5. Campus Personnel - Focus Group 2

LA - been here at MSU since 7-1-00. I work predominantly with first year students - learning communities - students can enroll in classes and live on the same floor with each other. Fred and Tim both teach the first year classes with me. Prior to coming here I was at Univ at Ames, finished my Masters at U of M. Raised LCMS, Fred was my first connection outside of that, but married an RCC person so this has been a good meeting ground.

(We introduced ourselves. Lynn brought us paper information. Wahoo!)

LA - When students come to us through orientation we do some baseline evaluation to figure out who our students are - background info, parents, income, attending religious services - and another that tells about what they expect to be involved in as a part of their university experiences.

FF: So you got involved…

LA - I know Fred collaboratively. My husband works on campus in Residential Life. He met Fred before I came here - they were on some committees, plus with residential life meeting with chaplains to see how students were doing. So he was like "you have to meet Fred" and then maybe Fred could do our wedding. Fred also teaches for us - a couple of courses. One that talks about exploring social values - it has a social service components. And he's been teaching that for three years - and does a lot of service projects with those students. He also teaches a course that focuses on transitional issues and getting connected with the university community. He teaches that as an adjunct faculty. He did our pre-marital counseling as well.

FF: Impact on campus?

LA- I would say it's not the building. I spent the first month trying to figure out which one was Fred's - I went to the LCMS place and they said, "Oh you are talking about Fred." I would definitely say it's much more Fred, and the social connections - someone who knows Fred or comes here and then they bring a friend.

(Diane arrived - quick time for introducing ourselves)

Di - I'm the director of residential life- Fred contacted me about outreach to students who live on campus, and staff training. I was the liaison reaching out to campus ministry and asking them to participate in that. My second year here he baptized my son, so I got to know him on a personal level. One of the reasons Crossroads is so successful is Fred. He's a magnet. He's very accepting, non-judgmental. When I met with him about baptizing our son - I asked if Fred could make it non-religious and he was wonderful about it. He's a Lutheran minister and one of my best friends who is a RCC feminist did the service with him and he was just wonderful. He also teaches the first year seminar and through that got involved in the learning communities, and now leads be example in serving community. He lives his values - students see him as living congruently.

FF: So when people think of this place do they think of Fred?

Di - I came when this building was just being built, so this has always been Crossroads to me. The space is warm, it's welcoming, there's a computer lab. He's here - it's a place for students to come and be… however they need to be.

LA - What is it that makes students connect with Crossroads? A lot of it is Fred - and the characteristics that make that possible is that he is extremely open - they feel they can be open with him, he's non-judgemental, he goes on service projects with them, he gets on their level. He'll talk with them about whatever they want to talk about and it's not I'm talking about it with Pastor Fred - it's Fred. Talking with another faculty person about sensitive issues might mean judging…

FF: Talk about your connection with Fred - asking

LA - My husband was drawn here because of Fred's openness. Growing up RCC - he didn't feel like he identifies with all of their teachings. He has a brother that's gay and so there's a lot of conflict for him about that. And Fred is someone who he could talk with about that struggle, and a person who could offer a religious perspective in a helpful way. Before we did pre-marital counseling we couldn't talk about religion at all. Fred was the only person to help him work through that conflict and enable him to take steps to do that and find a community that he can connect to and point us to a direction to help us find a place where we could find a faith community that we can be a part of as a couple. Fred made us a list about possibilities in Mankato - on a spectrum as far as what would be familiar to us and what would be unfamiliar. That has been a huge impact for us. As we look ahead to starting a family it's really important

FF: Do you think you're experience with Fred is mirrored by ones that students have?

LA - Yes. They come to him to talk about roommate conflicts, depression, etc. He's not pushing an agenda of trying to develop his congregation here. There's no pressure, no underlying agenda.

FF: And I hear a common theme - he would do a non-religious baptism.

Di - Yes. He has at times called me, and I think of him as a closet student affairs professional, I tell him who to call when he calls me and asks me about who to talk to on behalf of the students. He's concerned, he cares enough to take initiative. He cares about a student's entire experience, so he helps in whatever way he can.

FF: So he has systemic impact and individual impact.

Di- That's what drew him into the learning communities - it's a holistic learning experience which is totally in line with his values.

LA - He's also really helpful as a consultation person - to ask for perspective or insight in interactions with students. Like I had a student I wanted as a staff member who was unsure if he could commit because he was worried it would take time away from his religious practices. So I asked Fred for guidance to help him through that discerning/decision making process. It was a personal formative kind of transformation time and Fred helped me help him through it.

FF: Genius. What makes this ministry amazing?

Di - Leadership provided by Fred.

LA - Social connection. When I think about who students are and what attracts them - it's an alternative to the bar scene. A place to gather with people who have similar values. This ministry has been able to gather a large enough group of students with similar values, who then invite others. This isn't the group that can't function in other groups. These are students who are very socially skilled and attractive to other students. Most of my students are involved with ministries on campus.

Di - When I think of students connecting here I think of Fred, and I think of fun. Fred is fun to be around. When you want to be a part of something religious you want something fun.

LA - Lots of kids come from places where religion was very structured, and there needs to be some draw here to attract students after their parents drop them off. It's fun here, it's exciting, you connect with lots of other people.

FF: What do you wish we'd asked?

Di - I know all the campus ministries here, and this is the most vibrant one here…and I think it's for a reason

Observations:

• Tim hugged us when he left. That was weird.
• All of these people probably had somewhere else to be on Friday at 3 and 4 but they came to talk to us because Fred asked them
• These are people who are connected to Fred but work on campus in different areas - nursing, student life, ministry,
• They all knew each other

Quotables/comments:

• Hospitality is at the root, Fred is very welcoming
• Genius factor - Fred, Fred, Fred
• Facility is a nice location for meetings, available for campus organizations to use.
• Crossroads is a place to connect socially with young adults who have similar values
• Computers available for students to use is a definite draw
• Di - "[Fred] lives his values - students see him as living congruently."
• Di - "The [building] space is warm, it's welcoming, there's a computer lab. He's here - it's a place for students to come and be… however they need to be."