Project Wingnut Update: Surprising info discovered in the ASU Archives

After studying for my Spanish final this week I went to investigate the history of our fellowship in the Arizona State University Archives as the next step in Project Wingnut.

There I found the cross of our beloved Danforth Chapel on display! Apparently it had been removed from the chapel in 1990 after a court battle. It will only be on display until December 15th 2006 and then it's going back to the storage room. Read about it here: http://www.asu.edu/lib/exhibits/news/sensesacred.htm

So after a few hours rummaging through the Archives and after learning how to use a "card catalog," I discovered the October 15 1943 edition of the State Press. A headline on the front page reads "Inter-Denominational Society Organized." The article is about the founding of "Inter-varsity"at ASU! The founder's name is listed along with all of the officers, and even what the Tuesday night guest speaker spoke about!

This makes our chapter way older than anyone had imagined! This is so awesome, and a great step forward for the project! If any of you in the Fellowship want a copy of this, I made a copy of the whole four page October 15th 1943 edition, with its war bond ads and all.

A History of InterVarsity at Arizona State: The Birth of Project Wingnut

" I thought about the former days, the years of long ago” Psalm 77:5

A few months ago I again realized that I know of no one who can tell us anything of our chapter’s history before 1999 and obviously no student is around that remembers anything or anyone in IV before just a few years ago.
We seem so very retrospectively nearsighted. Shouldn’t we consider what has happened in the past? Shouldn’t we praise God for how lives have been changed because they were part of a community like IV? Wouldn't knowing this spur us all on to greater things? Doesn't anyone know when Intervarsity started at ASU? Shouldn’t someone investigate this subject?

And so, after some lengthy pondering and discussion, Project Wingnut was born.

The purpose of this project will be to investigate and write a brief history of the ASU IV chapter. I think this would be something that would eventually go on our webpage at least. So...we will be researching the University Archives and collecting information from our alumni regarding:

1) When did IV begin at ASU and who started it?
2) A brief chronology of important events in ASUIV history as known to you.
3) A brief description of what IV looked like during your involvement.
4) Information about you, when you got involved, what you got out of IV, etc.
5) All the names of people that you believe could provide us with further-reaching info and personal testimonies.

One of the main challenges of this project will be obtaining information from people from before the gap in the fellowship’s continuity during a period leading up to the year 1999. The length of this gap, and its cause, is hereunto unknown.

Michael and I will be working on this project during the break, but if anyone else is interested, will definitely be opportunities for delving into this with us. Email me.

Are you alumni of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at Arizona State University? We need to hear from you. Email us at intervarsity@asu.edu

"I remember the days of long ago;
I meditate on all your works
and consider what your hands have done." - Psalm 143:5