The Bridge
Vol. 2 – 6/3/13
Quote of the week
The difference between
a community and a
group of friends is that
in community we
verbalize our mutual
belonging and
bonding. W e
announce the goals
and the spirit that
unites us. W e
recognize also that this
bonding comes from
God; it is a gift from
God. It is he who has
chosen us and called
us together in a
covenant of love and
mutual caring
Jean Vanier,
Community & Growth
.
Upcoming
Events
6/8
$300 deposit due
6/17
Next edition of the
Bridge will be sent to
you (will be
published twice a
month in the summer
and weekly during
the semester).
8/28
Calvin’s first year
student orientation
begins
9/1
Depart for New
Mexico
9/8
Arrive at Rehoboth
Important
Numbers
OCP office
D. DeGraaf
B. Haney
616-526-6382
616-558-7245
616-526-6338
Linking Students to each other and the Rehoboth & Gallup Communities
Update on the NM Semester
News from Don (Director of Calvin’s OCP) & Becky (Director of the NM semester)
Yá'át'ééh (Traditional Navajo Greeting for Hello)!
We hope this newsletter finds you well as you conclude one chapter in your life and begin to look
forward to starting a new chapter next year at Calvin. As you begin this transition, we want to give
you some glimpses into highlights of your upcoming academic adventure in New Mexico.
Imagine your first week of class…you will be emerging yourself into the story of Native
American peoples as we wind our way down from Grand Rapids to New Mexico.
Over 500 independent nations of Native
Americans and Alaskan villages exist
within the boundaries of the United
States today. Each nation has its own
unique history, and those histories
stretch back to the beginning of time.
Our first stop will be Dickson Mounds
(near Peoria, Ill.)
We will start the semester with a breath-taking historical documentary artfully and sensitively created
to help newcomers digest the expansive history of America’s first peoples. At that same site, we will
visit a “primitive” village recreation and walk through talking exhibits that discuss the civic ways of
life that existed at least for several centuries before Europeans arrived to the land.
After the Europeans arrived, each tribe eventually had to make a heart-breaking choice: Assimilate or
Fight. The vivid contrast in outcomes for those decisions plays out before our eyes while we visit
tribal businesses (like the gourmet Bedré Chocolate Factory – Choctaw Nation Industries) and cultural
centers in Oklahoma. Our first stop will be the Cherokee Heritage Center. This tribe is one of the
“Five ‘Civilized’ Tribes” in Oklahoma who acquiesced earlier than others (the other 4 were:
Choctaw, Chickasaw, Seminole & Creek.)
Other tribes, like the Cheyenne, Apache,
and Kiowa fought longer to maintain their
land, culture, and way of life. Our last stop
before we leave Oklahoma to head to
New Mexico will be at the Washita Battlefield,
a national monument on the site of one of
the last of those last stands of the Cheyenne.
Ironically, “battlefield” is a bit of a
misnomer. This is actually where the
Women in the 2004 Calvin group in
Peace delegation from the Cheyenne
Arches National Park, Moab, Utah
were massacred. During the semester, we
will continue to learn about how historical narratives can be shaped by the privilege of the victor.
The Bridge
Page 2
Vol. 2 – 5/6/13
Staff Corner
Meet Becky Haney…
Assistant Professor of
Economics
Favorite Food:
BBQ ribs (from OK)
Favorite Movie:
The Gods Must be Crazy
Connecting to life back at Calvin
Just because you will be off having academic adventures in the American Southwest
doesn’t mean you will not be connecting with the Calvin community. Consider some of
the possibilities:
 Attending Passport and Quest: During the summer you will attend the various student
orientations that are required of all first year students. We would recommend attending
Passport IV which leads right into Quest, right before your departure for New Mexico.
Passport includes enrollment in classes and a broad orientation to Calvin. Quest
includes: Streetfest, opportunities to connect with other students, and a deeper
orientation to the life of a Calvin student. During these orientations there will also be
opportunities for you to get together with other students heading to New Mexico and to
begin to share expectations and bond as a group
 Reporting back to the students and faculty back on campus: You will doing a joint blog
with another First Year Experience class on campus.
 Connecting to worship opportunities (such as chapels and LOFT): In addition, you will
have the opportunity to participate in the same Bible Study as students on-campus (on
the book of Exodus.
 Connecting with students and faculty upon your return: As you move into the residence
halls we will provide opportunities for weekly meals with faculty and other students to
compare your first semester experience. These meals will be offered during the first
month of second semester.
Favorite type of music:
All kinds as long as it loud
Cool Stuff
Dr. Haney (Becky) has
lived and worked as a
youth pastor in a Native
American Community in
Oklahoma for five years.
As you begin to think about the possibilities of living and learning in New Mexico this fall, we will be
sending out some cool resources for you to check out. In this issue of The Bridge, we want you to see
some of the places you might get the opportunity to shop during the semester.
She is married to
Lawrence and they have
a 3 year old son (Micco).
Both are excited for the
adventures that await in
New Mexico.
Crown Point Navajo Rug Auction: Happens once a month
Address
Your N am e
Calvin Dorm
General Delivery
Rehoboth, N M 87322
Gallup Flea Market: A true cultural experience
Hubble Trading Post: History, Tradition, Culture, Artistry since 1876 -- check out the
video
Gallup, New Mexico:
Gallup is about 20 miles from the Arizona border in northwest New Mexico. It is a classic Old
West town, with artifacts and architecture left over from the days when the Southwest truly
was wild. It sits directly on historic Route 66, has numerous century-old buildings that
formerly housed speakeasies and brothels. In addition, the city is a center for Southwest
Native American tribal art, craft and culture, with numerous shops, museums and trading
posts offering authentic goods.
Rehoboth Christian School: Check out our local partner
The Bridge Newsletter
The Bridge Newsletter will be posted every around the 1st and the 15th of the month in the summer.
If you have questions or items for the newsletter please email them to Don DeGraaf
([email protected]) or Becky Haney ([email protected]). Back issues of the newsletter
will be available on the New Mexico Semester webpage.