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.