By Erin Moniz, Campus Carrier Assistant Chaplain

I was a student at Berry when 9/11 happened. Not only was it a terrifying time in general, but there was also turmoil at home as the Berry community was divided and hurt by each other. People feared for their lives and for our country and fought on opposing sides of different views about religion and Berry policy. While nothing can compare to a terrorist attack, I cannot help but sense the echoes of that time as we reflect on these past few weeks. People are scared and frustrated. People don’t feel heard. There has been disappointment with each other and wounds opened. Now, we face an uncertain future with the weight of our political divide pressing down on us.

The past few mornings while I walked to work, I remembered what it was like to be on campus the days following 9/11. The campus was still so beautiful and the leaves crunched under my feet while I wrestled with a surreal epiphany that while everything looked the same, everything had changed. I felt much the same way as I walked to work the morning after the election. But this time, something different happened. As I walked, I read messages of love and unity chalked all over the place. I couldn’t help but smile and be encouraged. I am so proud of our students and their efforts to struggle towards civility as a community.

If you have to be anywhere during this time in our history, Berry is a great place to be. 

We don’t take much time to reflect on this, but Berry has always held to a unique mission that we are here to educate the whole student: Head, Heart and Hands. During times like these I am thankful that Berry is a place that cares about people on a deep level. Instead of brushing off the events and encouraging everyone to just dig back into their studies, we make this a place where a person’s heart is just as important as their work ethic and their academics. We work to inspire heart development year round with programs, service opportunities, religious gatherings, lectures and events. But in times like these, we also recognize that there is a need to pause and focus on care.

The opportunities for learning, listening, processing, reflecting, praying and gathering are numerous on our campus! As I write this, I am aware of an all night prayer vigil in the College Chapel, an Interfaith panel on the topic of Tolerance vs. Agreement, followed by a WinShape CIT event of quiet reflection and refreshment. With so many of us needing refuge, I am grateful for these opportunities. However, none of these activities were scheduled in response to the chalking or election. These opportunities were already on the calendar. This just goes to show the kind of school we inhabit. 

Berry believes that students are not just productivity machines measured by a GPA or work experience. The Heart is central to our Christian identity and open invitation for all people of all faiths to grow in their character, ethical grounding, servant leadership and community mindfulness while they are here. We are about the whole person. If you’ve ever looked, you will see that every week there are three to four opportunities for heart formation being facilitated by the Chaplain’s Office and various groups on campus, not including the non-formal gatherings and off-campus opportunities in Rome. 

During my time at Berry as a student, the climate was very different. Now that I get to minister to and guide Berry students, I cannot help but beam with pride when I encounter their charity, honesty and resolve. Our community struggles but it struggles toward a brighter day. We endure the blows of history together, and as I watch our community work through the difficulty of the last few weeks, I see that it is a better Berry. I noted the similarities between my student experience during 9/11 and the current climate. But it must be noted that, despite similarities, there are also glaring differences. The aftermath of 9/11 for our campus was bitter and caused deep wounds that alumni still discuss years later. But today, I am encouraged. Today I look around and see sacred spaces where students can gather to process and heal. I see an effort toward civil discourse, education and hope. I see an institution committed to the care of the whole person. 

I invite you to take advantage of this place. Over the years, we continue to improve in the quality of our commitment to heart formation. The trick is that the Heart portion of our mission is completely voluntary and requires engagement by individuals. So get out there and find your place, find your people and lock in. We want to help you connect, and we want to journey with you through your spiritual development. And during times like these, we want to invite you into to places where you can heal and grow. We are a better Berry and I am proud to get to see this new chapter as we march forward together to be better still.