Western Oregon Journal

Issue date: 1/20/10 Section: Culture

Dale and Liz Halligan's hearts have long been open to international students, but with the Nov. 30 opening of Cornerstone Bookstore, the couple created tangible space for building relationships.
Dale and Liz have taught overseas for numerous years, allowing them to work with international students within their own cultural settings. Most recently the couple taught in Japan for three years, returning in 2009. Before that they taught in Africa for five years.
Dale's wife, Liz Halligan, is the manager of Cornerstone. Together with Dale, Liz said, "We [have established a place] where college kids international students in particular can interact. We want it to be a welcoming and warm place where people like to hang out."
For visiting scholar Chenyuan Li, meeting the Halligans meant spending a week in their home. Li said that when she first came to America, Dale and Liz "allowed us to live with them for a week until we found a place to live. [They are] very friendly, warm hearted [and] gave us a lot of help."
International students and scholars, like Li, Xiuyan Zhao and Xiaojun Tang, have continued to seek that aid in their transition to America within the walls of Cornerstone-either gathered for conversation on the small couch in the store itself or in the official International Students, Inc. (ISI) office where Dale works.
Although new to Monmouth, this format of Christian bookstore/non-profit organization catered to international students and their social, religious and educational needs is not an entirely new concept. Liz stated that, "This format has been done in Tempe, Ariz. for 40 years, [so we] patterned our bookstore after it," while Dale added that "[his format] was started by Elmer Heibert and has expanded to multiple universities such as the University of Washington and Arizona State University."

Beyond the Bookstore
Although Cornerstone is a small bookstore, not much larger than the average living room, it not only offers a few hundred books, but also a location close to campus where students can gather and discuss a number of topics.
"There needs to be alternative [places for college students to interact.] This is an alternative," Liz said when speaking about the other offerings enclosed within the walls of Cornerstone.
Dale added that "It was started not to sell books as much as to be a meeting place for people to come hang out and have discussions."

Continued...

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