Bethel University Magazine Fall 2021

(YHU VLQFH %HWKHOŠV )LUVW <HDU ([SHULHQFH )<( EORFN SURJUDP ZDV introduced in 1994, Maralee Crandon, Ph.D., associate professor of English and speech, and Brother Tim Erdel, professor of religion DQG SKLORVRSK\ KDYH EHHQ OHDGLQJ %ORFN VLGH E\ VLGH ,Q WKDW WLPH WKH\ŠYH FXOWLYDWHG D FODVVURRP H[SHULHQFH WKDW WUDQVIRUPV ƃUVW \HDU VWXGHQWV IURP SHHUV LQWR IDPLO\ $̃HU \HDUV WKH VFKRRO \HDU PDUNV WKH ƃQDO \HDU RI FR WHDFKLQJ %ORFN IRU &UDQGRQ DQG Erdel. FYE, Bethel’s number one retention tool, is a program for incoming ƃUVW \HDU VWXGHQWV FRQVLVWLQJ RI WZR FRUH FODVVHV WKDW DUH FR WDXJKW by two professors. The students are divided into Blocks 1-12, who spend Tuesdays and Thursdays together in the classroom. Outside of class, blocks are encouraged to spend time together, allowing for D XQLTXH ERQGLQJ H[SHULHQFH WKDW HDVHV WKH WUDQVLWLRQ WR FROOHJH OLIH “One of the things we try to instill in our students is that you don’t JHW WKURXJK FROOHJH DORQH ţ H[SODLQV &UDQGRQ Crandon and Erdel both began their higher education careers in 1977; Crandon was hired by Bethel College and Erdel by McCormick Theological Seminary. Their block teaching routine took time as they OHDUQHG KRZ WR FR WHDFK D FODVV EXW ZLWK \HDUV EHKLQG WKHP WKH WZR FDQ QRZ ƃQLVK HDFK RWKHUŠV VHQWHQFHV “We’re like an old stand-up comedy routine,” laughs Erdel. %ORFN RULJLQDOO\ FR WDXJKW :ULWWHQ &RPPXQLFDWLRQ ,,, SDLUHG ZLWK 1HZ 7HVWDPHQW /LWHUDWXUH IURP 7RGD\ WKH\ FR WHDFK 6SHHFK &RPPXQLFDWLRQ DQG ([SORULQJ WKH &KULVWLDQ )DLWK “It’s really been our intent to try to uphold each other as we’re teaching, and to make sure that our [students] are challenged spiritually as well as intellectually,” says Crandon. )URP WKURXJK %ORFN KDV WDOOLHG D WRWDO RI VWXGHQWV “Every group has its own dynamic. Every year has its own dynamic,” says Erdel. Overall, the group has been known to WUDYHO DQG H[SORUH WRJHWKHU LQFOXGLQJ RYHU 40 trips to Shakespearean plays, for which ERWK &UDQGRQ DQG (UGHO KDYH DQ DƅQLW\ 2WKHU notable trips include the 2011 May Term England WULS DV ZHOO DV D H[FXUVLRQ WR 6WUDWIRUG 2QWDULR ZKLFK was miraculously funded through a car wash fundraiser, a series of SURYLGHQWLDO JL̃V DQG PDWFKLQJ JUDQWV :KLOH WKH VWXGHQWV LQ %ORFN JURZ WR EH OLNH IDPLO\ WKDW G\QDPLF KDV JRQH WR WKH QH[W OHYHO 6LQFH WKHUH KDYH EHHQ PRUH WKDQ PDUULDJHV EHWZHHQ %ORFN DOXPQL DQG RYHU Ţ%ORFN JUDQGFKLOGUHQţ FKLOGUHQ ERUQ WR RU IRVWHUHG DGRSWHG E\ %ORFN couples). Crandon and Erdel are the only teaching partners who have stayed together over the whole history of FYE. “We’re enthused about teaching together,” says Crandon. “It’s just been really remarkable to WHDFK ZLWK VRPHRQH IRU \HDUV DQG ORRN IRUZDUG WR HYHU\ VLQJOH day that you get to teach together.” “I have learned so much from Brother Tim. I call him the walking encyclopedia…or maybe two or three encyclopedias,” jokes Crandon. Erdel chimes in, "I have learned so much from Maralee as a teacher. I have never met anyone so in tune to the classroom dynamics.” &UDQGRQ DQG (UGHO ORRN EDFN RQ WKHLU WLPH DV %ORFN SURIHVVRUV ZLWK gratitude and joy and are thankful for the home and family that Bethel has become. Top &UDQGRQ DQG (UGHO V ƃQDO %ORFN Inset : A student presents in class as Erdel looks on. 5 FALL 2021