Goshen College grieves for Bluffton student-athletes during prayer service
By Richard R. Aguirre
GOSHEN, Ind. – The Goshen College community paused solemnly Monday – the day students returned to class from spring break – to pray for Bluffton University student-athletes and their families who are grieving and recovering from a tragic charter bus crash late last week.
In addition, nearly $7,000 was raised Sunday night for Bluffton University during the “Home Concert” by the Goshen College Men’s Chorus, college officials announced. More donations are expected to be received in the coming days for Bluffton.
President James E. Brenneman told about 600 students, faculty and staff at a special service in the Church-Chapel on Monday that while it may never be possible to understand, nor accept, why six people died so abruptly, it is important to respond with love and to trust in God.
“The sorrow we feel for them, the pain we bear, calls forth in us a love we may not even have known we had for these friendly rivals, the Bluffton Beavers, our sisters and brothers in flesh and faith,” Brenneman said. “Perhaps, that’s why our grief is so deep, our questions real, our anger at God or fate so palpable, our hurt so painful.”
A charter bus carrying members of the Bluffton baseball team crashed early Friday, killing students Tyler Williams of Lima, Ohio; David Betts of Bryan, Ohio; Scott Harmon of Lima, Ohio; Cody Holp of Arcanum, Ohio; and the bus driver, Jerome Niemeyer, and his wife, Jean Niemeyer, both of Columbus Grove. In addition, 29 people were injured, three seriously.
“Whatever else may be our response to this sad turn of events, may we choose to make life truly matter today, every day, by binding ourselves ever more closely to each other – bound together in our love for each other – bound together by God’s everlasting love,” Brenneman said.
Goshen College students said Monday they were still upset about the Bluffton tragedy.
“I was completely shocked and confused because six had died,” said Erini Shields, a senior from Muncie. “Being one of our sister schools, we obviously know various people who are at Bluffton. There are many (Goshen) students who actually knew the students who were killed and who were also affected by the crash.”
Peter Koontz, a junior from Elkhart who spent his first year at Bluffton University, said he was glad that students, faculty and staff gathered Monday to grieve and pray.
“I felt it was a good way to show support for Bluffton because many people here have close connections to there,” Koontz said “Most people can relate to it in some way and that’s why people took it so seriously and it really affects them.”
Bob Yoder, the campus minister, said Monday’s service was held to mourn the loss of six people, express solidarity with Bluffton University and with those still in the hospital and to help the Goshen College community cope with Friday’s events.
“Some of us personally knew people on that bus, and so the grief is deeply felt and perhaps very raw. Some of us are friends of the families of the six who perished, and so our heart reaches out to them,” Yoder said, after lighting six candles in memory of those who died.
“Some of us have friends at Bluffton University, and so we feel a deep sadness for them... and some of us have no personal connections with this tragedy, but because this spring break tragedy could have happened to any small town college, including ourselves, questions are stirred within our souls and answers to those questions are not easily found or met.”
Still, Yoder called on students to reflect on the tragedy and consider responding in some way, such as praying, donating blood, speaking with friends or donating to a fund established for the victims and their families.
Toward that end, an offering was taken Sunday night at a standing-room-only concert of the college’s Men’s Chorus, just returned from their Spring Break tour. The concert featured music, songs, prayer, a slide show and observations from the West Coast tour, Feb. 23-March 3. In addition, prayers were offered for Bluffton.
William Jones, Goshen College’s vice president for institutional advancement, said it was important for an offering to be taken to benefit Bluffton’s student-athletes and their families.
“Many in the Goshen College family are searching for ways to respond to the pain and heartbreak that our brothers and sisters in the Bluffton University community and larger Mennonite Church are experiencing,” Jones said Monday. “Last night’s concert allowed folks to respond through prayer and financial support for the Bluffton students and their families.”
Robin Bowlus, Bluffton’s public relations director, expressed appreciation for Goshen’s College’s gesture.
“So many people are contacting the university from across the country offering financial support,” Bowlus said. “Our hope is that this kind of love and compassion and support is natural for our community and our state and our country.”
However, Bowlus said Bluffton University would need help for quite a while. “This has been a sad and tragic situation on our campus and we’re going to need prayers and support in the coming months,” Bowlus said. “Our grieving is not going to end when the memorial services end.”
The Goshen College community feels a close connection to those at Bluffton University because of extensive family ties, friendships and professional relationships. Like Goshen College, Bluffton University is affiliated with Mennonite Church USA.
How to help
A fund has been established for the Bluffton University baseball team student-athletes killed or injured in the charter bus accident on March 2, in Atlanta, Ga., and for their families.
The bus was on its way to Florida for the team’s first games of the 2007 season. Four student-athletes, Tyler Williams (Lima, Ohio); David Betts (Bryan, Ohio); Scott Harmon (Lima, Ohio) and Cody Holp (Arcanum, Ohio); and the bus driver, Jerome Niemeyer, and his wife, Jean Niemeyer, both of Columbus Grove, Ohio, were killed in the accident.
Contributions can be made by check payable to Bluffton University and mailed to: Citizens National Bank, 102 S. Main Street, Bluffton, Ohio, 45817. Please note “Baseball Team” in the check’s memo line. Credit card contributions can be made by calling 1-419-358-3324 during the university’s business hours.
Funds will be available to the baseball players involved in the accident and their families.
For more information about this release or to arrange an interview or request a photo, contact Goshen College Public Relations Director Richard R. Aguirre at (574) 535-7571 or rraguirre@goshen.edu.
