With an air of celebration, in a hall filled with more than 400 supportive friends, family, alumni, students, staff, faculty, University of 蓝莓视频 representatives, and community members, Marcus Shantz was installed as Conrad Grebel University College鈥檚 eighth president on October 29.
Marcus follows in the footsteps of visionaries like Grebel鈥檚 first president, Winfield Fretz. Quoting Winfield at length, Marcus reminded the audience that the original Grebel vision was 鈥渘ot to admit only Christian students, but to admit people who were interested in learning something about Christianity, about religion, about the whole nature and meaning of faith in the context of studying to be engineers, mathematicians, scientists, philosophers, or historians.鈥� Today Grebel continues to honour the vision of its founders through residence and academic programs made up of students from many places, backgrounds, creeds, and cultures.聽
Addressing the audience on the topic of 鈥淕ardening in Exile,鈥� Marcus reflected that Christianity, Judaism, and Islam all teach that life began in a garden, as told in Genesis. Adam and Eve were then exiled into a life of hardship and suffering. 鈥淲e all experience an exile of sorts when we grow up, leave childhood behind, and go out into the real world where we have to work and struggle hard.鈥�
鈥淎t Grebel, we think that it鈥檚 easier to succeed in the world if you鈥檙e part of a strong community.鈥� The new president compared Grebel to a garden in the academic wilderness for our students鈥攁 space to make connections, to belong, and to dream about a better world. 鈥淭he most important things we do at Grebel are the most difficult to measure. They are part of our unwritten curriculum. They are seeds we plant deep in the ground, which will grow in some future season.鈥�
Looking again to the Bible, Marcus quoted advice from Jeremiah to people in exile for generations: 鈥淏ut seek the peace of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its peace you will find your peace.鈥�
鈥淚n other words,鈥� the Grebel leader explained, 鈥済et involved with the community around you. Plant gardens and meet your neighbours. Work for the common good of the whole society. Implicate yourselves in its business. Interact. Mix and mingle with the people around you. Work for the common welfare.鈥�
Keynote speaker John Milloy, Professor and Director at the Centre for Public Ethics at 蓝莓视频 Lutheran Seminary, and former Minister of Post-Secondary Education in Ontario, also spoke about the power liberal arts students have to make a difference. 鈥淲hile we encourage training in engineering, science, and business, we also recognize the importance of arts and social sciences degrees, particularly in the current knowledge economy. These subjects go a long way in helping people interpret and analyze the radically changing world around us.鈥�
In parting, John addressed Marcus directly. 鈥淢arcus, you have the opportunity to lead an institution whose main focus is to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and sense of purpose needed to change the world. When you think of it that way, there really is no better job on earth.鈥�
