Courtney Ruth
Reporter
In the month of September, students participated in the first series of class nights—alternatives to the traditional convocation structure that are offered both on and off campus.
According to campus minister Nathan Flora, the idea for class nights came during the Lilly Grant planning. Once the idea was proposed, Flora and Danielle Booth, director of student life, went to work arranging the activities for the students.
“We wanted to do things that would be enjoyable and fun,” Booth said.
The program separates students into freshman, sophomore, junior and senior groups. Each group can attend their sessions and receive up to two punches in place of Tuesday convocation punches.
Flora said the divisions were set up to address differences each class faces.
Flora and Booth both said they feel the replacement activities are equally educational and beneficial as the regular convocations. According to Booth, convocation looks more at the community at large while class nights give students a more focused view of Christianity in everyday life.
“It’s about the integration of faith, learning and living,” Flora said.
September attendance of the class nights varied. The freshmen, who viewed musical performances, and the sophomores, who were given the chance to check the Franklin Fitness Center in Elizabethton, only had 15 to 20 people in each of their sessions. The upperclassmen had a better turnout with about 40 people at the juniors’ cooking session and about 45 seniors at the Elizabethton Coffee Company.
Class nights can be used in two ways. If a student is sick, oversleeps or misses convocation for any reason, a class night can be used as a make-up.
Second, if students decide that any one of the class nights being offered sounds more interesting than one of the scheduled convocations, they can choose to go to a Sunday night event in place of the traditional Tuesday service.
Student reaction to class nights has been mainly positive.
“(Giving students choices like this) helps promote interest in a variety of areas,” freshman Kate Oechler said.
In November, class nights will be movie screenings offered on Sunday nights at 6:30 p.m., after which a discussion will be held. The freshmen will view a variety of movie clips, sophomores will see “Signs,” juniors will see “Simon Birch” and seniors will watch “Meet Joe Black.”
“There will be snacks, popcorn and discussion of various world-shaping movies,” Flora said.
The theme for this semester’s convocation sessions is “Redefining Ministry: Stepping Out from Behind the Pulpit.” Upcoming speakers will include Milligan alumna and high school teacher Ronda Paulson on Oct. 28; sexual abuse survivor Nicole Braddock on Nov. 11; and a jazz band holiday performance on Nov. 25.