Bluffton cross-cultural forums set for Sept. 28

Two groups of Bluffton University students will relate their cross-cultural experiences from last spring during campus forums at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 28 in Founders Hall. The presentations are free and open to the public.

Recounting their experiences at the 11 a.m. session will be Ashley Donaldson, Abby Ferrell and Amanda Reinehr, who went to Native American communities in Arizona; Mallori Bontrager, Megan Denoi and Benjamin Hatfield, discussing Israel; Adrian Fritch, Jason Hudson and Shauna Rowland, New York City; and Jen Krehbiel and Mandi Leemaster, Colombia.

Presenters at the 7 p.m. forum will be Kevin White, Guatemala; Shaquala Harper and Aaron Wladischkin, who went to Chicago; and James Brake, Jake Litwiller, Justin McCall and Tori Miller, whose experience was in England and Wales.

To fulfill a cross-cultural requirement, Bluffton students may study in Northern Ireland or Washington, D.C., for a semester or spend two to three weeks in May and June exploring a different culture in the United States or abroad. The experiences give students a chance to serve others, providing new insights, widened perspectives and an increased respect for community.