October 01, 2004

Inaugural 'Faith Week at SIUC' is Oct. 4-8

by Pete Rosenbery

CARBONDALE, Ill. - - An issues forum featuring 12 student faith groups at Southern Illinois University Carbondale highlights next week's inaugural "Faith Week at SIUC".

The purpose of Faith Week, which is Oct. 4-8, is to promote spiritual awareness in an academic setting. The events are open to the public.

The week also features daily devotions, a faith-based registered student organization fair, brown bag lunches, discussions on student health, discussions on various films, and literature distribution in outdoor areas.

Roger Lipe of Carbondale, one of the event's facilitators, said the week presents opportunities for free and open discussion.

"I think it is important because sometimes on a public campus, people of faith are somewhat marginalized . . ." he said. "What we are trying to do is allow a little more exposure for students who are in the faith-based RSO's to discuss what they are about, where people can hear about their faith and draw their own conclusions."

The week seeks to advance dialogue among different faith groups on campus and in Southern Illinois, with the hope of promoting diversity, while dispelling myths and producing an environment where individuals and groups can freely express faith without fear of ridicule or persecution.

Lipe is also enthused by the participation level. Organizers contacted 26 faith-based registered student organizations about participating in the week's events.

"It is broadly spread out among the groups from matters of faith," he said. "There is a wide variety of different faith traditions represented."

The issues forum is Tuesday, Oct. 5, from 7 to 9 p.m. in Ballroom D at the Student Center. There will be a moderator at each table and each faith-based group will have an opportunity to respond to a series of questions, according to their faith, and from students. Among the questions are the basic tenets of the faith, telling the difference between right and wrong and how participating in that particular faith will change someone's university experience.

"I think particularly the issues forum is going to be a wonderful opportunity for discussion, and at least for me, increasing my personal knowledge of other faith groups," said Paulette Curkin, SIUC Student Development coordinator.

Event information is available at http://www.siu.edu/%7ecoc/Faith_Week.htm. For more information, contact Lipe at 618/559-2735.

Respecting and valuing differences in all their forms of expression is among the goals of Southern at 150: Building Excellence through Commitment, the blueprint for the development of the University by the time it reaches its 150th anniversary in 2019.

The Faith Week schedule is:

Monday, Oct. 4

  • 7-8 a.m. - - Devotional, Church of Christ, student fellowship, Ohio Room, Student Center.
  • 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. - - Free lunch, sponsored by the Wesley Foundation and American Baptist Campus Ministry, Faner Hall breezeway.
  • 5-7 p.m. - - RSO Fair, International Lounge, Student Center.
  • 7 p.m. - - Film and discussion, "Blade Runner," Illinois Room, Student Center.
  • Sponsored by University Christian Ministries, Carbondale Unitarian Fellowship, University Baptist Church, and Collegiate Association of Pagan Students.
  • Tuesday, Oct. 5
  • 7-8 a.m. - - Devotional, Church of Christ, student fellowship, Ohio Room, Student Center.
  • 7-9 p.m. - - Issues Forum involving all religious groups, Ballroom D, Student Center.
  • 8 p.m. - - Film and discussion, "The Matrix," Ohio Room, Student Center. Sponsored by University Christian Ministries, Carbondale Unitarian Fellowship, University Baptist Church, and Collegiate Association of Pagan Students.

Wednesday, Oct. 6

  • 7-8 a.m. - - Devotional, Church of Christ, student fellowship, Ohio Room, Student Center
  • 1-4 p.m. - - Roundtable discussion, "Dispelling the Spells, Witchcraft 101," Ohio Room, Student Center. Sponsored by the Collegiate Association of Pagan Students.
  • 4:30 p.m. - - Campus Lake, paddle boating sponsored by the Wesley Foundation.
  • 6-10 p.m. -- Campus Ministries, Community dinners at various locations.
  • 8 p.m. -- Film and discussion, "Buffy The Vampire Slayer," Interfaith Center. Sponsored by University Christian Ministries, Carbondale Unitarian Fellowship, University Baptist Church, and Collegiate Association of Pagan Students.
  • 9 p.m. - - JAM Weekly Worship, Wesley Foundation.

Thursday, Oct. 7

  • 7-8 a.m. - - Devotional, Church of Christ, student fellowship, Ohio Room, Student Center.
  • 12:30-2 p.m. - - Discussion on students' health concerns, sponsored by Southern Illinois Healthcare and the Wesley Foundation. Kaskaskia and Missouri rooms, Student Center.
  • 6 p.m. - - Israeli Café Night, sponsored by Hillel, Interfaith Center.
  • 6-9 p.m. - - Church of Christ student fellowship ice cream social, Ohio Room, Student Center.
  • 7-8:30 p.m. - - "Staying Healthy in College 101," Mackinaw Room, sponsored by the Wesley Foundation.
  • 8 p.m. - - Film and discussion, "Return of the King," Ballroom C, Student Center. Sponsored by University Christian Ministries, Carbondale Unitarian Fellowship, University Baptist Church, and Collegiate Association of Pagan Students.

Friday, Oct. 8

  • 7-8 a.m. - - Devotional, Church of Christ, student fellowship, Ohio Room, Student Center.
  • Noon - - Harry Potter series discussion, Interfaith Center.
  • Noon-1: 30 p.m. - - Discussion on science and Christianity, brown bag lunch, Mackinaw Room, Student Center. Sponsored by the Wesley Foundation.
  • 5-9 p.m. - - Interfaith Progressive Dinner, community dinners at various locations.
  • 7 p.m. - - Simchat Torah, Temple Beth Jacob, sponsored by Hillel.