Screening: “Hunting Ground” (Pre-Law Society)
April 4, 11:30 a.m., Department of History & Political Science, Buller Hall 135

Dos and “Donuts” of Healthy Dating with Alina Baltazar (Title IX)
April 11, 11:30 a.m., Buller Hall Room 150 (cocurricular credit provided)

Cocurricular Event led by Yulian Tinoco (Pre-Law Society)
April 11, 11:30 a.m., Department of History & Political Science, Buller Hall 135

Self-Defense Class
April 12, 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., Andreasen Center for Wellness

Perspectives: Stories, Presentations, and Artwork Confronting the Realities of Sexual Violence
April 22, 5–7 p.m., Newbold Auditorium, Buller Hall
This event is sponsored by the WEAAU, Social Work Club and Social Justice Club.

The Solidarity Wall
April 24–28, Campus Center Main Entrance
The Solidarity Wall is an artistic social justice project designed to give a voice to students regarding the national epidemic of on-campus sexual assault. Sponsored by WEAAU and the Office of University Culture & Inclusion.

Denim Day
April 26, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
Denim Day is an international day of awareness-raising and activism with the message that there is nothing anyone could ever do to deserve to experience sexual assault. Wear your denim and come by the photo booth in the Campus Center to enter to win a new pair of jeans!

How do all of these activities relate to our own community here at Andrews University?

In accordance with Title IX Education Amendments of 1972, Andrews University has formally documented that it “is committed to maintaining a respectful learning and living environment that is free from Sexual Harassment … (a collective term which includes) sexual assault, quid pro quo harassment, hostile environment harassment, relationship violence, stalking, and sexual exploitation. Sexual Harassment in any form, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation, is inconsistent with this commitment, strictly prohibited and intolerable in the Andrews community.”

More information on the University Title IX Policy and related resources can be found here. Also, you can find information on how to report an incident that may have violated this stated Title IX policy here.

In addition to the Title IX policy and online resources available, our Center for Faith Engagement, in partnership with Andrews University’s International Center for Trauma Education & Care, provides additional resources and support for victims of sexual abuse through an on-campus support group. Students can also schedule individual sessions using the UFaith app.

I look forward to joining you, and our Andrews University community, this April for these important events and crucial conversations as we all strive to raise awareness on our campus during April’s Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month and as we work to keep each other safe against these threats this month, and throughout the year.

Grace and peace,

Michael Nixon
Vice President for University Culture & Inclusion

2023 Women's History Month Celebration

Posted on March 2, 2023

March 2, 2023

Friends,

As this month of March begins, it is my distinct privilege to take a few moments to formally recognize and honor Women’s History Month.

This annual recognition of women’s history formally got its start in 1980 as Women’s History Week, and was introduced through a proclamation by President Jimmy Carter.

Since 1995, women’s history is now recognized and honored through a month-long celebration. Women’s History Month offers an annual opportunity for all of us to remember that the achievements, leadership, courage, strength and love of the women who built America were, in the words of President Carter, “as vital as that of the men whose names we know so well.”

As we celebrate Women’s History Month this year, we recognize President Carter and continue to keep him and his family in prayer as he has recently transitioned into hospice care.

The National Women’s History Alliance (NWHA) has chosen the theme of “Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories” for 2023.

“Throughout 2023, the NWHA will encourage recognition of women, past and present, who have been active in all forms of media and storytelling including print, radio, TV, stage, screen, blogs, podcasts, and more. The timely theme honors women in every community who have devoted their lives and talents to producing art, pursuing truth, and reflecting the human condition decade after decade.”

As we recognize the significant achievements of women throughout the world and history here on our Andrews University campus, the Women’s Empowerment Association of Andrews University (WEAAU) has chosen the campus theme of “Phenomenal Women.” for this year’s celebrations.

Here are some events that WEAAU have planned for the month ahead:

Service Sabbath
March 4, 2:30 p.m.
Center for Faith Engagement Office 

WEAAU is collaborating with the Center for Faith Engagement to host a Service Sabbath to create care packages for a local women's shelter! Make sure to reserve your spot on the UFaith app ahead of time. Cocurricular credit will be available!

Cocurricular Series
Department of History & Political Science Lobby, BUL136

March 7, 11:30 a.m.
Stacie Hatfield, assistant professor of anthropology, will kick off Women’s History Month with the story of how the American women’s movement began in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. She will highlight both the goals and accomplishments of this early political period and also the movement’s shortcomings, which necessitated subsequent movements.

March 14, 11:30 a.m.
In this talk, Kristen Witzel, assistant professor of sociology, continues our discussion of the history of the women’s movement into the 1960s and 70s. She’ll share how women of this time tackled issues like women’s bodily autonomy and equal opportunities in jobs and education.

March 28, 11:30 a.m.
Concluding Women’s History Month, Vanessa Corredera, associate professor and chair of English, will present the era of the women’s movement which began in the 90s and emphasized intersectionality and reproductive rights. She’ll trace the legacy of this wave into our current socio-political moment in what some call Fourth-Wave Feminism.

New Life Fellowship
March 4 and 11, 11:45 a.m.
Howard Performing Arts Center

New Life Fellowship will be honoring specific women employees from throughout our Andrews University community to commemorate their Women’s History Month Celebration.

The Women’s Empowerment Association of Andrews University (WEAAU) will be announcing these and additional events on their Instagram account throughout the month with additional details. You can find their Instagram page @we.aau here. You can also keep an eye on the New Life Fellowship Instagram page here.

As I close this note, I would like to take the opportunity to specifically thank all of the incredible women that continue to make Andrews such a great place to work, learn, worship, and commune.

I would especially be remiss if I did not take the time to celebrate and honor our own president, Andrea Luxton, as this will be her last Women’s History Month as our leader. Her powerful example of Christ-centered, other-focused leadership has been a huge source of inspiration to me and so many others here on our campus.

In the spirit of WEAAU’s theme for this year, we want to affirm President Luxton for being the phenomenal woman that she is! We specifically want to honor and celebrate the history you have made as you have led our campus these past seven years.

Grace and peace,

Michael Nixon
Vice President for University Culture & Inclusion

2023 Black History Month: Forward

Posted on February 16, 2023

“If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl,
but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.”

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Dear friends,

The Black History Month Planning Committee is excited to engage both Andrews University and our entire surrounding Berrien Springs community in a month-long recognition and celebration of the struggles, triumphs and contributions of African Americans and the people of the African diaspora throughout the United States.

Our theme for 2023 is “Forward.”

As I consider our theme for this Black History Celebration month, I can’t help but be struck by recent painful attempts to move our people backward. Those include debates happening in some areas of this country about whether or not African American history has significant educational value. In those places, our very act of having this celebration would be attacked and questioned.

However, in spite of the misguided voices that would suggest that we go back, we are called to move forward.

Also, this past week, our nation has been rocked once again by the video of the grotesque killing of Tyre Nichols at the hands of officers from the Memphis Police Department. At this time, seven police officers have been relieved of their duties in connection with Nichols’ killing—and five of them are facing departmental and criminal charges. It is hard to find words that have not already been shared in the wake of the killing of an unarmed Black person at the hands of police officers. I do believe that it is worth acknowledging the collective anger, pain and sorrow that many are feeling as they try once again to make sense of that which is senseless.

Again, in the face of this sobering tragedy that would somehow suggest that we are taking steps backward in the fight toward liberty and justice for all, we are called to move forward.

In light of our shared calling to move forward, we are left to beg an important question: how?

To help wrestle with those questions in community, we are excited to go on a collective journey this month. It is our hope that we will all move closer to that answer both individually and collectively as we learn, worship and celebrate together.

While you can find a complete schedule of events here, there are a few exciting events I wish to highlight:

Our main celebration weekend will take place Feb. 2–4, starting with Black History Month Chapel at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 2, in Pioneer Memorial Church. Our speaker for that chapel is Garrison Hayes, who is an award-winning diversity, equity and inclusion professional, storyteller, and content creator for his digital community of over 260,000 followers. Garrison is also an alum of Andrews University, earning his Master of Divinity in 2018 from the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary.

Our speaker for the rest of the celebration weekend will be Edsel Cadet. Pastor Cadet serves as the lead pastor of the Berea Adventist Church in Boston, Massachusetts. He also earned his Master of Divinity, graduating in 2013 from the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary. While studying at the Seminary, Cadet also served as the administrative pastor of New Life Fellowship.

Here are some additional highlights of the upcoming weekend:

• Impact Vespers will take place on Friday, Feb. 3, at 8 p.m. in Pioneer Memorial Church.
• New Life Fellowship will take place on Sabbath, Feb. 4, at 11:45 a.m. in the Howard Performing Arts Center. A luncheon will be provided at the Hoilette Commons in the Andreasen Center for Wellness immediately following the worship service. Luncheon tickets for up to 200 students will be available at the Howard Performing Arts Center before and after the New Life Fellowship worship service.

Later in the month, on Thursday, Feb. 9, Michael Emerson will be our speaker for University Chapel at 11:30 a.m. in Pioneer Memorial Church.

Emerson is a professor and chair of the sociology department at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). He is also one of the foremost scholars on race and religion and co-authored the groundbreaking “Divided by Faith: Evangelical Religion and the Problem of Race in America” (2000). He will be presenting findings from his latest research, conducted alongside Glenn Bracey of Villanova University. That research will appear in his forthcoming book “The Grand Betrayal: The Agonizing Story of Race, Religion, and Rejection in American Life” (2023). This research represents the most comprehensive study of race and religion ever conducted in the U.S. and is funded by the Lilly Endowment.

Once again, I hope you’ll join us for as many of these important events as you can. You can find the full slate of Black History Month events here.

We look forward to celebrating with you throughout the month!

Forward with Christ,

Michael Nixon
Vice President for University Culture & Inclusion

Statement on recent shooting in Colorado Springs

Posted on November 22, 2022

Dear Andrews community,

Following the horrific mass shooting in Colorado Springs on Sunday, Nov. 20, we invite you to join us in praying for the families and friends of the victims, those recovering from their injuries, and many more now living with unspeakable trauma.

Andrews University condemns any form of hatred or violence against members of the LGBTQ community. The past two years have brought a surge of anti-LGBTQ activity across the country, fueled by inflammatory rhetoric from political leaders, some spiritual leaders, as well as media outlets. This increased threat has left many LGBTQ people feeling increasingly unsafe and unwelcome.

As people of faith, let us resolve to say or do nothing that would demean another person. Differences and disagreements need not result in disrespectful or hurtful words or behavior. Our highest calling as a Seventh-day Adventist campus is to love one another and demonstrate that tangibly. We are to model “a more excellent way” (Romans 12:31).

As we enter into this holiday season, we invite you to take the time to reach out to LGBTQ family members and friends. Let them know you care and pray for their well-being during this unsettling time. Additionally, for many in the LGBTQ community, the holidays are difficult, as they often experience stigma, rejection and even estrangement from family and church. Your encouragement can make a difference.

If you are part of the LGBTQ community, please know that you need not journey alone or in silence. Our on-campus Haven group is here to provide a confidential and caring community. Contact David Sedlacek or Shannon Trecartin at havencare@andrews.edu for more information. Campus counselors and chaplains are also available for support, along with the Andrews Telehealth services. If you have experienced harassment due to your sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, you can report it to the Title IX office in the Campus Center.

As an Andrews community, let’s answer the heart-wrenching violence of this week with a firmer commitment to love, protect and care for one another.

Sincerely,

Michael Nixon
Vice President for University Culture & Inclusion

Celebrating Filipino American History Month 2022

Posted on November 3, 2022

Dear friends,

Three decades ago in 1992, the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) first introduced October as Filipino American History Month with a formal resolution from the FANHS National Board of Trustees. The U.S. Congress later recognized October as Filipino American History Month in 2009.

The month-long celebration is intended to commemorate the first recorded presence of Filipinos in the continental United States. That occurred on Oct. 18, 1587, when Filipino sailors, called “Luzones Indios,” came ashore from the Spanish galleon Nuestra Senora de Esperanza and landed at what is now Morro Bay, California.

This year, the FANHS has chosen the following theme for the 2022 celebration:

Celebrating Our History and Legacies:
50 Years of Filipino American Studies,
40 Years of the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS),
and 30 years of Filipino American History Month

As that theme suggests, this year 2022 marks several anniversaries in Filipino American history. First, 50 years ago, the first Filipino American Studies (FAS) classes were taught at UCLA and UC Davis in California. Second, in 1982, Dorothy Laigo Cordova founded the FANHS—the oldest national Filipino American organization and the only national group committed to promoting and preserving Filipino American history. Finally, as I mentioned above, October 1992 was the first time that Filipino American History Month (FAHM) was celebrated in the United States—a year after FANHS passed a proclamation (spearheaded by Fred Cordova).

Here at Andrews University, we are grateful for our own Andrews Filipino International Association (AFIA) leadership for putting together the following Filipino American History Month celebratory events for our Andrews University community:

Oct. 4: Filipino American History Month Tuesday Choice
11:30 a.m., Campus Rec Center
Various Filipino Games/Dances + Short Talk

Oct. 6: Kinetic Worship
7:30 p.m., University Towers Chapel
Residence Hall Co-Curricular

Oct. 18: Filipino American History Month Tuesday Choice
11:30 a.m., Campus Rec Center
Various Filipino Games/Dances + Short Talk

Oct. 22: AFIA Aunties’ Potluck
After Church at Michiana Fil-Am SDA Church, 8454 Kephart Lane, Berrien Springs
Potluck at Various Locations at the AFIA Aunties’ Houses

Nov. 12: AFIA Sabbath
11:30 a.m., Michiana Fil-Am SDA Church
Church Service and Potluck

I look forward to celebrating with all of you this October as our campus family takes the opportunity to affirm and appreciate the contributions of the Filipino community to our campus, church, this country and the world.

Best,

Michael Nixon
Vice President for University Culture & Inclusion

The Importance of Juneteenth

Posted on June 16, 2022

June 16, 2022

Friends,

Over the last two years, I have shared with you reflections on the significance of Juneteenth—an annual holiday celebrated for more than 150 years by the Black community to commemorate and celebrate the end of enslavement in the United States.

Last year, U.S. President Joe Biden signed into law the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act which made Juneteenth a federal holiday (the act had been passed unanimously by the U.S. Senate and by a 415-14 margin in the U.S. House of Representatives on June 16, 2021).

This year, Andrews University has added Juneteenth as a formal holiday for our University, and as we approach this year’s celebration of the Juneteenth holiday on Monday, June 20, 2022, I wanted to once again share a few reflections on the significance of this new national holiday to our Andrews University community.

As we recognize Juneteenth as a formal holiday for our University, I want to reiterate our commitment that Andrews University stands in opposition to racism and remains fully committed to taking measurable steps toward an ethic of consistent and equitable love, compassion and justice. This is a commitment that needs to be understood and renewed by each one of us—and it means that we will always view and treat each other as God’s children, as true brothers and sisters who are ultimately and unquestionably worthy of respect, protection and care.

These things are at the heart of our Andrews University mission statement and particularly its summary, “Seek Knowledge, Affirm Faith, Change the World.” If this mission matters, then what we do as individuals and a University should follow what God says—we should reason together, even wrestle with the complexity of different challenges and different perspectives together.

Andrews University’s commitment to biblically driven knowledge and understanding is behind our ongoing pledge to clearly stand against racism and hatred, to commit to being an anti-racist institution.

Let me share once again Andrews University’s institutional commitments to being truly anti-racist.

1. We will only be satisfied when Andrews University is a safe place for all, and we will keep working until we ultimately reach that end.
2. We commit to educating our Andrews University community on how to recognize their own unconscious bias and how to listen openly to others.
3. We will inspire our Andrews University graduates, our World Changers, to passionately model justice and equity in their own dealings and lead others with integrity, using power to uplift and inspire hope.

In total, we are fully committed to becoming a truly anti-racist institution. We are committed to seek a world influenced by God’s kingdom, a world where humility, compassion and care are central.

I truly believe that we are a University that recognizes and seeks to consistently pursue the God-informed possibility of inspiring World Changers. As a result, I believe that each one of us can and will articulate and pursue a path of hope and positive change for our entire world, a purpose clearly defined by our mission and lived out in each one of our lives.

That is a mission consistent with Juneteenth as well—which we will honor and celebrate this Monday. Juneteenth, I believe, reminds us that the promise of freedom is a promise consistently offered and found in God’s kingdom itself.

May God bless our continued journey together as we seek to impact a world that so desperately needs our faithful witness and which will be changed by pursuing God’s answers of equity, love, compassion and justice, now more than ever.

Andrea Luxton
President

Celebrating AAPI Heritage Month

Posted on April 8, 2022

April 8, 2022

Dear friends,

For the second year in a row, we will be celebrating the Asian American, Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities during the month of April. As many of you may know, the United States has designated the month of May as a time to recognize and celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. However, since much of the month of May falls during our summer break, we have again decided to celebrate one month early in April when the majority of Andrews University students and employees are still able to join in the events and activities.

As we prepare to celebrate this Heritage Month, the Office of University Culture & Inclusion would like to thank all of the student leaders of our AANHPI student clubs and organizations as they have worked together over the last several months to put this celebration together. These kinds of moments, and celebrations like these, are not possible without this hard work and innovative creativity by our Andrews students.

The celebration will begin this Friday evening, April 8, as we kick off “AUnited Weekend” which is a collaborative effort put on by a number of campus partners, including the Division of Marketing & Enrollment Management, Office of University Culture & Inclusion, Center for Faith Engagement and Office of Student Involvement, Leadership & Activities as well as a variety of student clubs and organizations. The schedule for the weekend is as follows:

April 8: AUnited Infusion Vespers
Pioneer Memorial Church, 7:45 p.m.

April 9: AUnited Fashion Show
Johnson Gym, 8 p.m.

April 10: AUnited Culture Fest
Johnson Gym, 8 p.m.

Other Andrews University events throughout the month of April are as follows:

April 9: South Pacific Islander Sabbath
University Towers Chapel, 11:30 a.m.

April 15: Balikbayan—Filipino Cultural Night
Andrews Academy, 3:30 p.m.

April 16: Andrews Indonesian Club Sabbath
Hartford Indonesian Adventist Church, 10:30 a.m.

April 22: AANHPI Proximity Vespers
Howard Performing Arts Center, 7:30 p.m.

April 23: South Asian Student Association (SASA) Cultural Night
Newbold Auditorium (Buller Hall), 7 p.m.

April 24: Korean American Student Association (KASA) Seoul Nights Banquet
The Brick, South Bend, Indiana, 6 p.m.

April 25: Asian Cuisine Tasting
Beijing Room (Andreasen Center for Wellness), 2:30 p.m.

April 30: Samoan Sabbath
Biology Amphitheater, Price Hall (Science Complex), 11:30 a.m.

As we look forward to this month of celebration, reflection and understanding, I want to specifically thank each one of you in the AANHPI communities for taking the time and effort to invite our entire Andrews community into your cultural spaces so that we can better understand, celebrate and appreciate who you are and what you experience on an everyday basis.

Once again, I invite you all to join us whenever you can over the course of the next few weeks as we take the time together to intentionally celebrate and fully honor the AANHPI members of our community.

Grace and peace,

Michael Nixon
Vice President for University Culture & Inclusion

2022 Women's History Month Celebration

Posted on March 1, 2022

March 1, 2022

Friends,

As the month of March begins, it is my distinct privilege to take a few moments to formally recognize Women’s History Month.

This annual recognition of women’s history first began in 1980 as Women’s History Week through a proclamation by President Jimmy Carter.

Since 1995, it has been recognized as a month-long celebration. Women’s History Month is now an annual opportunity for all of us to remember that the achievements, leadership, courage, strength and love of the women who built America were, in the words of President Carter, “as vital as that of the men whose names we know so well.”

The National Women’s History Alliance has chosen “Providing Healing, Promoting Hope” as the 2022 Women’s History Month theme. They saw this tribute as “both a tribute to the ceaseless work of caregivers and frontline workers during this ongoing pandemic and also a recognition of the thousands of ways that women of all cultures have provided both healing and hope throughout history.” The theme proudly seeks to honor women who, in both public and private life, provide healing and promote hope for the betterment of all.

As we recognize the significant achievements of women throughout the world and history, this is a list of some of the Andrews University events available for you to participate in throughout this month:

• March 4: Women’s Empowerment Association (WEAAU) Vespers
  Proximity (PMC Chapel)
  7:30 p.m.
• March 6: “Running Like a Girl” 5k Relay Race Fundraiser
  Athletic Fields Track
  1 p.m.
  $3–$5 fee donated to Mujeres Latinas en Accion (non-profit supporting women who have suffered domestic abuse). Sign up with a team of five. 
• March 5 & 12: New Life Fellowship Women’s History Month Celebration
  Kimberly Bulgin (March 5), Keila Carmona (March 12)
  Howard Performing Arts Center
  11:45 a.m.
• March 17: Women’s History Month Chapel
  Co-sponsored by CFE and University Culture & Inclusion
  Pioneer Memorial Church
  11:25 a.m.

The Women’s Empowerment Association of Andrews University (WEAAU) will be announcing these and other events on Instagram throughout the month with more details. You can find their Instagram page @we.aau here. You can also keep an eye on the New Life Fellowship Instagram page here.

As I close this note, I would like to take the opportunity to specifically thank all of the wonderful women that make Andrews such a great place to work, learn, worship and commune. All of your contributions to our campus community have always been, and continue to be, so critical to our experiences and shared journeys here. It is my hope that this Women’s History Month will be an opportunity to honor, celebrate and reaffirm how much we appreciate each and every one of you.

I look forward to this month’s celebration and hope to see you at some of the events.

Grace and peace,

Michael Nixon
Vice President for University Culture & Inclusion

Celebrating Filipino American History Month 2021

Posted on October 21, 2021

Dear friends,

Almost three decades ago in 1992, the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) first introduced October as Filipino American History Month with a formal resolution from the FANHS National Board of Trustees. The U.S. Congress later recognized October as Filipino American History Month in 2009.

The celebration is intended to commemorate the first recorded presence of Filipinos in the continental United States. This occurred on Oct. 18, 1587, when “Luzones Indios” came ashore from the Spanish galleon Nuestra Senora de Esperanza and landed at what is now Morro Bay, California.

This year, the FANHS has chosen “50 Years Since the First Young Filipino People’s Far West Convention” as the Filipino American History Month 2021 theme. That meeting took place at Seattle University in 1971 and brought together over 300 young Filipino American participants from the West Coast of the U.S. That 1971 convention is hailed as the beginning of the Filipino American Movement.

Our own Andrews Filipino International Association (AFIA) has chosen “Pagkilala” as a theme for this month’s celebration to serve a tribute to those who have come before. We are grateful for AFIA’s leadership in putting together celebratory events for our Andrews University community.

Here is a list of celebratory campus events for the month:

Tuesday, Oct. 19, 11:30 a.m.
Filipino Stick Choreography (co-curricular program)
Recreation Center, Campus Center

Tuesday, Oct. 26, 11:30 a.m.
Filipino Tinikling Dance (co-curricular program)
Recreation Center, Campus Center

Oct. 17–Nov. 7
AFIA Rice Run (virtual event)

Thursday, Oct. 28, 11:30 a.m.
AFIA Chapel
Location TBD

Sunday, Oct. 31, 5:30–9 p.m.
White Rabbit Night Market
Berrien County Youth Fairgrounds

I look forward to celebrating with all of you as we take the opportunity as a campus to affirm and appreciate the contributions of the Filipino community to our campus, church, this country and the world.

Best,

Michael Nixon
Vice President for University Culture & Inclusion

2021 Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration

Posted on September 30, 2021

Sept. 15, 2021

Friends,

For more than three decades, beginning in 1988, Americans have observed National Hispanic Heritage Month during the 30-day period of Sept. 15–Oct. 15.

In particular, Sept. 15 holds a special level of significance in the Hispanic community because it commemorates the anniversary of the independence of the countries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on Sept. 16 and Sept. 18, respectively. We also think of our Brazilian community during this time of the year, as they commemorated their independence on Sept. 7.

As this month of recognition begins, I would like to invite you all to join our campus community as Andrews University celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month under this year's theme: “Todos Uno.” I would like to give a special thanks to our four Hispanic campus organizations for their efforts in picking this theme and planning these events: the Andrews University Latino Association (AULA), Adelante, Makarios and the Hispanic Club of the Seminary.

Todos Uno means “All One,” which refers to both diversity (all) and unity (one). Even when members of the Hispanic community are diverse in traditions, ethnicity, customs and influences, they all share the same experience of being immigrants (or immigrant descendants) and overcoming permanent challenges and prejudices.

For further information, please visit the AULA website. Here is a schedule of events planned for Hispanic Heritage Month:

Sept. 16: Heavenly Heritage Vespers
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Seminary Chapel

Sept. 17: Bonfire/Petting Zoo
Time: 7:15 p.m.
Location: Dairy Farm

Sept. 18: Movie Night (“In The Heights”)
Time: 8:30 p.m.
Location: Newbold Auditorium

Sept. 21: Todos Uno: Breaking Latino Stereotypes in our Community (Short Course)
Time: 11:30 a.m.
Location: Buller 135

Sept. 23: Heavenly Heritage Vespers
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Seminary Chapel

Sept. 27: Lunes Latino—Latin Beats
Time: 8 p.m.
Location: TBA

Sept. 28: Todos Uno: Financial Education (Short Course)
Time: 11:30 a.m.
Location: Buller 135

Sept. 30: University Chapel—Latino Feature Artist: Tiago Arrais
Time: 11:30 a.m.
Location: Newbold Auditorium

Sept. 30: Heavenly Heritage Vespers
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Seminary Chapel

Oct. 4–8: Spirit Week

Oct. 7: University Chapel—¿God, que quieres?
Time: 11:30 a.m.
Location: Newbold Auditorium

Oct. 7: Heavenly Heritage Vespers
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Seminary Chapel

Oct. 8: Todos Uno: Mental Health (Short Course)
Time: 11:30 a.m.
Location: Buller 135

Oct. 14: University Chapel—Latino Celebration with special guest Milton Coronado
Time: 11:30 a.m.
Location: Howard Performing Arts Center

Oct. 14: Heavenly Heritage Vespers
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Garber Auditorium, Chan Shun Hall

Oct. 15: Proximity Latino Vespers
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Pioneer Memorial Church

Oct. 16: Makarios Sabbath
Time: 11:30 a.m.
Location: Seminary Chapel

Oct. 16: Noche Latina
Time: 8 p.m.
Location: TBA

Oct. 19: Todos Uno: Matriarchy and the Oppression of Women (Short Course)
Time: 11:30 a.m.
Location: Buller 135

I look forward to celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with all of you as we take the opportunity as a campus to affirm and appreciate the contributions of Hispanics to our campus, our country and our world.

Grace and peace,

Michael Nixon
Vice President for University Culture & Inclusion

The Haitian Border Crisis Through God's Eyes

Posted on September 28, 2021

Sept. 28, 2021

Dear friends,

The beautiful island nation of Haiti represents a wonderful array of lives and stories that weave through our own Andrews University community family. Over the last 20 years within our own student body, we have always had at least one student from Haiti attending our University each school year.

However, that island nation of Haiti is also a place that has been too often touched by tragedy.

Just over a decade ago, a massive 2010 earthquake killed hundreds of thousands of Haitians. Just this September, another massive earthquake killed thousands.

In between those two tragic bookends, the country—the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere—has been touched by persistent poverty, corruption, illiteracy, displacement and limited access to food and water for its citizens. Additionally, this July the president of the country was assassinated.

However, in spite of these recent tragedies, Haiti has also always been a symbol of remarkable strength, as it became the first independent Black republic in the world when they managed to overthrow the Napoleon-led French at the Battle of Vertiéres in 1803.

Due to that loss of the country of Haiti, which was the world’s richest colony at the time, Napoleon, desperate for money to fund future conquests, sold 530,000,000 acres of land to America. Those acres of land make up what we know today as the states of Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wyoming, North Dakota and Montana. If not for the Haitian Revolution, students and employees who call those states home might conceivably have been French citizens today.

This legacy of fighting for freedom has ingrained the Haitian people with a resilient spirit which has empowered them to endure a host of tragedies and setbacks. Haitians are a people who take pride in their heritage and who demand and deserve to be treated and seen with dignity regardless of their socioeconomic status or condition.

So for the students who join us from Haiti, and for the more than 11 million who live today on that beautiful island, our prayers continue and our hearts break as we seek to comprehend the impact of that overwhelming reality.

Especially in the wake of these seemingly endless tragedies and threats, Haitians understandably share a common human yearning for a better place, a better home for themselves and their families. For many, that means the United States. Over the last two decades, immigration from Haiti to the United States has tripled. And after the political tragedies and natural disasters of this year, even more immigrants have left the country to try to make their way to the United States through Mexico.

That journey by the Haitian community to find a new and better home somewhere else has dramatically been on our hearts over this last week. If you have been following the news, you’ve perhaps seen some of the disturbing photos that showed border patrol agents on horseback as they pursued and attempted to drive away some of the 15,000 Haitians who had crossed the Rio Grande and gathered under bridges near Del Rio, Texas, as they attempted to enter the United States.

The horror of seeing men on horses try and round up human beings brings back terrible memories of some of the worst things that America has done throughout its history. In turn, those actions have justifiably inspired widespread outrage.

Daniel Foote, the United States’ top envoy to Haiti, resigned last Thursday over the “inhumane” and “counterproductive” deportations of Haitian migrants. President Biden has condemned those actions as “outrageous. I promise you those (border agents) will … be investigated. There will be consequences.” Since those photos emerged, those horseback patrols at the border have been suspended, and the Department of Homeland Security has promised a full investigation.

Two thousand of the Haitians who gathered at the border have been returned by plane to Haiti since then, and thousands more have been allowed to remain in the United States as they apply for asylum.

As we seek to understand this latest tragedy, and as our nation again seeks to craft and enforce a humane approach to immigration amidst disappointments, I am reminded of some words I shared more than three years ago in this Divino blog when I wrote about the separation of children from their families at the U.S. Border in 2018.

In that post, I shared this essential passage from the book of Deuteronomy that is relevant in this current situation—and always—for each one of us as children of God, committed to the values of His Kingdom:

“For the Lord your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords. He is the great God, the mighty and awesome God, who shows no partiality and cannot be bribed. He ensures that orphans and widows receive justice. He shows love to the foreigners living among you and gives them food and clothing. So you, too, must show love to foreigners, for you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt.” Deuteronomy 10:17–19

As I reflected then, there are several examples in Scripture of God commanding us to treat those who are not native to our land in the exact same manner that we would treat a family member. We are always called, I believe, to treat each other, including the “strangers within our gates,” with dignity, respect and compassion—an approach informed by God’s own care and love for each one of us.

In fact, I continue to be convinced that God calls His people to take an active part in not only welcoming in the foreigner or stranger that is within our gates but also to make provision for them—treating them as if they are members of our own families.

As I reflected earlier, “our ancestors were brought to this country by way of divergent and varying paths. Some migrated to America and forcibly claimed these lands, which were not native to them, as their own. Others were brought to these shores by force, and the foundations of this country were built on the backs of their free labor. Still others sought the dream of a better life in this country fleeing war-torn and impoverished communities in their countries of origin.”

We are reminded of these stories not only by troubling stories in the news but also by the history and stories that we reflect on during this Hispanic Heritage Month, which we’re now celebrating on our campus. This is an incredible opportunity as God’s children to truly understand the stories that mark the heritage of our Latinx brothers and sisters (which includes Haitians), including a generations-long struggle to find a safe and secure home for each member of their family and community.

Whatever boundaries we face—those on a map, those in a government policy, even boundaries within our own hearts—must be informed by humane treatment and the dignity that each child of God deserves. We need to find a place where these biblical principles can be reinforced by our own actions, and the actions of this country, especially as it embraces and claims the values of Christian fidelity and purpose.

Certainly, there are complicated and challenging failures on all sides in this story and all the stories that have preceded them. Within this Divino blog, we’ve now reflected on several tragedies that surround these issues across the years and even different administrations in the United States.

They are all hard reminders of how broken this world is and how essential are the answers found in God’s ultimate call to offer dignity, purpose and true love for each individual—even, and perhaps especially, for those who are not part of our country or our communities.

Karl A. Racine, the District of Columbia Attorney General, who is a Haitian American, wrote last week that “individuals seeking asylum or other humanitarian assistance in our country deserve our respect and compassion, and they should not be treated differently from other migrants based on their country of origin. Haitians deserve the same due process as all others attempting to immigrate or flee to the United States.”

Attorney General Racine makes a powerful and God-inspired point as the United States, as God’s children and as a global community continue to seek and pray for God’s power and purpose in addressing this current crisis and understanding and effectively addressing the realities for all who seek a better home.

Michael Nixon
Vice President for University Culture & Inclusion

Why We Remember: Celebrating Juneteenth 2021

Posted on June 18, 2021

Juneteenth 2021

Friends,

“I will never forget the violence of the white mob when we left our home. I still see Black men being shot, Black bodies lying in the street. I still smell smoke and see fire. I still see Black businesses being burned. I still hear airplanes flying overhead. I hear the screams. I have lived through the massacre every day. Our country may forget this history, but I cannot ... I am 107 years old and I have never ... seen justice. I pray that one day I will."

These are a part of the words delivered by Viola Floyd Fletcher, just two weeks after her 107th birthday and nearly 100 years to the date of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.

Viola, her younger brother Hughes Van Ellis and Leslie Benningfield Randle recently testified before a House Judiciary Subcommittee on May 19 to seek for the reparations and justice that have never been afforded to them and the families of the other victims of this massacre. Some historians say as many as 300 Black people were killed and another 10,000 were left homeless as the Greenwood district of Tulsa, Oklahoma, was destroyed by the attack that was launched on May 31, 1921. That date does not seem as far in the past when you sit and listen to the vivid memories of Viola and the other survivors who can recount the horror of the massacre as if it had only occurred yesterday.

There are some who may suggest that it is better we leave these stories in the past. If these tragedies occurred so long ago, why should we take the time to remember these darker chapters in American history? I submit to you that in a time when we are witnessing an all-out assault on the ability to tell the truth about our history happening in the news media, across social media and the internet and even some state legislatures across the country, it has never been more important than now for us, as people of faith who pride ourselves on learning and spreading gospel truth, to create the space necessary to tell the truth about our collective history so that we are not doomed to repeat the shortcomings we uncover.

Each year on Juneteenth, we celebrate another often forgotten chapter of our history which exemplifies both the tragedy and triumph that is connected to the Black experience in America. It also exemplifies the power that we can possess when we remember to advocate for the betterment of the other, of those who are truly our brothers and sisters.

June 19, 1865, marks the date that Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced both the end of the Civil War and slavery. As we know, the Civil War had ended and the Emancipation Proclamation which legally freed enslaved persons was signed on Jan. 1, 1863, almost two and a half years before General Granger delivered the message to enslaved persons in Galveston. Starting that following year in 1866, Texans began to celebrate Juneteenth as a day marked with joy and hope with community-centric events, such as parades, cookouts, prayer gatherings, historical and cultural readings, and musical performances. As tragic as it was that it took two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation for enslaved persons in Galveston to be freed due to the greed, cruelty and indifference of those who claimed ownership of them, General Granger’s example demonstrated the power of remembering to seek justice for the other.

I sometimes wonder how long it would have taken for enslaved persons in Galveston to realize that they were truly free had General Granger not delivered the message on that first Juneteenth of 1865. It is hard for us to guess, but we can be sure that enslaved persons would not have become aware of their freedom unless someone, like General Granger, had the courage to remember. Though Granger had nothing to gain from delivering the message, it was profoundly the right thing to do.

On Thursday, June 17, our country took that remembrance one step further when President Biden signed legislation to make Juneteenth a federal holiday, enshrining June 19 as the national day to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States. The legislation passed both the House and the Senate with bipartisan support making this year’s Juneteenth the first that will be celebrated as a national holiday.

During the signing ceremony at the White House, President Biden made sure to recognize a woman who never forgot to remember the significance of Juneteenth. Opal Lee is an activist, who at the age of 89 decided to walk from her home in Fort Worth to Washington D.C. in an effort to get Juneteenth named a national holiday. Opal walked two and a half miles each day to signify the amount of years it took for enslaved persons in Galveston to hear that they were free. President Biden called her “a grandmother of the movement to make Juneteenth a federal holiday” and got down on one knee to greet her in the audience. There is such great power in remembering.

There are several commands to remember that God has given to his people in scripture. There are many that stand out to us within our faith community: to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy; to remember the sacrifice of Christ through participation in communion; to confess our sins because our Savior is faithful and just to forgive, the list goes on and on.

One of my favorite challenges for us to remember is found in the first chapter of Isaiah: “Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.” (Isaiah 1:17, NLT) As followers of the example of Christ, we should always remember to not only awaken those around us to their access to the power of freedom in Christ but also to seek restorative justice in response to their everyday needs.

As our president, Andrea Luxton, emphasized in her Juneteenth letter, Andrews University has pledged to stand against racism and remains fully committed to taking measurable steps toward an ethic of consistent and equitable love, compassion and justice. With this in mind, I invite you to celebrate the triumph of justice and freedom that Juneteenth represents this year and always. I also invite you to continue to remember that there is so much more work to be done, so much more justice to seek, and so many more people who are entitled to freedom. We remember the tragedy of the murder of George Floyd while we also take some solace in the fact that accountability was manifested in the conviction of Derek Chauvin on murder and manslaughter charges. We remember the countless other victims of violence who have not received justice and who still seek it—like Viola Floyd Fletcher 100 years later.

Whether we celebrate or we mourn, it is always better when done in community. While we remember the complexity of Juneteenth, let us thank God for the opportunity he has given us in this moment to draw closer together as we seek to continue to become the individuals and institution that he has called us to be.

Happy Juneteenth!

Grace and Peace,

Michael Nixon
Vice President
Diversity & Inclusion

Juneteenth: Pursuing Love, Compassion & Justice

Posted on June 17, 2021

Juneteenth (also known as June 19th) 2021

Friends,

One year ago I wrote to you and shared some of my reflections on the tragic deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and too many others.

I wrote that letter a year ago on June 19 as a way to help recognize Juneteenth—an annual holiday celebrated for more than 150 years by the Black community to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States. That idea and promise of freedom for the Black citizens of the United States continues to carry special resonance, especially as our nation continues to mourn the loss of Black lives that impacts our communities.

My colleague, Michael Nixon, vice president for Diversity & Inclusion, plans to share some additional thoughts on the meaning and purpose of Juneteenth in the context of the American story in an upcoming Divino post. Incidentally, Juneteenth this year also offers us the opportunity to recognize and reflect on this year’s 100-year anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre, whose effects and implications continue to ripple through history. I hope you’ll take the time to read Michael's message on the meanings and implications of Juneteenth and to reflect on its implications for our lives as God’s children.

As we reach Juneteenth this year, I want to again assure you that Andrews University is committed to stand against racism and remains fully committed to taking measurable steps toward an ethic of consistent and equitable love, compassion and justice. That means to always view and treat each other as God’s children, as true brothers and sisters who are ultimately and unquestionably worthy of respect, protection and care.

There have been some significant developments in the stories I shared a year ago, including those related to the killing of George Floyd, whose death galvanized last summer’s protests and inspired ongoing movements to challenge and seek to change how each one of us cares for and better protects one another, regardless of the other’s role and position in society.

As you know, Floyd’s death led to a trial this past April that captured the attention of the entire world. During that trial, Derek Chauvin, the policeman responsible for Floyd’s murder, was ultimately convicted of second- and third-degree murder and manslaughter charges.

The trial included some remarkable moments of bearing truthful witness as we seek justice.

First was the witness offered during the trial by Minneapolis police chief Medaria Arradondo, who testified during the trial that Chauvin had breached regulations and showed disregard for police principles which call Chauvin and other officers to respect “the sanctity of life.” Chief Arradondo’s unusual and honest testimony is an important reminder of the power of a truthful witness.

The other was the remarkable story and witness of Darnella Frazier, a 17-year-old who was out shopping with her 9-year-old cousin the day George Floyd was killed. Floyd’s arrest was unfolding outside the store where Darnella went shopping with her young cousin, and as she stood outside that store on a Minneapolis sidewalk, she recorded the tragic last minutes of Floyd’s life and his ultimate death with an unwavering 10-minute cell phone video. It was that 10-minute video that galvanized protests, helped inspire continuing reform efforts in Congress, and was key evidence in Chauvin’s murder conviction.

A footnote to the story of that video came earlier this month when Frazier received a Pulitzer Prize for her video. That sort of international recognition of Frazier’s actions that day reflects the power and central importance of bearing witness wherever and whenever it’s most needed, regardless of your age, role or even what you may perceive as the limited power of your voice.

As I’ve noted earlier, those stories I shared with you a year ago are far from the only ones of racism, hatred and violence that have so often broken our hearts and troubled our souls over the last year.

If you’ve been reading some of the letters over the last year from Michael Nixon, you’ll have also read and thought more about ongoing acts of violence, racism and hatred against our Asian brothers and sisters during this COVID-19 year, as well as ongoing acts of hatred and violence against those in Muslim and Jewish communities. And, tragically, killings of unarmed individuals by police officers continued to inspire protests.

Even some of the issues surrounding the global COVID-19 pandemic itself have led to a disappointing array of stories that illustrate mistrust, hatred and sometimes even violence when we disagree with one another or with the safety protocols put in place by our government.

These are heartbreaking stories to hear, not just for the hateful acts themselves but also in how they relate to a growing culture where it’s easy to minimize the views of others while also relying on rhetoric that assumes the speaker’s reality is right, irrespective of evidence. These are challenges that not only impact the wider society, they are also reflected in our own communities and even within the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Throughout this last year, we have continued to encounter stories of racism, hatred and violence that continue to break our hearts and trouble our souls. Michael has also spoken out against ongoing acts of violence, racism and hatred against our Asian brothers and sisters during this COVID-19 year, actions that demonstrate attitudes and evil actions that darken our world and are far from God’s calling for His children.

Even some of the issues surrounding the global COVID-19 pandemic itself have led to a disappointing array of stories that illustrate mistrust, hatred and sometimes even violence when we disagree with one another or with the safety protocols put in place by our government.

These are heartbreaking stories to hear, not just for the hateful acts themselves but also in how they relate to a growing culture where it’s easy to minimize the views of others while also relying on rhetoric that assumes the speaker’s reality is right, irrespective of evidence. They are challenges that not only impact the wider society but are also reflected in our own communities and even within the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

That’s a tragedy, because I believe there is no better way for our community and our church to be disrupted from its ultimate mission than for us to spend time arguing over issues which are not related to our salvation and/or, worse still, to actively disparage the actions of others because we might not agree with something they do. In these situations, sometimes the “us” and “them” start breaking into smaller and smaller groups until “them” can be anyone who isn’t in alignment with our social and theological perspective. I think in these moments Jesus’ response to his disciples’ concern over those who were not part of them is exactly right: “for whoever is not against us is for us” (Mark 9:40). How much more energy would we have if we spent time focusing on what mission we could achieve together rather than worrying about what someone else might be doing wrong.

What I’m trying to reflect on here is at the heart of our Andrews University mission statement and particularly its summary, “Seek Knowledge, Affirm Faith, Change the World.” If this mission matters, then what we do as individuals and a University should follow what God says—we should reason together, even wrestle with the complexity of different challenges and different perspectives together.

It’s that commitment to biblically driven knowledge and understanding that is behind Andrews University’s pledge to clearly stand against racism and hatred, to commit to being an anti-racist institution.

So, let me close by sharing some thoughts I shared with you a year ago but that are increasingly relevant in today’s world.

As World Changers committed to the possibility of a world dedicated to justice and equality, Andrews University once again makes the following institutional commitments to all of our campus community both here in Berrien Springs and around the world, commitments that are driven by the values of God’s Kingdom.

1. We will only be satisfied when Andrews University is a safe place for all, and we will keep working until we ultimately reach that end.
    
2. We commit to educating our Andrews University community on how to recognize their own unconscious bias and how to listen openly to others.
    
3. We will inspire our Andrews University World Changers to passionately model justice and equity in their own dealings and lead others with integrity, using power to uplift and inspire hope.
   
   In total we are fully committed to becoming a truly anti-racist institution. We are committed to seek a world influenced by God’s kingdom, a world where humility, compassion and care are central.

Once more, these are truths that are crucial to our operations and our lives as members of the Andrews University community. These truths are the faithful witness and power we must offer in response to the truly heartbreaking times we face in our world, challenging times that too often continue to be filled with anger and fear.

As a result, I’m convinced that we will greet moments like Juneteenth not only as a time to acknowledge and better understand the disappointment and challenges in the history that precedes us but also as a time to chart and inspire a path of hope forward for ourselves and our world.

I believe that the World Changers who continue to study and are inspired at Andrews University can and will articulate and pursue that path of hope and positive change for our entire world, a purpose clearly defined by our mission.

May God bless this journey as together we seek to impact a world that so desperately needs our faithful witness and which will be changed by pursuing God’s answers of equity, love, compassion and justice, now more than ever.

Andrea Luxton
President

Defending the Intrinsic Value of Each Life Lost

Posted on April 20, 2021

Friends,

On Monday evening, the Derek Chauvin trial went to the jury following closing arguments. This widely followed trial will soon be over.

This trial, which brought charges against Chauvin, a former police officer, for the death of George Floyd nearly one year ago, is one that has raised multiple intense emotions throughout the country and the world. In many ways this trial has become about something far more than whether or not one man is guilty. The trial has also had the effect of polarizing opinions on law enforcement and justice. It has specifically raised the sensitive, yet real, issues of systemic racism in our world.

With all of this, at the heart of the passionate exchanges surrounding the trial is something very critical, for what is on trial are truly and ultimately the priorities and values of this nation and, further than that, the priorities and values held by each of us, both personally as well as corporately, as a community of faith. These conversations ask whether we, for example, are willing to defend unequivocally our beliefs in the sanctity of life and the intrinsic value of each person as created by God? Are we clear that there are not tiers of human value within God’s kingdom?

I recall the famous words of John Donne, “Any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.” I truly believe that if we lose our capacity to mourn lost lives, and if we do not do all we can to save lives, I would suggest that as a community we are at risk of losing our own soul.

Irrespective of the verdict of this trial, we do know that a life has been lost and we should care about that.

Further, irrespective of the reasons and motivations of the killer, eight lives were lost in a mass shooting in Indianapolis last week. We should also care about that, too. And on any day or week, we could continue sadly with a long list of similar lost lives. As individuals and as a community of faith, we should mourn for those lost lives and we should care greatly about bringing change to society so that fewer lives (all of value) are lost.

As you may know, Andrews University is approved as a site for a Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation Campus Center, which opened on our campus this past semester. That means we, with a group of other universities in the United States, have been identified as a campus that is not afraid of the difficult questions and we wish to face those hard questions through a process of listening in order to ultimately bring reconciliation and healing. That also means we seek to understand and listen to very real pain that such tragic and high-profile deaths bring to our world, our nation and community. It means we must find a way to frame these difficult conversations in a way that brings our community together in a truly shared commitment.

Whatever the verdict of the Derek Chauvin trial, it’s inescapable that a tragedy has happened. And whatever the verdict, there will be some who are angry and some who will rejoice. But that is not the end of this story, not the conclusion of this tragedy.

As a campus we will find an opportunity through our Office of Diversity & Inclusion and the Center for Faith Engagement to create a listening space for this community as the Chauvin trial ends and a verdict is delivered.

As an Andrews University community, please know that we will be there for you. We will want to actively share, listen and learn. We want to take the time to carefully discover together how we can be change agents in a world where value is too often removed from the realities that first, all life is sacred and second, there is no hierarchy of value when it comes to human lives.

Please look out for the announcements for those formal opportunities to talk and listen together. Please join us for those honest and meaningful conversations. In the meantime let us pray, today and always, that as individuals and as a community we may have the grace to become truly world changing leaders who value and identify with all human lives. We must do that not just in words but in action.

Thank you for your continued prayers and involvement as we continue through this difficult, but essential, journey to understand and assure value, meaning and care for one another.

Sincerely,

Andrea Luxton
President

A Reflection on the Heartbreak of Violence & Death

Posted on April 19, 2021

Over the last week, our hearts were broken once again in the wake of the release of the police body-cam footage which captured the shooting death of 13-year-old Adam Toledo by Officer Eric Stillman on March 29 in the Little Village neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois, a city just across Lake Michigan from our University.

While there was some initial discrepancy as to the specifics of Toledo’s shooting death, which occurred during what police described as an “armed confrontation,” the grainy body-cam footage appears to show that within a one-second span of time between when Adam appeared to toss the gun he had been holding behind the fence and turned around with his empty hands up, he was shot by Officer Stillman. Stillman immediately called for an ambulance and began first aid on Adam, but Adam tragically died at the scene. Mayor Lori Lightfoot later declared that there is no evidence that Adam shot at the police. Officer Stillman has been placed on administrative leave at this time.

The family of Adam Toledo, who had dreamed of becoming a police officer someday, released the following statement in the wake of his death:

“[Adam was a] loved and supported 13-year-old boy from a close-knit family. He lived with his mother, his 90-year-old grandfather, and two of his siblings, and his father was in his life … Adam was not alone.”

Adam attended Gary Elementary School, a high-rated school in Chicago that serves more than 900 students from third through eighth grade. Nearly 98 percent of students are Hispanic, and 95 percent are from low-income families.

In addition to this news about Adam Toledo, the ongoing incidence of mass shootings has also continued to be part of the news—especially with the shooting deaths of eight, and the injuring of four, late last week at a Federal Express facility in Indianapolis, a city a few hours south of our main campus here in Michigan. As reporting continues on this shooting at the FedEx facility, the Indianapolis Sikh community is mourning the four Sikhs that were killed in the attack. It also appears that the shooter, who killed himself at the FedEx facility after shooting others, had legally purchased the weapons he used in the attack after being earlier interviewed by the FBI and having a pump action shotgun seized at the time of those interviews (his mother had reported him with mental health concerns).

As many of you know, last week, after the shooting death of Daunte Wright, I shared another Divino post reflecting on Wright’s shooting death and extended an invitation to a virtual forum titled: “Here Again: Processing the Shooting Death of Daunte Wright” hosted by the Black Student Christian Forum, in collaboration with the Office of Diversity & Inclusion, the Andrews University Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation Campus Center, and the Center for Faith Engagement.

However, in the wake of this recent shooting death of Adam Toledo, we have expanded the focus of the original event, and it will now be called: “Here Again: Processing the Recent Shooting Deaths of Daunte Wright & Adam Toledo.” We have also invited the Andrews University Latino/a Association (AULA) to co-sponsor the event, Tuesday, April 20, at 11:30 a.m. on Zoom (co-curricular credit will be provided).

As we plan for that time together to reflect on both of these recent shooting deaths, I wanted to share with you some words from the leaders of our Andrews University Latino Association (AULA) and Makarios clubs as they have reflected on the shooting death of Adam Toledo:

“Our AULA & Makarios clubs stand with our Hispanic community as we are all much affected, and deeply saddened, by the recent death of Adam Toledo at the hands of law enforcement … our differences in color and ethnicity should not be something that puts us against each other, or be another reason for a life to be taken away. Rather, we believe our differences should instead encourage us to engage with and to learn about each other's cultures and common values. We want to encourage our Andrews family to continue to have open discussions, and we want to let our Hispanic students know that they have our support, and we are always willing to listen, especially in hard and challenging times like these. As a community, let us not forget how God told us in His word to always love our neighbor and to be a servant to others. Also, please know that our thoughts and prayers go out to the Toledo family and community as they mourn the loss of a brother, a son, a grandson, a classmate and a friend.”

As you know, the stories of Daunte and Adam are part of a tragic tapestry of violence and death that seemingly fills our news reports almost every day. Over the weekend, following the FedEx shootings, there was significant national coverage of at least three other mass shootings.

As a result, on a personal level, you may also want to talk with someone to help you understand and process your grief and even anger about all of these tragedies. Those include those two deaths, as well as the larger and ongoing reality of mass shootings in our country in recent weeks which have injured and killed family members, coworkers, and individuals in shopping centers and restaurants and public spaces. Those shootings have included some which targeted members of various cultural groups, such as last month’s Atlanta shootings which killed eight and specifically targeted members of the Asian community.

If you are experiencing that grief and anger about this recent news, I once again invite you to attend the forum I talked about above or connect directly and confidentially with our chaplains at the Center for Faith Engagement or our counselors in the Counseling & Testing Center. Both in the April 20 forum and in direct conversations with one another, we want to find productive ways to pursue conversations for your own heart and life and for our world which continues to be threatened by the consequences of violence and hatred.

Ultimately, we want to prayerfully and meaningfully change the world through the hope centered in the ultimate promises of God’s kingdom.

Grace and peace,

Michael Nixon
Vice President for Diversity & Inclusion

University Statement on Recent Police Shooting

Posted on April 14, 2021

Dear friends,

The Andrews University Office of Diversity & Inclusion joins in a chorus of voices across our nation and world that mourn the recent shooting death of 20-year-old Daunte Wright by Kim Potter, a Brooklyn Center police officer, this past Sunday, April 11, during a routine traffic stop in Brooklyn Center, a suburb of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Even more tragically, the shooting occurred just ten miles away from the site of Officer Derek Chauvin’s current trial, where he faces three murder/manslaughter charges in connection with the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis nearly a year ago in May 2020.

In the wake of Daunte’s killing, his mother Katie Wright has publicly shared that “[Daunte] was a son, he was a brother, he was an uncle, he was a grandson and he was so much more.” As a student, Daunte had worked with Project Success, a non-profit organization that helps Minneapolis school students plan for their futures. Daunte leaves behind his parents, Aubrey and Katie Wright, the mother of his child, Chyna, and his soon to be 2-year-old son, Daunte Jr.

Brooklyn Center Police Chief Tim Gannon described the shooting death of Daunte Wright as “an accidental discharge” and stated that Officer Potter had intended to fire her Taser and not her handgun. In the aftermath of Sunday’s event, Chief Gannon and Officer Potter both resigned from the Brooklyn Center Police Department on Tuesday, April 13. On Wednesday, April 14, it was announced that Officer Potter will face second degree manslaughter charges, to be issued by the Washington County Attorney’s Office.

Regardless of the attempts to explain and ultimately understand this shooting death of Daunte Wright in the days and weeks to come, we are once again left heartbroken, frustrated and dumbfounded that another “routine traffic stop” has led to the death of an unarmed Black person. In our heartbreak, frustration and anger, we realize that ultimately there aren’t any adequate words at moments like this that can help us make sense of yet another one of these tragic deaths. This incident is a painful reminder of just how much more progress still needs to be made on our essential journey toward true equity, liberty and justice for everyone in our country and in our world.

Incidentally, as I share this news, I also cannot help but reflect on last summer’s reckoning with the continuing pandemic of systemic racism that saw an awakening to, and protests against, some of the painful realities that the Black community has been dealing with for centuries. The discussions of those issues on our own campus this past summer led, in part, to the creation of the George Floyd Scholar program.

As I thought about the impact of that new program and its intentions to recognize students who seek to create hope and inspire change in the world, I reached out to Jennifer Jean. Jennifer is a freshman biology major and the inaugural recipient of a full-tuition scholarship from the George Floyd Scholar program. Here are her own reactions to the shooting death of Daunte Wright:

“This week we were hit with yet another tragedy—the shooting death of Daunte Wright. As I read the news, I am filled with disgust and anger for the corrupt nature of the justice system. As a country, we have begun to be desensitized due to the fact that these shootings and deaths have become such a common occurrence. Something that is particularly heartbreaking this week and with this story is that the shooting and death of Daunte Wright occurred during the George Floyd trial in the same area. The irony of this is while we are fighting for the justice of one Black man, another one has been shot and killed and once again failed by the justice system. SAY HIS NAME: DAUNTE WRIGHT.”

The Black Student Christian Forum, in collaboration with the Office of Diversity & Inclusion, the Andrews University Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation Campus Center and the Center for Faith Engagement, is planning to host a virtual forum conversation titled “Here Again: Processing the Shooting Death of Daunte Wright” to help our Andrews University campus community discuss and process these recent events. The program will take place on Tuesday, April 20, at 11:30 a.m. via Zoom here. Co-curricular credit will be provided.

On a personal level, you may want to talk with someone to help you understand and process your grief and even anger as you process this tragic news. If that’s true for you, I invite you to connect directly with our chaplains at our Center for Faith Engagement or with our counselors in our Counseling & Testing Center to find a way to have some of those heartbroken, personal and essential conversations for your own heart and life.

As I share these thoughts today, I find the words of the prophet Habakkuk especially powerful and relevant right now, especially in the beginning verses of Habakkuk 1:

“How long, O Lord, must I call for help? But you do not listen! ‘Violence is everywhere!’ I cry, but you do not come to save. Must I forever see these evil deeds? Why must I watch all this misery? Wherever I look, I see destruction and violence. I am surrounded by people who love to argue and fight. The law has become paralyzed, and there is no justice in the courts. The wicked far outnumber the righteous, so that justice has become perverted” (Habakkuk 1:2–4, NLT).

What we find in God’s response to Habbakuk is that He would respond to the injustice described in Habakkuk’s inquiry, and God would lead him in a direction that he would not expect. Those words recorded in Habakkuk are a reminder that oftentimes God answers our questions in ways we cannot foresee and, at times, we do not fully understand. So if you personally resonate with the questions of Habakkuk in this particular moment of heartbreak and even anger, I realize that while I do not know what God’s individual response to you will be, I can assure you that He will respond. I continue to be convinced that God sees every act of injustice in this world, and His heart aches for the misery it has caused.

As a result, I believe we can take comfort in knowing that God will have the final say in this moment,  amidst all the tragedy and heartache of our world that desperately needs the answers and peace of His kingdom:

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world” (John 16:33, NLT).

Grace and peace,

Michael

A Formal Apology to Our NHPI Community

Posted on April 9, 2021

Friends,

I graduated from Andrews University more than a decade ago, in May 2009. At the time I graduated, Andrews University had not yet incorporated cultural celebrations and stoles into graduation weekend events. Even so, I will never forget the euphoria I felt as I finished my academic journey at Andrews University and walked out of Pioneer Memorial Church with my fellow graduates.

As I excitedly walked toward the J.N. Andrews sculpture and panned the crowd of people to find my family, I was first greeted by a familiar face: Taufau Afaese, known to many here in our community as “Mama Fau.” She was a stalwart in our broader campus community in general and in our Andrews University and local Samoan community in particular. As I walked closer to her on my graduation day, she smiled her wonderful wide smile and motioned for me to bow. At that moment, she honored me by placing a flower lei around my neck. She then gave me a big hug and congratulated me on my achievement.

As happy as I was to receive my diploma that day, I will also never forget how Mama Fau extended her arms out to embrace me and invite me into her cultural practice of honor with the bestowing of a flower lei (the leis made of candy are great, too!). That caring action made me feel seen, appreciated and respected in a way that receiving my diploma could not have done on its own. At that moment and with her kindness, I truly felt like I was a part of her family.

I thought of that experience on Thursday, when I had a conversation with Evelyn Elisara Talaepa, one of our Samoan students who came to attend Andrews from her home in California. She came to my office to visit with me to express her pain and concern at the fact that the Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander (NHPI) community was not more intentionally and fully included in the planning and execution of our campus’ upcoming AAPI culture and heritage celebration, which I had announced in an email to our Andrews University community earlier that day.

As she talked with me on Thursday, Evelyn articulated her message and her concerns with painful and heartfelt clarity. It was disheartening to know that this oversight in our planning and preparation has caused Evelyn and others in our NHPI community here on campus so much pain. Even though it was hard to hear, I am so glad that Evelyn had the courage to come and speak with me directly about this egregious error on our part. It gave me a welcome opportunity to honestly acknowledge our error, to apologize for it, and also make tangible commitments to Evelyn and our NHPI community toward corrective action as we go forward. As Evelyn and I talked yesterday, I also thought that it was important for us to acknowledge this error publicly so that others in the NHPI community who were hurt by this error can hear from me, and from Andrews University, directly.

On behalf of the Office of Diversity & Inclusion here at Andrews University, I would like to formally and sincerely apologize for this significant oversight in our planning process for this month’s events, which are intended to better understand and celebrate all members of our AAPI community, including our NHPI students and employees. That oversight was not right and there are no excuses for it.

Facing that mistake reminded me that our Office of Diversity & Inclusion, and Andrews University as a whole, strives to create an equitable and inclusive environment on our campus where everyone feels that they belong. We have failed to make this a reality for the NHPI community, especially as we planned for this month of celebration and recognition, and for that, I am truly sorry. I want each member of our NHPI community here, and beyond our campus, to know that I am committed to ensuring that this office does much better going forward.

Please know that you are heard. You are valued. You are seen. You are a part of our family. Especially, please know that you are loved. This office commits to backing up those words with our actions.

In an effort to celebrate and affirm all of the members of the AAPI community—a community of Asians and Pacific Islanders whose countries of origin make up over 60 percent of the world’s population—I am sorry that we failed to see and affirm every part of its diverse makeup. I was reminded in my conversations with Evelyn that when we talk about the AAPI community here in the United States, the NHPI experience is unfortunately often overlooked, minimized and marginalized. In turn, I deeply regret that too often, the NHPI experience on our campus has also mirrored those painful realities in the broader U.S. experience. This conversation forcefully reminded me that we know we have to do better, and we must do better.

Once again, we will commit to the work that is necessary to do better and be more and increasingly inclusive of the NHPI experience going forward.

Specifically, in the coming weeks, I plan to continue meeting with Evelyn and other members of our Andrews University Samoan Club to work to define ways that we can honor, celebrate and affirm our NHPI students and employees. If you would like to be engaged in these discussions, please contact me (michaeln@andrews.edu) and I will be sure to keep you in the loop. As we move forward in this important task, no idea or contribution is too small. Please engage with me, and Andrews University, as we work together to chart a better path forward.

I want to close by once again thanking Evelyn for what she taught me in our Thursday conversation—not just through the strength of her words but also through the strength of her grace.

By the way, when Evelyn walked into my office yesterday, she walked in with a lei. Before sharing her words with me, she placed the lei on my neck as a sign of honor to me. I was struck by this act of humility and grace on her part. It of course reminded me of that graduation day act of honor by Mama Fau more than a decade ago. So, when Evelyn and I were done talking together, I shared my memory of Mama Fau and what she did for me on my graduation day.

As I was sharing this story, Evelyn literally stopped me and shared that Mama Fau is actually her aunt!

At that moment, the purpose of our meeting and the way Evelyn approached it hit even closer to home and touched my heart. Before she had a difficult but needed conversation with me, Evelyn took a moment to honor me with a beautiful lei that powerfully reminded me that I am a part of her family. I realized, especially at that moment, that when family members hurt, we hurt too. When family members need to be seen, affirmed, honored and celebrated, we need to see, affirm, honor and celebrate those family members. And just as importantly, when we treat family members poorly, we responsibly and humbly take ownership of our shortcomings, apologize and then do what is necessary to make it right.

So, with the fragrance and symbolism of that lei and the power of our conversation together, I look forward to continuing my conversations and work with Evelyn as she carries on the legacy of her aunt to ensure that our NHPI community knows without a shadow of a doubt that Andrews University is also their home and that they fully belong here.

Thank you, Evelyn. We will go forward together “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:2–3).

Grace and peace,

Michael Nixon
Vice President for Diversity & Inclusion

Rise Together: Celebrating Our AAPI Community

Posted on April 8, 2021

Dear friends,

As many of you may know, the United States has designated the month of May as a time to recognize and celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month.

"While they share some experiential commonalities, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are a vast and diverse community, some native to the United States, hailing from Hawaii and our Pacific Island territories," said President Barack Obama, as he recognized the significance of this heritage month. "Others trace their heritage to dozens of countries. All are treasured citizens who enrich our Nation in countless ways, and help fulfill the promise of the American dream which has drawn so many to our shores."

Unfortunately, since AAPI Heritage Month in May of each year falls during Andrews University’s summer semester and break, we have not typically had a specific official on-campus celebration during that month.

We’d like to approach that differently this year, and the Office of Diversity & Inclusion is collaborating with our Center for Faith Engagement, the Proximity Vespers team, as well as our Andrews Filipino International Association, our Southern Asia Student Association, our Andrews Society of Indonesian Students, and our Korean American Student Association to jointly host and present a series of events that I hope and pray will help us appropriately honor, celebrate and affirm Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage and culture. We are also grateful that the BSCF Impact team agreed to provide the Howard Performing Arts Center space for Proximity Vespers this Friday.

I hope you can join us at any (or all) of the events and especially for our "Rise Together" vespers this Friday evening. Here’s a list of this month’s events:

April 9: "Rise Together"
AAPI Heritage Vespers

• Proximity Vespers (Livestream also available on YouTube and Facebook)
• Howard Performing Arts Center, 7:30 p.m.
• Seating is limited due to COVID-19 restrictions.

April 10: Pottalk
An AAPI Talk & Potluck (this event will be a follow-up and continuation of our March 22 town hall program, which focused on the need to successfully #StopAsianHate in our world and here in our own communities)

• University Towers, 4:30 p.m. (Livestream also available on Zoom)
• Seating is limited due to COVID-19 restrictions.
• Pre-packaged food will be given to attendees on their way home.

April 10: "Once Upon a Time … in Bollywood"
A South Asian Celebration presented by SASA filled with songs, entertainment, snacks and more.

• Newbold Auditorium (Buller Hall), 7 p.m.
• Tickets are available here. All proceeds from the event will go to support the AAPI Community Fund.
• Seating is limited due to COVID-19 restrictions.

April 16: "Tagumpay" Pilipino Culture Night 2021 presented by AFIA
Pilipino Culture Night (PCN) is an annual event AFIA holds to share Filipino culture through performative mediums. This year’s performance will be an original play written by one of our students!

• Howard Performing Arts Center, 5 p.m. (doors open at 4:30 p.m.)
• In-person & livestream tickets can be purchased here.
• Due to University COVID-19 guidelines, seating is limited due to current COVID-19 restrictions for performances in the Howard Performing Arts Center. As a result, in-person attendance to this Pilipino Culture Night is limited to current University students, faculty and staff, and those living in the same household.
• This production contains intense scenes and the use of a strobe light. Viewer discretion is advised.
• Food, AFIA merchandise, and playbills will be sold after the play.
• Proceeds from PCN will be donated to the organization Stop AAPI Hate.

I am so excited about celebrating and honoring AAPI heritage and culture with our entire Andrews University community.

This celebration is especially important now as we seek to understand and confront ongoing racism and violence against our Asian American and Pacific Islander communities here in the United States and throughout our world.

This incredible series of programs would not be possible without the talent, commitment, and creative energy of our AAPI students and employees.

As we prepare for this month of celebration, reflection and understanding, I want to specifically thank each one of you in those communities for taking the time and effort to invite us into your cultural spaces—especially right now—so that we can better understand, celebrate and appreciate who you are and what it is you experience on an everyday basis.

Once again, I invite our entire campus family to join us over the course of the next few weeks as we take the time to intentionally celebrate and fully honor the AAPI members of our community.

Grace and peace,

Michael Nixon
Vice President for Diversity & Inclusion

Ending the Virus of Hatred

Posted on March 22, 2021

Dear friends,

Andrews University joins with the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America, along with voices from across America and around the world, in fully, strongly condemning the recent acts of racism, violence and hatred directed toward the Asian American and Pacific Islander community.

In particular, we directly condemn the violent acts of a gunman who has been charged with killing eight people at Atlanta-area spas in Atlanta, Georgia, earlier this week. While the shooter's motive is not yet clear in his initial interviews with the police, the identity of the victims, which included six women of Asian descent, is a painful reminder of an alarming rise in anti-Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) hate crimes in the United States—a trend of hatred, violence and even death that must end. This week's incident is only another stark reminder of the pressing need to urgently root out and eliminate this viral pandemic of racism from our nation and world toward our AAPI brothers and sisters and for any other member of our community who experiences racism and acts of hatred and violence.

Over the last year, the coalition Stop AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) Hate has tracked incidents of violence and harassment against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the U.S. In that yearlong study, released early this month, nearly 3,800 instances of discrimination had been reported against persons of Asian descent in the past 12 months—a number that is likely much higher.

Underreporting of these incidents can be due to a number of different factors including, but not limited to, language and cultural barriers, a lack of trust in law enforcement, as well as fears of retaliation in the AAPI community.

In particular, it would be a mistake to not also point out, especially during our celebration of Women's History Month, the fact that the majority of victims of recent hate crimes directed toward the AAPI community have been women.

Of the 3,800 persons to report anti-AAPI hate incidents recorded by Stop AAPI Hate between March 19, 2020, and Feb. 28, 2021, 68 percent of them were women. There clearly appears to be an intersectional dynamic in which hate-filled perpetrators of violence are perceiving women of AAPI descent as easier targets and are therefore targeting them at a much higher rate. This is part of a tragic legacy where Asian women are also at increased risk as objects of gender-based sexual violence.

On Feb. 10, 2020, I, along with our Office of International Student Services & Programs, released a Divino statement that launched our campus' #IAmNotAVirus campaign. This campaign was inspired by a global initiative early last year to combat xenophobic fears and racist tropes targeting persons of Asian descent within our community based on false information about the spread of COVID-19, which was just beginning to spread worldwide (at that point last year, there were only 43,000 cases and 1,000 deaths globally, and the disease had just been given the name COVID-19).

You may also remember from that Divino post that I received letters from members of our own University community who had been unfairly targeted on the basis of their Asian heritage. At that time, I called on us as a University community to seek to create spaces for our campus community to talk together more thoughtfully and carefully about how we can also celebrate and affirm Asian/Asian American students and employees. The message of that Divino post on #IAmNotAVirus led to a number of reports in local media and in social media shares around the world. It eventually even led to an interview with a newspaper in Hong Kong that had heard about the Divino post and the significance of the campaign to end hatred against Asians.

Once again, since February 2020 when that Divino post first appeared, the acts of hatred and violence against the AAPI community have only widened. Our society has also further marginalized our Asian brothers and sisters with the dismaying and widespread use of language like "China Flu" or "Kung Flu" throughout our society and sometimes even from global leaders—inappropriate language that has only further inflamed hatred against the Asian community.

I'm also grateful for what our faculty and staff can do to build community and understanding, especially in the face of racism and hatred. My colleague, Duane Covrig, shared a wonderful article last evening from the Christian Scholars Review website. Let me share a remarkable passage from that article, written by Paul Y. Kim, which I think describes an ethical and Christ-like response that a Christian community like Andrews University, a community made up of students, teachers and staff from around the world, should make in the face of hatred and violence like this:

"Students often choose to attend Christian colleges and universities based on the strong relationships that are possible with faculty; therefore, it behooves us to provide Christ-like love to our Asian and Asian American students, as they navigate a pandemic world that is filled with hurtful messaging and acts against their own community. Through our collective efforts as faculty, I hope that we can affirm our Asian and Asian American students as image bearers of God (Genesis 1:27), recognize them as an integral part of our learning communities who require a particular type of attention during this time (1 Corinthians 12:12–27), join in their grieving (Romans 12:15), and ultimately point students to the real hope that the diversity of God's family will be fully realized one day (Revelation 7:9–10)."

I look forward to continuing to talk with our entire Andrews University community, and to engage with the world we seek to change, as we seek to fully and truly listen to our AAPI brothers and sisters here on campus and around the world and find God-centered ways to pursue tangible and world-changing ways that we can together ensure our community is one where those individuals feel valued, affirmed, respected and supported—and protected always.

This coming Monday, March 22, at 8 p.m. in Newbold Auditorium, the Office of Diversity & Inclusion and the Center for Faith Engagement will jointly host a conversation that will give our community, including its students and employees, a space to process these recent events as well as discuss and explore tangible ways our campus community can engage in the movement to stop these acts of hate and violence toward the AAPI community.

With this Divino post, I've included a heartbreaking photo that I saw online last evening. The picture eloquently states the approach we should embrace as God's children and proponents of God's kingdom. In the picture, you'll see a young boy carrying a handwritten sign that simply says "Stop Racism! We are not a virus!" (Image Credit: Reuters)

That young boy is absolutely right.

Hate has no home here, either at Andrews University or around the world.

Grace and Peace,

Michael Nixon
Vice President for Diversity & Inclusion

2021 Women's History Month Celebration

Posted on March 18, 2021

Friends,

As the month of March begins, it is my distinct privilege to take a few moments to formally recognize Women's History Month. This annual recognition of women's history first began in 1980 as Women's History Week through a proclamation by President Jimmy Carter. Since 1995, it has been recognized as a month-long celebration. Women's History Month is now an annual opportunity for all of us to remember that the achievements, leadership, courage, strength and love of the women who built America were, in the words of President Carter, "as vital as that of the men whose names we know so well."

Since many of the women's suffrage centennial celebrations originally scheduled for 2020 were curtailed, the National Women's History Alliance (NWHA) is extending the annual theme for 2021 to "Valiant Women of the Vote: Refusing to be Silenced." The NWHA explained this theme was first chosen last year in order to celebrate "the brave women who fought to win suffrage rights for women, and for the women who continue to fight for the voting rights of others."

This theme also brings to mind the powerful Women's Suffrage Movement in the early 1900s, which ultimately led to the creation of the 19th Amendment securing women’s right to vote. More recently, this also brings to mind the many women who continued to fight in the 1960s for legislation such as the Voting Rights Act, which helped ensure that the voting rights of women of all racial and ethnic backgrounds were secured and protected.

This year, International Women's Day is on Monday, March 8. The theme is #ChooseToChallenge. The #ChooseToChallenge theme notes that "a challenged world is an alert world. Individually, we're all responsible for our own thoughts and actions—all day, every day. We can all choose to challenge and call out gender bias and inequality. We can all choose to seek out and celebrate women's achievements. Collectively, we can all help create an inclusive world. From challenge comes change, so let's all choose to challenge."

As we recognize the significant achievements of women throughout the world and history, this is a list of some of the Andrews University events available for you to participate in throughout this month:

March 5: Identity Vespers

• Proximity (PMC Chapel)
• 7:30 p.m.

March 9, 23, 30: Women's History Tuesday Choices

• Zoom Link TBA
• 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
• Co-curricular credit available

March 13: WEAAU X BSCF Movie Night

• "Hidden Figures" Movie Screening
• Location TBA
• 7 p.m.

The Women's Empowerment Association of Andrews University (WEAAU) will be announcing these and other events on Instagram throughout the month with more details. You can find their Instagram page @we.aau here.

New Life Fellowship will also be presenting a Women’s History Month Series titled "Insecure." This special series will take place during their Sabbath morning worship services throughout the month of March at 11:30 a.m. in the Howard Performing Arts Center. Speakers will include Chaplain Danielle Pilgrim, Gena Gordon and former University Chaplain June Price. These services will also stream live on New Life Fellowship's Facebook and YouTube pages. 

Social Sciences for Social Justice is also planning to host two panel discussions on women's history within the social sciences and why it matters. The panels will be offered on March 23 and 30, from 11:30 a.m.–12:15 p.m., as part of the Tuesday Choices program. These panel discussions will feature one female faculty member from each of the following disciplines: anthropology, sociology, social work and psychology.

There are also some exciting programs happening in our surrounding communities during March. The Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies at the University of Notre Dame will be hosting social justice activist Ai-jen Poo for Notre Dame’s first Asian American Distinguished Speakers Series in a livestream conversation on March 11 at 7 p.m. A former McArthur "Genius" fellow, Ai-jen Poo is a thought leader and activist for caregiving, domestic work and other social justice issues. You can find more information about this March 11 event here.

As I close this note, I would like to take an opportunity to specifically thank all of the wonderful women that make Andrews such a great place to work, learn, worship and commune. All of your contributions to our campus community have always been, and continue to be, so critical to our experiences and shared journeys here. It is my hope that this Women's History Month will be an opportunity to honor, celebrate and reaffirm how much we appreciate each and every one of you.

I look forward to this month's celebration and hope to see you at some of the events.

Grace and peace,

Michael Nixon
Vice President for Diversity & Inclusion