A student talks about her
watercolor creation

Rader ’69 is one of hundreds taking part in the 12th annual Common Ground on the Hill Tradition Weeks held July 1-14. Established by alumnus, McDaniel artist-in-residence and musician Walt Michael ’68, Common Ground bridges the cultural gap between people from diverse groups through art and music.

“Walt taught me about bluegrass,” said Mike Atherton, a third-year participant. “He’s a connector and makes us feel we can do anything. His music affected my whole life.”

Students practice the wooden
flute in the gazebo

An easy swaying melody filled (Big) Baker Memorial Chapel as Watherton honed his bluegrass tunes in a morning class with a dozen students, guitars slung over their shoulders and heads bobbing in unison to the rhythm. Walking through Hill Hall, where music classes are offered, one is serenaded by dulcimers, fiddles and the Celtic harp. Outside at the campus gazebo, a woman in a blue pullover plays a simple tune on a wooden flute as an instructor encourages her.

“You’re striving for music that falls like water,” he told her. “There are no mistakes. There are only discoveries. Anything that’s new becomes a tradition.”

The summer courses, performances and activities range from learning the harmonica to studying African drumming or Latin Dance. Participants learn juggling, yoga, and woodturning. The program also boasts a Distinctive Lecture series and Nonviolence Institute forum.

People from the mid-Atlantic region and as far away as Scotland attended the nonviolence course “Passing it On,” in which they were shown a cartoon about two lizards who want the same bug – a simple allegory with a profound meaning.

“There are traps in human nature we keep falling into,” said course leader Charles Colyer. “We’re talking about issues that are global. Similarly, the learning happens from the people you’re sitting next to as much as from the teacher.”

Children ages 5-12 participating in the World Village youth program had the opportunity to learn about peace from studying the same lizard cartoon. The full-scale youth program included lessons about other cultures and traditions, music classes, and opportunities to make puppets and crafts.

Volunteers Allison Ackerman,
Madison Held, & Ferris Hollinger
hang posters around campus

“My favorite part was making spirit people with wires and beads,” said teen volunteer Allison Ackerman. The crafts, which take about 20 minutes each to create, were on sale to benefit Common Ground scholarships.

One of the highlights of Traditions Weeks is the Roots Music and Arts Festival, held July 8-9. This year’s headliner was singer/songwriter Richie Havens. Havens, who performed at Woodstock, has 25 albums and the hit single, “Here Comes the Sun.” The two-day festival also featured Tom Chapin, Guy Davis, Scott Ainslie, Walt Michael & Co., and many others.

Participants and teachers alike testify about the impact of the Common Ground program.

“At McDaniel, we talk about being a college that changes lives. The thing we hear the most from people is that this experience also changes their lives,” said course instructor Pam Zappardino ’71. “On a personal level, Common Ground has changed my life. It’s been enriched by the people I’ve met here.”

Common Ground on the Hill hosts a concert series during the year. For more information, click here: www.commongroundonthehill.org.