TH6.1: Returning Students Challenge Union

[The editors asked returning students, “What is the single most important thing that needs to be improved at Union Theological Seminary – in academics or student life or community life or relations with the wider communities?” Here are the responses we received.]

Academic excellence is the single most important aspect of Union that needs to be continually improved. We are here in service of God and humanity. We have been given the greatest gift of the ability to clarify ideas, strengthen our intellect and sharpen our ability to reason. Union is among the finest seminaries in the world not only because of social activism, but on the strength of new ideas and the expansion of theological boundaries. If by reading this you are inspired to work harder, study more, and think yourself into new realms of being – this is the best possible change that Union might enjoy – from the inside out.
-Norris J. Chumley, PhD candidate

Probably the best improvement I can think of for the Union community would be creative ways for making it more of a community than it currently is. One possibility might be to offer spiritual formation groups such as the kind Companions in Christ lead. The small dinners that were offered last year were another good effort toward that end.
-Susan Hermanson, third-year MDiv student

I have a cosmetic suggestion: I would like to see more of our events and activities open to and advertised with our more secular neighbors on the Union campus. Why not have an open door to, (or at least have our student ID cards activated to clear the security doors at) the Columbia Religion Department? Conversely, wouldn’t they benefit from indoor access to Union classes and the Burke Library?
-Laura Bothwell, second-year MA student

One of the most important things that needs to improve at Union is our relationship with the community across the street at Columbia University. That relationship could take different forms; one could be of a social justice nature and the other a foothold in the pedagogy of the curriculum. Revolutionize the future of this country by aiming to influence and evangelize a portion of Columbia’s student body to a gospel that seeks to liberate the poor, the oppressed and the "other." Regarding the pedagogy of Columbia, fight for the chance to get a required class for all business, medical, law, and engineering students to take a class that espouses the social justice of the gospel that Union holds dear. Call this class “The Economics of Injustice.”
-Michael Lee, third-year MDiv student