GOSHEN — Goshen College is being questioned for not playing the national anthem at sporting events. New York-based radio talk show host Mike Gallagher criticized the college this week on his national radio show.

“And I publicly am calling on the administration of Goshen College to rethink their policy and consider changing it,” Gallagher said on his show. “And kudos to the South Bend Tribune and this writer Dave Stephens for uncovering the revelation that other Mennonite-affiliated colleges have no problem playing the Star Spangled Banner."

But the college says not playing the Anthem has always been part of its Mennonite and pacifist tradition.

For 114 years, Goshen College has stood by its principles. As a Mennonite-based institution, it believes in the separation of church and state, and not playing the national anthem on campus is part of that.

“We recognize this issue is one of likely disagreement,” said Dean of Students Bill Born. “But one of the things we appreciate is the fact that in this great country we have opportunity to express freedoms of faith and patriotism in different ways,"

There are several American flags on campus, and students say patriotism is alive and well.

"We're supporting the troops, but we're doing it in a little bit of a different way — we're doing it through our prayers and our relationships with those, our families that are in the military, and our friends that are in the military,” explained Goshen College senior Amy Showalter.

Bryce Bow plays on the school's basketball team.

“When I first got here I was a little surprised that they didn't play the national anthem,” he said. “At first it was weird, and I've had many, many conversations [about it] while on campus, and I understand both sides."

Fifty-five percent of the students attending Goshen College are affiliated with the Mennonite faith. But there are at least 40 other religious denominations on campus.

Junior Tina Peters is Catholic.

"I feel like not playing the national anthem here is a pretty healthy way for the college to express its religious views since Mennonites view separation of church and state differently than Catholics do.