Having recently returned to EMU from a semester cross cultural, I’ve been slapped in the face with some of the changes that have occurred during my absence. One of the most annoying is the graduation requirement for first-years to earn a set number of chapel or convocation points. Despite being a member of Campus Ministries as a Ministry Assistant, this modification is infuriating because of how important freedom is here at EMU.

Getting involved is whatever you make of it, but that should be a personal choice. This campus stresses togetherness and community, and forcing the first-years to go to chapel takes away these aspects because not all of the firstyears are religious, whether that be Mennonite or otherwise.

EMU also stresses walking humbly with God. How humbling is this walk with God if it is forced?

I love attending chapel, but I also realize that I do not represent everyone. Individuality is important here because of the freedoms that come with attending a small university. Students here can choose how little or how much they wish to get involved, and although chapel does offer a wonderful opportunity for involvment, this does not fit everyone.

Part of what drew me to EMU was the availability of choice for religious activities. Not forcing them was part of what made EMU stand out among other Christian universities.

This choice, one might argue, is a large chunk of what makes EMU a “Christian university like no other.”

Instead of requiring chapel, perhaps EMU should consider requiring a total number of involvement points, which could be earned by being an athlete, getting involved on campus, or participating in community activities here in Harrisonburg. Not everyone grows in the same way from the same type of involvement, and this should be considered especially in regard to graduation requirements.