A huntin’ they will go

Belief in non-violence at EMU stops at the wood’s edge for many a deer hunter this season. Camouflage and mounted antlers in Oakwood give evidence of many real-live hunters thriving in their peace-loving environment.

The word weapon is usually associated with the word violence among the EMU community. But hunters on campus are not treated as though they’re hoarding weapons of mass destruction ready to strike at any unsuspecting moment.

EMU certainly is not the stomping grounds for a large population of hunters, but there are more than some may expect. Nearly everyone on campus seems to know of at least one person who does in fact hunt, and quite a few have hunted in the past.

"It’s not that I have a desire to go out and kill," said one EMU student, who has only missed one hunting season since his start 13 years ago, "I enjoy the peacefulness of the woods and the excitement of outwitting an intelligent animal on its home turf."

Hunting is not widely associated or accepted as an act of violence among EMU students. With a campus full of Christians who preach the importance of non-violence, hunting seems to get an exemption.

A survey that probed the thoughts of students asked questions that included the words hunting, Christian, and non-violence, resulted in only one individual opposed to hunting.

Dave Rohrer, a junior, mostly opposed hunting. "We should give the deer a few guns to make it even." Rohrer is joined only by a few students who say they would not go hunting.

The survey turned out a mostly neutral response to the issue. "I don’t care if people go hunting, just as long as they eat it or give the meat to someone who needs it," said Kara Bender, a first-year student. "I don’t want to go. My friend said she went and it was the most boring thing she ever did."

Hunting may not be quite as prominent of a hobby as it was back when professor of mathematics John Horst attended EMU. "Students used to keep their hunting rifles in their dorm rooms, but back then no one made much fuss about it." Hunting paraphernalia on campus now does not include guns, as it is against University regulations.

Several students showed great interest in hunting, especially those who have never been. "I’m going along with a friend this weekend. I’ve always wanted to go, and he goes all the time," said first-year Mary Yoder.

The question of whether hunting is an act of violence seems to be a non-issue among EMU students. No one surveyed was willing to make the argument, and most say it’s an acceptable action. While there are most likely some students who do oppose hunting on all grounds, the majority are not losing sleep over the few people on campus who do hunt.

"I used to love when one of the guys would get a deer, because you knew the deer jerky was gonna be hot," said EMU graduate Adam Starks.