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MILLIGAN COLLEGE, Tenn. (April 23, 2019) — Milligan College will host a panel discussion on “Why Sacred Spaces are Meaningful: a retrospective on the fire at Notre Dame” on Wednesday, April 24, at 7:30 p.m. in the McGlothlin-Street Theatre located in the Gregory Center. The event is free and open to the public.
The panel will include Dr. Lee Blackburn, associate professor of history and humanities; Dr. Carrie Klofach, assistant professor of musical theatre; and sophomore Amanda Lorch. In addition, a slideshow of student photographs taken at Notre Dame Cathedral will be presented, and campus minister Brad Wallace will close the discussion in prayer.
“The tragic fire at Notre Dame reminds us that there are sacred spaces in the world,” said Blackburn. “As Christians in the United States, we are forced to recognize that although this is a loss first and foremost for the people of Paris and France, we too have lost something precious.”
Many Milligan students have appreciated and experienced Notre Dame Cathedral first-hand through Milligan’s humanities program. Beginning in 1972, Milligan has organized annual humanities tours across Europe, and Notre Dame Cathedral has remained an iconic landmark for students to visit over the years.
Milligan recently performed “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” as the college’s inaugural musical theatre production. The musical consisted of a 23-member ensemble cast, as well as an on-stage choir and pit orchestra. It also served as Klofach’s directorial debut at Milligan.
“The musical consumed my life for five months and I felt like Notre Dame had become my home away from home. As director, my task was to help the cast understand the importance of Notre Dame Cathedral, as well as its greater meaning as a sanctuary for all people,” recounted Klofach. “Upon learning of the fire, I felt a sense of helplessness knowing that this place of sanctuary was in danger. With the fire occurring during Holy Week, I hope it can represent that new life can be reborn from the ashes.”
For more information on Milligan’s humanities program, visit www.milligan.edu/humanities.