Dancing With the Kobzar

by Perry Bush

To celebrate its 1999-2000 centennial, Bluffton College commissioned Perry Bush to write the history of its first 100 years. Dancing with the Kobzar tells two first, the tale of BC's birth, growth, and development, framed in a social history of BC student life over the past century. A photo essay illustrates this narrative. Second, the account of BC's unique role in Mennonite higher education, that of a Mennonite school that speaks to students from a wide variety of religious backgrounds and commitments. Combining an engaging style with scholarly support (including extensive notes plus bibliography and index), Dancing with the Kobzar delicately balances critical assessment and affirmation of the Bluffton legacy of progressive Anabaptism and its place within Anabaptism.

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 28, 2000

Reviews

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a rare reading experience in that I thoroughly enjoyed having read throughout, but I could never seem to read more than a couple pages at a time. The affinity I felt for the small school in a small town is undoubtedly a product of Bluffton being my alma mater, but anyone interested in faith-based higher education and particularly as it relates to the Mennonite tradition would find at least some bit of this worthwhile. When I was a student in 2007 - 2011, I think I was vaguely aware of the "Bluffton spirit" which Bush discusses throughout - the kind of inclination to rally one's peers to do something totally unrequired and ultimately memorable in service of one's pride as a part of the institution. I remember lamenting that my core friend group was in the minority when it came to reveling in this type of (often oddball) fun; so many people seemed intent to focus on college as either a place of pure diversion or pure pragmatism - many chased a party or a degree, and few had a strong interest in both at the same time. That sort of dual interest in playing hard and working hard is probably a thing of the past - thanks, internet - both at Bluffton and any brick and mortar school that privileges in-person connection. All that said, it's fair to say that nostalgia played a role in my enjoyment of the book.

I found myself really wanting to know how Bush would characterize the past 20 years that have followed publication; as the subtitle notes, this only covers the school through 1999 and thus doesn't touch any part of the time I spent there. How does Bluffton reflect the overall higher ed landscape as undergrad degrees become increasingly viewed as a prerequisite to joining the workforce as opposed to a mildly impressive fixture on an ambitious person's resume? How did the expansion of graduate course offerings affect campus life? Was there a revival of the Bluffton spirit, maybe even during my tenure? Where does all this situate Bluffton in the context of Goshen, EMU, and Bethel? We're a couple years past a 20th anniversary edition, but a 25th anniversary update is still on the table...