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Truth Photo by Ryan M.L. Young Goshen College employee Steven Shriner stands at attention during the playing of the national anthem before the Leafs baseball game against Siena College. The game marked the first time the national anthem had been played before any sporting event at the college.|108656

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Truth Photo By Jennifer Shephard Goshen College fans Taylor TenHarmsel, left, and Sean Doering cheer on the team in the first inning in full patriotic attire Tuesday, March 23, 2010. The stands were full before the game as Tuesday marked the first time the school has played the anthem.|108657

Jennifer Shephard

Truth Photo By Jennifer Shephard Goshen College student Nate West, Jr, cheers on the team in the first inning in full patriotic attire Tuesday, March 23, 2010. The stands were full before the game as Tuesday marked the first time the school has played the anthem.|108659

Jennifer Shephard

Truth Photo By Jennifer Shephard Goshen College president Jim Brenneman addresses the media following the playing of the national anthem at a baseball game Tuesday, March 23, 2010.|108660

Jennifer Shephard

As an instrumental version of the “Star-Spangled Banner” played just before 1 p.m. Tuesday for the first time at the small Mennonite liberal arts college, three men with patriotic painted chests stood as three women dressed in all black remained seated.

The contrast evidenced the differing opinions and passionate campus coversation that Goshen College President Jim Brenneman said the school could be proud of.

“There’s civil dissent and civil support, so I think we’ve actually honored the best of who we are at Goshen College,” Brenneman said.

At least 100 people attended the doubleheader Tuesday - “more people than usual,” Brenneman said with a laugh, and at least 20 members of local and national media were there.
Tuesday was the first time the song was played before a game on campus, but the President’s Council announced in January that the college would soon end its practice of not playing the anthem - a practice rooted in pacifist Mennonite traditions - and the campus had held formal and informal discussions about the issue for several years.