Sara Fikse
Contributing Writer
Last week on Thursday, Nov. 14, Pi Kappa organized an event with three faith-based groups at The College of Wooster. The event was organized in order to increase understanding regarding religious diversity. This discussion-centered event was a collaboration between Hillel, Noor and Word Up! and allowed for a space to discuss the similarities and differences between the three faiths.
Michelle Lee ’20, the diversity chair of Pi Kappa, spoke about the desired purpose of the collaboration, saying “My personal goal was to educate myself and the wider campus community on what the different faiths represented and hopefully overcome stigmas and stereotypes associated with various religions.”
The three faith-based groups involved came with a presentation prepared in which they talked about what their religions represented, how they practice their religion, how they navigate practicing their religions at Wooster as well as any trials and/or tribulations they face while practicing their faith at Wooster. Efua Hayford ’20, president of Word Up!, a group affiliated with the larger Wooster Christian Fellowship on campus but established to serve black students who identify as Christian, shares that Word Up! contributed to the discussion by talking about “the interdenominational nature” of their group. Hayford says that the event provided a space for her group to share their experiences with navigating “discussions and Bible studies within a group where members were raised on fundamentally different Christian doctrines.”
After each group presented, there was time for the attendees to visit each groups’ informational “station.” At their station, Noor, the only Muslim student group on campus, had flyers and information about Religious add Spiritual Life (RSL) on campus along with a map with all the sacred spaces on campus. Then, all the attendees came together as a whole group and discussed what everyone had learned. Lee says that her hope was to “break down the stigma around religion and expand the understanding of what religion means to many people.” Thus, this event perpetuated a positive discussion revolving around how to provide support for those who practice their religions on campus, regardless of differing faiths.
Joseph Naser ’21, president of Noor, reflects on the event, “I was very happy with how the event turned out. We had a pretty good turnout, and the crowd appeared to be genuinely interested in learning more about each of the faiths.” A good turnout indeed, with approximately 45 people in attendance, the collaborative effort of Hillel, Noor, Word Up! and Pi Kappa created a unique event that began an important discourse on the College of Wooster’s campus.
Not only were the groups able to advocate for their own faiths, but the event provided a space for attendees to empathize with differing faiths. The event highlighted the importance of empathy by relating each religion to the others. For example, the members of Noor were able to relate to members of Hillel, the foundation of Jewish campus life, due to their similar fasting practices. Those who practice Judaism fast on days like Yom Kippur — likewise, one of the five pillars of Islam is fasting for Ramadan.
Thus, the event was successful in its effort to emphasize the importance of alliance and discussion in order to increase understanding and acceptance. In fact, the collaboration was so productive that Naser also stated, “I definitely think it should be continued as an annual tradition between these groups. I truly believe that holding these sorts of events — where we can discuss religious diversity in a respectful manner — are what will eventually help change the narrative of religious differences and will ultimately create a healthier relationship between the faiths, not only on this campus, but in the world.”