Goshen College - National Anthem

National Anthem

In June 2011, Goshen College was thrust into the national limelight by several reports on Fox News, which publicized the fact that the college does not play the national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner," at athletic events. The college, affiliated with Mennonite movement, which is traditionally a peace church, had published an online fact sheet stating that "historically, playing the national anthem has not been among Goshen College's practices because of our Christ-centered core value of compassionate peacemaking seeming to be in conflict with the anthem’s militaristic language."

On January 21, 2010, The President's Council changed its long-standing policy, allowing the national anthem to be played prior to a sporting event. This decision led to numerous complaints from students, faculty and alumni. Goshen College art professor John Blosser was quoted, “It’s obviously about a battle. It’s rather violent. It’s about using violence to conquer and that would be something that many people here would have problems with.”

The Board of Directors reversed the President's Council decision on June 6, 2011, after seeking extensive input from the college community. Two Goshen city councilmen criticized the college, with one referring to the decision as "anti-American" and stating that "instead of living here in Goshen, they should go down and live in Cuba or Iran, then have them come back and see if their attitude has changed."

On August 19, 2011, the college's president, Dr. James E. Brenneman, announced that "America the Beautiful" would be played before athletic events.