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From Student Idea to Statewide Event
By Destini Turcotte, Staff Writer
The growing Rwandan community on campus coordinated Kwibuka 32 on April 18th to inform others who may not know about the tragedy in 1994—the genocide against the Tutsi. Pamela Isimbi, a sophomore studying mechanical engineering, proposed the idea, created a vision, and partnered with the Rwandan embassy in D.C., along with Ibuka USA, which is an organization of survivors of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, to bring the event to life.
Pamela Isimbi highlighted multiple elements of the event, including the “Walk to Remember,” in which participants marched around Ariel Arena. “We do the Walk to Remember because it helps us stand with survivors of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, because during that time, they spent a lot of time running for survival and escape. This walk helps us recognize their resilience and courage during those times,” she said.
Jessica Umucyo Runazi, a sophomore studying marketing, was the overall coordinator and oversaw all the departments involved. Jessica explained why she believes it is important to hold this event on campus.
“One of the main reasons why we remember every year is to help spread the right message. The second is, of course, to honor the lives that were lost and be there with the survivors.” The genocide against the Tutsi, as a turning point in the country's history, affects the 12 Rwandan students on campus, whether their parents survived or the students were born in exile. “It is important for us to do the event at MVNU, as the students would like to share exactly what happened and educate those who may not know. And provide the right resources if they need to.”
Last August, Pamela went to Joseph Joe, the head of Intercultural Life, with the idea of planning Kwibuka 32 on campus. Pamela hoped for a school-sponsored event, but because of her hard work, it became much more. She describes turning to many different sources for support: “I reached out to my country, and they were happy to support me. They connected me to the Rwandan Embassy in Washington, D.C.”
Through this process, she got connected to the president of the Rwandan community in Ohio, which led this to be a statewide event. Kwibuka 32 at MVNU was the only one of its kind held in Ohio.
Kwibuka had thirteen speakers ranging from students, MVNU faculty, survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi and different representatives across Ohio and Rwanda.
Community formed to experience the educational and emotional impact of Kwibuka 32, especially among students. Students with limited prior knowledge about the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi were able to talk with individuals they may not have had the opportunity to socialize with before. This event was only possible through an idea a student had, support from campus, God and the hard work of everyone involved.
When asked if she would stay in the US, Pamela humbly said: “I will go wherever God leads me, but I will always represent Rwanda.”
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The Traveling Garden: Students Take Aquaponics Project to Mozambique
By Abby Almodovar, Editor
In the basement of Hunter Hall, a garden grows—a labyrinth of plants alongside a tank of flapping tilapia that live and sustain each other. While this aquaponics project resides here now, a group of faculty and students, through the Fairbanks Center for Global Engagement, plan to take it to a more distant destination of Mozambique this May.
For Bryce Bosworth, a soon-to-graduate environmental biology and ministry double major, this is not his first trip overseas. Bosworth and alumnus Zach Ballenger spent time in Guatemala in the summer of 2023, studying an aquaponics system there. “It’s fish and plants going in the same recycling water that uses significantly less water than traditional agriculture or aquaculture,” Bosworth explained while standing among the leafy greens of MVNU’s own aquaponics system.
Bosworth highlighted the sustainability of the project, a key component. He described, “It can be replicated in very small ways that can support a pastor or a pastor’s family and can also lead to economic growth and development for selling additional products, like the fish or the plants in their community.”
When Nazarene Compassionate Ministries in Mozambique reached out to MVNU for the undertaking of improving their already existing tilapia fish farms, these two students spearheaded the project.
The collaboration quickly grew to more than just Bosworth and Ballenger, though, and an intercultural class allowed students to build and sustain the aquaponics system together. “We all did this, the students. So, we had to figure out the right grade PVC to use, had to figure out the pumps—that’s an ongoing issue,” recounted Carson Gibbons, junior environmental biology major.
Gibbons worked on the project for class credit initially, though now volunteers to see it through. “Just getting that experience and learning how to sort of work on your feet and finding these ways to apply, practically, what I’ve been learning in classrooms for the past three years was really rewarding,” he reflected, “and I’d like to try and continue doing that if I can.”
The reward of hard work is clear—the aquaponics system works. Bosworth himself has made use of the system on campus, cooking with the readily edible mustard, kale, collard greens and cabbage in his dorm room. After three years, a project rooted in the careful and enthusiastic labor of a few students has grown into something usable and ready for integration across the globe.
Thorne Library Leadership Changes Bring Bright Possibilities
By Zoey Hover, Assistant Editor
Whether it’s time to study, grab a coffee or hang out with friends, MVNU’s Thorne Library serves as a central space on campus for almost any activity; and, following a number of recent changes over the past year, it continues to grow as a community space. Of those changes, the most significant was the library’s shift in leadership, which placed Christy Taylor as the new director.
Taylor, formerly the assistant director, stepped into the role after the departure of the previous director, Tim Radcliffe, in October. Since then, she said that she is seeking to make the library “the most welcoming, comfortable, familiar place” by pouring into a variety of interactive events, including junk journaling nights and book tournaments that she began as assistant director as well as new events to better reach the community.
“One of the things that was one of my goals was to help engage not just the students, but also the faculty and staff in the community, so I was really excited to launch the photo contest this year,” Taylor said. The photo contest, entitled “Through the Lens of MVNU,” featured student and faculty photographs in multiple categories, all taken around campus or on MVNU-related trips. This contest, which garnered engagement from students, faculty, staff and even alumni, according to Taylor, is set to return next year.
Along with the annual photo contest, Christy also introduced an “unbook club” (a club where students can share about their favorite books without the commitment of reading along) and a puzzle-building competition.
Joining Taylor in growing community interaction is the Thorne Library’s new assistant director, Brookstyn Black. Black, who worked as a student library assistant during her four years at MVNU and as a part of the Center for Student Success this past year, officially inherited this title on April 27.
“I am most excited to have the opportunity to create a welcoming space and environment that fosters community,” Black expressed, and said she looks forward to building on the many events Taylor has established in the library.
With leaders so passionate about community and atmosphere, the Thorne Library is bound to blossom into an even more vibrant space to study and socialize on campus.
