Ghetto's Response to the Open Letter

This article is a response to an open letter by Meg Miller ’21 which was distributed on campus on October 30. The Bagpipe has a copy of Miller’s original letter, which can be read here: https://www.bagpipeonline.com/opinions/2019/11/19/an-open-letter-to-ghetto.

We have come to realize that there has been increasing discussion on campus about our hall name “Ghetto,” notably “An Open Letter to Ghetto,” distributed on campus on October 30. Through these discussions, we have become aware of how our name has offended some people. We are sad that some people are offended by this. This was never our intention, and we are grateful for this opportunity to explain our name and what it means to us.

We understand that American society generally thinks of the term “ghetto” as pejorative, from its origins in German and Italian “Jewish Ghettos” to its more recent association with poor, often minority-dominated, inner-city neighborhoods. However, we believe that because of our hall history, we have the opportunity to challenge this norm, use the term to remind us of our calling to be in the world, and show the love of Christ. 

We admit that we have not done a good job of conveying and explaining the history of where our name comes from. We also admit that we have not been in the Chattanooga community as much as we used to be and thus have not lived up to the name that was proudly given to us. Therefore, allow us to explain the history of where we come from and what the name means to us as a hall.

Ghetto’s name came to be what it is today over 40 years ago when we started going down the mountain into the low-income communities of Chattanooga to minister and preach the gospel. The people of these communities originally called us “the mission to the Saint Elmo Ghetto,” and this was later abbreviated to “Ghetto.” We have wanted to live up to this name ever since.

Because of this history, our name pushes us to constantly place our identity in Christ and become more Christ-centered. By going down the mountain and engaging with those communities, we fulfill that calling together as a hall. The hall name “Ghetto” reminds us of our humble beginnings, which enables us to glorify God through our hall name. We believe that as image-bearers, one of our callings is to seek to redeem and restore this world, and thus, we want to seek to redeem any negative connotations that may come with this word. 

We understand that the Covenant community is very small relative to American society at large, as well as the Jewish and African American communities that have been hurt by negative uses of the word “ghetto.” However, we are taught here at Covenant to recognize the reality that we as individuals do not have much influence in our broader society but, despite that, to still work to glorify God by challenging cultural norms.

A current sophomore who does not live on Ghetto said, “Changing the name ‘Ghetto’ does not resolve the racial issues and tension on campus… I don’t think the hall ‘Ghetto’ depicts any form of oppression to African Americans. I don’t think anyone from the hall has said the hall is called Ghetto because African Americans live in the ghetto… this issue about changing a hall name would not solve the issue minority students face from friends and professors at Covenant College.”

A current junior who also does not live on Ghetto said, “How then can we achieve racial reconciliation? The name of the hall ‘Ghetto’ symbolizes a lot of history and tradition that should not be taken lightly, but changing it will be a sacrifice for all the things it stands for and for all the foundation it has in Christ. There has to be room for grace. This is not the issue.”

One of the ways we seek to do this is by building relationships and community both within and outside Covenant College. These relationships have impacted the Lookout Mountain community and the greater Chattanooga community. There are a great number of alumni who still live on the mountain and have impacted the community for the better because of relationships formed on Ghetto. 

For instance, President Halvorson is a Ghetto alumnus and seeks to lead our college in a way that promotes Christ as preeminent in all things. Aaron Tolson, who was a Ghetto RA in the 90s, has been pastoring youth at Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church for 17 years now. Andrew Novenson, son of Pastor Joe Novenson, has been a middle school Bible teacher at CCS since he graduated from Covenant in the mid-2000s. These are just a few examples of how Ghetto alumni have had an impact on and off the mountain. 

We understand that some might be offended and hurt with our name. We also understand that, although our intentions were not to use “ghetto” in a racist or negative connotation, our intentions do not outweigh peoples’ hurt. However, we all share the same goal of achieving racial reconciliation in our communities, and although we might disagree on how to best achieve that, we hope that we can be open with each other, work together, and discuss solutions to the deeper issue at hand.

The current junior mentioned above said, “If you want to change things around Covenant and the community, or tackle certain racial issues… we should tackle the curriculum or chapel speakers. Covenant as a community should do a better job of being part of the community through [local] churches and through halls.”

Our hall, unified, has agreed to do a better job of being involved in the Chattanooga community. We will be reaching out to the local neighborhoods with the ultimate goal of sharing the gospel and the love of Christ. We will be educating ourselves about the realities of the white savior complex and will be sensitive to avoiding it. Because of this, we are committed to ministering through pre-established local church ministries in order to be sure that we help where there are actual needs.

We know that this does not fulfill all of the requests in the Open Letter, but we believe that the best way to glorify God in this situation is by changing some of our ways and keeping our hall name.

We do believe this is an important discussion to have with the community, and we welcome and invite more conversation. Please reach out and set up a meeting with anyone on our hall. We would be more than happy to dive further into discussion and reflection with you all.

Kilter and the Ethics of Zoos

As I purposefully stayed back at Covenant during Kilter, I couldn’t help but wonder why a school dance was being held at a zoo. After a long day of being ogled at by humans, aren’t the animals expecting a nice and quiet evening? Is it possible, even if the dance floor was far away from the exhibits, the loud music and thundering bass disrupted the many residents of the Chattanooga Zoo?

I grew up going to the Toledo Zoo most summers when I visited my extended family. I remember loving seeing the animals that I would otherwise probably never see, such as flamingos, giraffes, elephants, and penguins.

Looking back on those experiences, I am struck by how small and how different the habitats really were from the animals’ natural habitats. Polar bears had to endure the hot summer sun when their native habitat is in the arctic circle.

Zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) help participate in conservation work and even contribute to the rehabilitation of animals. These are great things that a lot of zoos participate in. 

Although the animals are undoubtedly taken care of well at AZA zoos, why do we feel the need to keep animals in captivity? These zoos are nonprofits and aim to educate people on wildlife preservation, but why do animals have to be taken far away from their homes to accomplish this? Why must animals be held in captivity in order to protect them? 

Conservation has become an important part of the Chattanooga Zoo. 

Its website states that the zoo participates in “several AZA Species Survival Plans including Snow Leopards, Cotton-Top Tamarins, Jaguars, Fennec Foxes and more.” They are “currently in partnership with Lee University, conducting ground-breaking research critical to preserving the native Hellbender population from extinction.” In addition, the Chattanooga Zoo is “a regional leader in the field of native wildlife rehabilitation and is the only state licensed wildlife rehabilitation facility.” 

These are amazing feats that should not go without applause. However, there is a paradox in which holding animals captive to serve as money-makers for zoos has become necessary for funding conservation projects. 

In the wild, many animals face danger from poaching. This is why most zoos believe it is right to have animals in captivity.  

The International Anti-Poaching Foundation (IAPF) is a great example of an organization that is taking action to protect species from human harm. They train rangers who guard animals in their natural habitats.

The IAPF website says, “The IAPF builds and leads large scale conservation operations, maintaining a strong focus on community development in order to conserve biodiversity.” 

Biodiversity is something Christians should care about. God created so many beautiful animal (and plant) species. It is our role to care for creatures and to make sure they are being protected and do not go extinct. 

Animals were not created for cages. This earth was created with so much land, specific to the species living on it, and yet it has become acceptable to take these species away from their natural environments for the sake of conservation and education.

Many zoos have amazing breeding programs and behavior studies which aid wildlife conservation. Further, zoo animals become ambassadors for their species, and this can serve as a method of raising money to help protect wild populations. A lot of zoos contain endangered species for this purpose. 

Where should the line be drawn? How can we reach a point where animals are not treated as entertainment, and money can be raised without having to hold animals captive? 

Overall, it is important to remember our roles as stewards of creation and to refrain as much as possible from participating in the exploitation of animals. If you do choose to go to zoos, only go to ones that are AZA accredited, and keep in mind that the animals you see were not made to be in mock-habitats that are much smaller than their natural environments.

Reflections from a Transfer Junior

Photoa by Eden Anyabwile

As a transfer junior, I sometimes consider myself more privileged than four-year Covenant students. Having a perspective from another college, I feel that I can appreciate Covenant’s culture more deeply. 

The halls worried me at first because I had no idea how to find anyone. My old school had a very straightforward system, naming halls things like Johnson Lower Front, Rickard Upper Middle, etc. Here, I have to memorize a million arbitrary hall names, with no logical way to figure out where places like Rowan or Blackwatch are.

Dorm life here is pretty amazing (and confusing). For example, why does Brethren dress like a monastery? Why does Catacombs operate a (literally) underground coffee shop? Why does everyone get so hype about the Late Show, which is essentially a walk through the Student Handbook? Hall life isn’t like this elsewhere. Enjoy every possible minute of it. 

Maybe the best adjustment was realizing how small the campus is. While it might feel too small at times, the benefits are huge. For example, we can roll out of the Great Hall at 12:57 and be on time for a 1:00 class. We can essentially wake up at 7:50 and still hit snooze before having to get ready for our 8 a.m. Another perk of a walkable campus means I don’t have to live in constant dread of getting creamed by a longboard or bike anymore!

When it comes to rules, I was overwhelmed at first by the freedom here. For a Christian college, Covenant has practically none. We have no curfew, no dress code, open hall hours three times a week, and drinking at legal age during breaks. This is unusual for conservative schools. Bask in your freedom to wear shorts or sweatpants to class! 

Let’s talk about Carter for a second. We eat lunch in a freaking castle mountain resort. I spent two years dining in an orange-and-yellow cafeteria that was probably the height of style in 1991. How can anyone complain about Chartwells when we’re literally eating in a medieval-style great hall that looks down over the mist rising off the mountains below?

Although many jokes are made about the chapel architecture, let’s appreciate the stained-glass that captures the late morning sun during chapel services, shining especially brilliantly through the figure of the ascended Christ as we sing His praises. Coming from chapel services at my old university that employed a wide range of fog machines and lights displays that easily became a stumbling block to focused worship, I hope every student here understands how uniquely beautiful Covenant’s services are. 

On a more personal note, I’m grateful to everyone who said “hi” to this very shy transfer. Friends, say hello to a quiet new student, whether freshman or transfer. Chances are, they’re just insecure and overwhelmed (even if they have an angry resting face, like me). We’re the family of Christ; there’s no place for prideful divisions based on school year, place of origin, or friend group.

And brothers and sisters, don’t take this place for granted.  

Open on Sunday: A Review of Popeyes' Chicken Sandwich

When I heard that someone was fatally stabbed after cutting in the “chicken sandwich line” at Popeyes, I thought to myself, “I have got to try this thing.” So I convinced late night snacking king Caleb Walter and Chick-Fil-A super fan Ismael Bartolome Julian to ride with me down to the Popeyes on Broad Street, hell-bent on getting my hands on one of these sandwiches. I wouldn’t say I’d kill to get one, but I was excited. 

We parked in the busier-than-pre-chicken-sandwich-Popeyes parking lot at a little past six, and walked into the orange-tinted Louisiana Kitchen. On the way in, my appetite was whetted further by a large poster prominently featuring the sandwich of legend. “This is it,” I whispered to myself as I opened the door. “I’m finally here.” 

Unsurprisingly, there was a bit of a line. But no problem—the Great Hall has been developing our patience for years. Standing with our backs to large glass jars of seemingly fresh ingredients, we squinted at the menu TVs. To Caleb and Ismael’s great distress, the images of the Chicken Sandwich (both Classic and Spicy) had “BE BACK SOON” slapped on them. What could this mean? Are they out already? Was the poster outside lying? Is everything a lie? What will I order if not a chicken sandwich? But while Caleb and Ismael were experiencing existential panic, I was quite calm. Though they are open on Sundays, I had faith in Popeyes. I knew they would not let me down. 

When I finally found myself at the register, and after being told to wait one more second—again, no big deal—I confirmed the existence of the sandwich. Our local Popeyes offers two options: Classic and Spicy. I couldn’t decide which one to get, so, in order to maintain my journalistic integrity and ensure that Covenant students received the most comprehensive review of Popeyes’ creation, I decided to get one of each. 

I began with the Classic because I wanted my first experience of the chicken sandwich to be untainted by the kicks and punches of the “spicy” mayo on the Spicy. The first thing I noticed when I unsheathed the Classic out of its opaque wrapping was its overall girth. Granted, I had received a larger chicken breast than Caleb or Ismael, but even theirs were large. What you have in the Classic is a well-breaded, and well-flavored, thick slab of fried chicken surrounded by a thin layer of classic mayo and two hearty pickle slices—all hugged by a golden brown brioche bun. 

The overwhelming ingredient, for sure, is the chicken. It’s by far the biggest thing on the sandwich (it’s not called a pickle sandwich, after all), and its presence makes the sandwich feel less like a sandwich and more like a fried chicken breast supported by a bun, if you know what I mean. The other ingredients—mayo and pickles—play minor roles in the overall taste of the sandwich. 

The Spicy, to be honest, is not much different than the Classic. You get all the same ingredients, including the same non-spicy chicken breast, but they lather on some spicy mayo instead of the classic mayo. For those who enjoy a zesty bite to their food, the Spicy is for you. It certainly doesn’t take anything away from the pure experience of the Classic, and it gives it a little variety in taste. 

Overall, Popeyes offers in their chicken sandwich a pure and delicious fried chicken experience contained in a glutenous, portable shell. Your taste buds might not be surprised or particularly challenged by this sandwich, but you will feel warmed and right at home when you take your first bite.

Responding to John Crist's Sexual Midconduct

I saw a headline in my Instagram feed on November 6 that read, “John Crist cancels tour after numerous reports of sexual misconduct; admits to ‘sexual sin and addiction struggle.’”

I thought, “Oh, wow, the Babylon Bee is getting edgier.” They had published a satirical article about Tim Tebow during the #metoo movement where women were coming forward and accusing him of treating them... respectfully. I thought this was another one in the same vein. But then I saw the account name, and it was Adam Ford’s newest, non-satirical news site, Disrn. This was an actual headline. This was real. John Crist is a sexual predator.

We consumers of Christian entertainment culture often idolize our good, clean Instagram content creators. These celebrities can range from comedian Jaron Myers, known for his Chick-fil-A music video, to David Crowder, a popular Christian music artist known for interspersing his normal posts with pretty great memes. We love to support those who make our lives better, be it by telling our friends about them or sharing their posts on our stories. They unify us over wholesome topics. We get to laugh at church culture with others in it, and that's a great thing!

But this innocent fun is sullied when it is abused and exploited. It cracks the unity we as kids and young adults enjoyed. It betrays our trust, the trust we didn’t realize we had placed in someone we had never even met. We didn’t know John Crist personally, but we had built a relationship with him through watching his comedically-long Instagram stories and sharing embarrassing moments. For there to be a much darker side to the man who brought us so much joy hurts. We feel betrayed. Deceived. It’s disheartening, but what can we do now? What is our next step? 

I want to encourage us not to lose heart, but to be more moderate and cautious in our support and investment into the lives of people we can’t possibly know. Online, we build communities and cultures around people who are more brands than friends, and we forget that they are human and fallible.

I’m not condemning these artificial societies, because I actually greatly enjoy them and have seen a lot of good come from them. But I think the important part is to remember that they are artificial. To be blunt, we are merely consumers of what people like John Crist sell, which is themselves and their brand. And this is why we feel betrayed. We were sold a product with deceptively safe packaging, and now there’s a recall.

The implications of this are unfortunately widespread. Two of the women who came forward with their stories of how he tried to seduce them have now left Christianity as a result. If he was who Christians really are, then they didn’t want any part of that. And that should break our hearts.

DC Talk, a Christian band from the 90s, wrote a song called “What If I Stumble?” that dealt with this fear of leading people astray in weakness, thereby sullying the name of Christians. They thought through what it meant to be a Christian celebrity and the responsibility that went with it. They knew that people looked up to them, but also that they would fail their fans. This kind of scandal should sober us and bring us back to the reality of our own human nature, reminding us that we need to be cautious, but also that we need to give grace.

What John Crist needs right now is what we all need, which is the forgiveness of Christ and the grace of God. Since he has already publicly apologized, we as Christians need to forgive, even though it’s hard. That doesn’t mean trusting him again or putting ourselves in situations that could be compromising, but there is an inordinate amount of hate in Christian communities when celebrities are caught in sin, which should not be the case. What kind of testimony would it be for us to bite back the bitter words we want to say and instead pray for his healing and publically care for him by lifting Him to the Father? It is our love, our irrational love that only comes from God, that will set us apart from the outrage culture around us. This doesn’t mean that we forget or, God forbid, ignore what he did, but may we handle ourselves with appropriate anger at the sin, God’s love for the sinner, and support and love for the victims. Isn’t that what we are called to do? 

This is a sad and sobering time for the church as a whole. I pray and exhort us to be wise and gracious to all those involved. May we not be surprised or react in sin, but may we honor God in our attitudes and actions.