ucmadmin UCM Athens
FROM THE CAMPUS MINISTER
The arrest of more than 70 students and others last Wednesday (February 1, 2017), at a peaceful protest and sit-in at Ohio University’s Baker Center, has brought home to Athens and Ohio University a deeply troubling trend in our national dialogue around race, religion, justice, and civil rights. While there may be differing opinions as to the extent of the “disruption” created by the protesters (for instance, those attending an event in the Front Room that evening might have experienced the large protest just outside differently from those who witnessed part of the protest in person or via streaming video), there is no “alternative” to the fact that in a situation that was escalated by the presence and action of a large number of local law enforcement personnel as well as a few counter-protesters, no person or persons emerged to play the role of a mediating presence that might have been able to de-escalate the situation.
As a campus minister who serves the Ohio University and Athens communities, I wish with all my heart that I had been there. Had I not been fully engaged elsewhere in another part of my role, I would have been there. Not because I am uniquely qualified to serve as a mediating presence—there are many in this community who could do that better, and some of them hold positions of much greater power and influence that might have been of help in defusing the situation. No, I wish I had been there because part of what we do here is to “walk toward trouble.” And that’s the discouraging trend we see—the dwindling willingness of people who should know better to do the same: to show up and engage and to help mediate tense and potentially conflictual situations. We can do better than this.

If the last couple of weeks are any indication, the coming weeks and months are likely to offer many more opportunities to “walk toward trouble.” I hope, intend, and expect to rise to those occasions. For the sake of the students and community members who will be continuing to stand up and speak out for justice and inclusion in the face of rising fear, mistrust, and bias, I hope we all do. I would hate for Ohio University to become a place where principled and public expressions of dissent draw to them not compassionate concern and engagement, but silent acquiescence to heavy-handed suppression. If you agree, perhaps we can find ways to work on this together.
Email Evan at evan@ucmathens.org
ucmadmin UCM Athens

UCM’S CAMPUS MINISTER REFLECTIONS ON NOVEMBER 9, 2016


I have spent much of today making the rounds and checking in with people on my campus I thought might be reeling from the results of the election, and from the responses to those results that compound the hurt they experienced during this long and bitter campaign season. And while I hoped I might be of some help to people who are hurting, I find that the act of reaching out and connecting has been balm for my own bruised soul. I’m glad for the respite from social media, even as I am mindful that this virtual space too is my mission field. So I’ve made my way back here with some thoughts and words that had until now been hard for me to find.

To all my women friends, and my LGBTQ friends, and my black and brown friends, and my immigrant and international friends, and my friends from various faith backgrounds (including Christians) or from no faith—I know many of you are hurting right now. I know that many of you experienced this result as a grievous and wounding attack on your very persons. For you, I know, this decision goes way beyond politics and policy and law and government—goes directly and painfully to whether there is a place for you at all in the new nation we all woke up to. And I hurt because you’re hurting.
Thanks to my walkabout earlier today, though, I know more than that. I know that you are amazing in your beauty, power, resilience, and dedication to the well-being of each other and of our community as a whole. I know that however much you might be reeling from what’s happened, you are absolutely and emphatically there for each other—and for me. I’m honored and awed by the privilege of being in ministry with you and to you and on your behalf. And I’m pledging to you right now that I will never stop standing with you and fighting for you and working to bring about the vision of beloved community we share. 

At United Campus Ministry, where I am called to serve, we have always held ourselves accountable to the scriptural ideal that the justness of our community is measured by how we treat the widow and the orphan and the stranger, how we treat those on our margins. We have always dedicated our heart and soul and mind and strength to loving our neighbors—all of our neighbors—as ourselves. We have always concerned ourselves with speaking truth to power and with bringing the voices of those whose voices have been disregarded to the ears and the hearts of those who hold and wield that power. These things we have always done are who we are, and there’s no way we’re going to stop now. Because you—all of you—deserve nothing less.

ucmadmin UCM Athens
ANNUAL BENEFIT BASH!!! 
Saturday, November 5, 6pm
Athens Community Center
COME DINE AND DANCE WITH UCM! MAKE YOUR RESERVATION TODAY 
Email or call 740-593-7301
$40/person or more if you’re feeling inspired!
$20/low-income rate
Free, on-site childcare available with advanced notice.
Menu includes:
Jamaican Jerk Chicken w/ Spiced Orange Cream Sauce 
 Tofu, Tomato, Harvest Stew 
Traditional Jamaican Rice and Peas 
Garlicky Green Beans.  
Rolls and Herb Butter
Thanks to Jackie O’s Pub and Brewery for donating a keg of their award-winning, local craft beer!
Some wine and non-alcoholic beverages will also be available or you may BYOB.

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Huge thanks to Jeremy Bowman and our friends at Crumbs Bakery for donating their delicious and gorgeous chocolate UCM cake again!
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Live music and dancing with the exciting vocalist Sharell Arocho backed by Jesse Warner (keyboard) and Eric Wright (percussion)

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THANKS ALSO TO OUR GROWING LIST OF SPONSORS! WE COULDN’T DO THIS WITHOUT YOUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT!!!!!!

JOSH BODNAR
CARPENTER & ASSOCIATES
CETIDE
JOHN CORLETT
DAVID DESCUTNER & LYSA BURNIER
THE FARMACY
DON & MARY ANNE FLOURNOY
MARA GIGLIO
HOCKING VALLEY BANK
MAC’S THRIFTY STORE
VICKI MARSHALL
MS. ACCOUNTING & TAXES, INC.
FRANK & LORRAINE MYERS
RICH GARDENS ORGANIC FARMS
SUSAN ROTH, MODERN WOODMEN OF AMERICA
THE LAW OFFICE OF WENDA SHEARD
PENNY SHELTON & BOB STEWART
SNIDER, FULLER & STROH
SUSAN B. ANTHONY MEMORIAL UNREST HOME
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THANKS ALSO TO THESE INDIVIDUALS AND BUSINESSES FOR DONATING TO OUR RAFFLE AND SILENT AUCTION

BALLET MET COLUMBUS
THE DAIRY BARN ARTS CENTER
BRUCE DALZELL PIANO TUNING & REPAIR
KATIE DAWES & LAVENA STATEN
FUR PEACE RANCE
HYACINTH BEAN FLORIST & GIFTS
JB’S BEST
JENNIFER JONES, FDN-P
JENNIFER KELLY
MICHELLE MILLER
NELSONVILLE EMPORIUM
SUNFLOWER GLASS
TWO BROKE ARTISTS ART STUDIO







ucmadmin UCM Athens
SATURDAY LUNCH CELEBRATES 10 YEARS!!

Happy 10th Birthday, Saturday Lunch from Shannon Stewart!

Click on the link above to see a very special message from former UCM intern and Saturday Lunch champion, Shannon Stewart! And here’s a special message from Saturday Lunch founder, Joe Buzzelli!

Join us on October 15 at 1pm to celebrate 10 years of Saturday Lunch, UCM’s 2nd weekly free meal which, along with Thursday Supper, provides more than 5,000 meals annually, hundreds of service hours for students and others, and a unique opportunity to bridge and the build the Athens and Ohio University community!

We are raising $10K for 10 years to renovate our kitchen and dining room. Visit our YouCaring site to donate now through our secure paypal account or send a check to UCM, 18 N. College Street, Athens OH 45701.

ucmadmin UCM Athens
UCM Campus Minister Evan Young’s closing prayer 
at the June 13 Vigil in Solidarity with Orlando
“We are the change we’re going to see in the world. When we love and when we hate, when we act out of fear and when we embody idealism and courage, we change the world. When we respond to tragedy with sadness or outrage, vitriol or compassion, renewed commitment to a vision we share or a vision that seems too outlandish ever to become reality, all of us are becoming. We choose every second, every minute, every day what future we will move toward. Tonight we stand together, we grieve together, we weep and mourn and proclaim and dream and seek to become, together. And the root, the core of what brings us together, keeps us together, and will ultimately move us forward together is love. Not just for the ones it’s easy to love, the ones we’re told it’s OK to love . . . but also, and especially, for the ones we struggle to love. We need this, we need tonight, we need this gathering and this affirmation and this experience of hands reaching out to our own to remind us of this simple fact, to burn onto our hearts this image of our common humanity and our interdependent community. So that the next time an act of hate, a divisive and hurtful word, a gesture of power-over rather than power-with moves us to repay hurt with hurt, we can remember THIS. This right here is the change I wish to see. May my heart, my soul, my being, my life ever be given to the holy work of being this, everywhere and always. And may I always remember the cloud of witnesses, partners, and fellow travelers that walk this path with me. Amen; blessed be.”
ucmadmin UCM Athens

And…it’s a wrap!

UCM INTERN APPRECIATION DINNER
Front and L-R: Jennifer Kelly (Office Manager), Anna-Kaye Rowe, Lacee McKinney, Kathryn Bublitz, Rev. Evan Young (Campus Minister), Melissa Wales (Executive Director), Jackie Duffy, Aleks Tyler, Kelsey Gerard, Josh Baron and Kelli Wanamaker.
It is hard to believe we’re coming up to the end of another academic year. As always, it’s been exhilarating to walk with students through this transitional time in their lives as they grow spiritually, emotionally and professionally.  We are grateful for all that they bring to UCM and for everything they will bring to the wider world when they leave us. Our graduating interns are Josh, Kathryn, Jackie, Carissa, Anna-Kaye and Kelli. We’ll miss you terribly, wish you all the best, and hope you keep in touch!
We kicked off Spring semester with a Candlelight Vigil for the Beloved Community at Galbraith Chapel in the wake of racist vandalism to the Black Lives Matter mural on the graffiti wall, cosponsored by the Multicultural Center. Our continued participation with the OU MLK Celebration Committee included organizing a visit from Rev. Mel Hoover on anti-racism work in faith communities. Evan was asked to lead the opening invocation at the Silent March, and Melissa helped organize a Teach-In, “Black on Campus: Then and Now” with students and alumni including President McDavis (class of ’70).
Winter (and the fact that OU’s spring break is now in early March) continues to thwart our attempts at executing a local spring break service-learning trip. We remain enthusiastic about the curriculum we’ve put together to connect students to local organizations to learn about the challenges and strengths of Appalachia, so we’re exploring the option of moving our Alternative Spring Break to the week between Spring graduation and first Summer Session. Stay tuned!
Our Better Together campaign has been busy with Campus Conversations, tabling and outreach, and planning Stories of Interfaith Bridge-Building with Peggy Gish.  With continued support from Diversity and Inclusion, we sent three students to Interfaith Youth Core Leadership Institute (ILI) in Atlanta and a mini ILI in Dayton. Our final event will be our signature watershed service project with Rural Action’s Monday Creek Restoration Project.
We were pleased to host representatives from one of our long-time partners and supporters the Scioto Valley Presbytery in March, Rev. Peter Galbreath from Nelsonville Presbytery and lay leader Susan Dietz, lay leader from Logan Presbyterian. We shared stories of how their involvement in UCM has impacted them and why UCM remains such an important organization on campus and in the greater Athens community.
We had our Annual Meeting on April 20 with lay leaders from our 5 local supporting congregations: Athens Friends Meeting, Christ Lutheran Church, First Presbyterian Church, Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd and the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Athens and elected our 2016-17 Executive Officers: Kellea Tibbs (Chair), David Descutner (Vice Chair), Kaytlin Dawes (Treasurer) and Amanda Hobson (Secretary). We are grateful for how the community supports us and are looking forward to growing together!

  
ucmadmin UCM Athens
UNITED CAMPUS MINISTRY’s

ANNUAL MEETING

“COMMUNITIES ON CAMPUS”

April 20, 2016, 5pm – 7pm
18 N. College St.
Join UCM Staff, Board and Interns in wrapping up another great year of campus ministry at Ohio University! 

We will present the 2016-17 Board Officers, bid farewell to outgoing Board members and welcome incoming members. 

We will also hear from lay leaders from our supporting congregations. 

Refreshments will be provided. All are welcome!
ucmadmin UCM Athens

2016 Social Justice Awards

2016 SOCIAL JUSTICE AWARDS
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 6PM – 8PM AT UCM

Join us in honoring the following community and student activists and organizations:

TYRONE CARR
KATIE CONLON
LIVE HEALTHY APPALACHIA
OU CLIMATE ACTION NOW
TORCH CAN DO
BOBBY WALKER 
JOLANA WATSON
AND
LOIS WHEALEY will receive the Kuhre Griesinger Lifetime Award.
ucmadmin UCM Athens

Which Lives Matter?

Recently at Ohio University, a graffiti wall that had been painted by our Black Student Union with the message “Black Lives Matter” was painted over with a different kind of message, which you can see here. The result has been a resurgence of racial tension, an intensification of discourse around race, and renewed demands that university administrators take action to promote an inclusive community on the campus and in the town.
Predictably, there have been backlash-y reactions to it that highlight the continuing problem of racism in this country (as for example here–although if the “f” word bothers you, this will be a risky click). Much of the backlash revolves around the question, “but don’t ALL lives matter?” To help unpack this conundrum, our campus minister, Rev. Evan Young, offered this explication:

I’m a Unitarian Universalist. And the first principle of Unitarian Universalism is that we “affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person.” So yes, all lives matter. And Unitarian Universalism as a faith community has embraced the‪#‎BlackLivesMatter‬ movement, encouraging individuals and congregations to stand with people of color against the systemic and systematic oppression visited on black people in our society. Our actions speak most clearly about what we as a people believe–and our actions as a nation and a society have been saying, for centuries, that black lives matter less. Because I believe that all lives matter, and because I have seen and recognized that our society treats black lives as somehow less valuable, less worthy of respect and equal protection, I must as a person of faith stand with the oppressed, and I must proclaim with them that black lives matter. That’s what justice looks like; that’s what a just community would do in the face of such injustice. So when people say “black lives matter,” the only response I believe can be made with honesty and integrity is “Yes, they do. Let’s start acting that way.”

At UCM, we stand with those who continue to proclaim that Black Lives Matter. And we commit ourselves to building a community, a culture, and a world in which we all act that way.

 

ucmadmin UCM Athens

This Old House

The red brick house at 18 N. College St. has been the home to dynamic campus ministry at Ohio University since it was donated to the Westminster Foundation in 1951.  It’s within these walls that courageous and dedicated clergy, staff, community activists and students have fomented resistance to oppressive forces, agitation for social justice and solutions to community problems for almost 65 years. Here we have counseled Vietnam draft resisters, women with unplanned pregnancies prior to Roe v. Wade, organized for equality and justice for women, people of color, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students and community members, and resisted war and violence of any kind. Here we have sown the seeds for area organizations like My Sister’s Place, Athens AIDS Task Force and the Southeast Ohio Foodbank. For our students, UCM has been their home in Athens – a place to come to feel supported and encouraged to live out their faith; to question and grow and know they’re supported and loved along the way; to flop down on the couch for a quick nap or grab coffee in the basement with another intern.
This house has taken good care of us and we must take care of it. In the past 2 years alone, we have invested nearly $60,000 in building repairs and updates including a new roof, gutters and drain spouts; repairs to ramp and handrails; extensive work to address drainage problems in the basement; and removal of moldy paneling and plaster walls. If that wasn’t enough, we had an unexpected main waterline break this past February deep freeze that required expensive repairs.
Since most of these projects required immediate attention, grant funding was usually not an option (other than the front basement door and railings – thanks Athens Foundation!) So we have had to dig deep into our pockets to ensure that this old house is safe and sound for all who call it home. If you love our old house like we do, and would like to help us offset some of these expenses, please consider a donation today! You can set up PayPal to be an ongoing sustaining donation or make a one time donation on our website or check.
Help us ensure that 18 N. College Street is home for interfaith, progressive campus ministry for years to come! Thank you.