The speech choir program at Baker University is exclusive to the school.

The group, which included 22 students last semester, was created in 2003.<br/>It was then that Susan Emel, professor of mass media and communication, went to Dr. Fred Craddock, a nationally known authority on preaching from Emory University in Atlanta.It was then that Susan Emel, professor of mass media and communication, went to Dr. Fred Craddock, a nationally known authority on preaching from Emory University in Atlanta.
It was then that Susan Emel, professor of mass media and communication, went to Dr. Fred Craddock, a nationally known authority on preaching from Emory University in Atlanta.

At that time, Craddock told Emel about one of his former students who had created a speech choir.

“Dr. Craddock recommended it to me as a way to help listeners get more out of Scripture readings in worship services,” Emel said. “Sure enough, our first performances were Scripture readings at chapel.”  

They came up with the idea of having a student, or multiple students, read Scripture lessons for worship services as an effective way to present the Scripture.

“I brought that back and talked with (University Minister) Ira DeSpain about the possibility of having some of my forensic students do that in chapel, and he was very open to that and invited us to do several things,” Emel said.

The group did around five performances that first year, and last semester alone, the group had 10 performances.

“Almost all – 95 percent – of our audiences are Baker things or campus-sponsored things,” Emel said. “We have done a couple of things off campus and we have one or two opportunities for that in the spring, but we try to save our schedule for Baker things.”

Emel started speech choir for several different reasons but essentially wanted to give students some experience in performing with others.

“Before that, all we offered was forensics and the most ‘team work’ available through that channel was duo partners,” Emel said. “Speech choir has taught students about the effects of their individual work on the others in the team and on the audience as a whole group.”

One thing that was anticipated for the group was the wide variety of topics and occasions they would be asked to perform at.

“I have seen the speech choir perform other places and if it’s for an external audience, someone outside the university, there isn’t that connection,” DeSpain said.

"Anytime that students watch other students perform, musically or in speech choir or athletically, there is a connection of bonding that has to do with the same school."<br/>Junior Bob Linebarger has been in speech choir for two years. However, he still struggles to put what exactly speech choir means into words.Junior Bob Linebarger has been in speech choir for two years. However, he still struggles to put what exactly speech choir means into words.
Junior Bob Linebarger has been in speech choir for two years. However, he still struggles to put what exactly speech choir means into words.

"It's not really normal," he said. "It's really awesome, and I think it really goes back to Dr. Emel and how creative she is to come up with something like this and … I think it's cool to be something like this."<br/>Linebarger credits the reason for joining speech choir to Emel.Linebarger credits the reason for joining speech choir to Emel.
Linebarger credits the reason for joining speech choir to Emel.

“But I recommend anybody take a Dr. Emel class, she really knows what she is talking about, and I really feel that out of any teacher on this campus, she’ll really teach you how to be a good person,” he said. “Not to get sappy or anything but I really believe in her.”