► entertainment
► events
► issues
► music
► art
hilltopics
the university
monday <
5.4.98 <
ten.a <
judaism christian quaker buddhist unitarian scientology lutheran mormon catholic
methodist
agnostic
evangelical presbyterian episcopal church of chr
Choosing your religion
baptist
University atmosphere provides multiple spiritual choices
story by gerry doyle ● gdoyle@kansan.com
"Typically, statistically, college students don't go to church as much. College very typically is a time of questioning."
timothy miller chairman of the department of religious studies
The University of Kansas instituted a policy of linear tuition to prevent students from "less shopping."
students from class shopping.
Instead of deciding on a course of action and sticking with it, the University was worried that students would instead search for the classes with the best fit.
But what does a student do when he or she is looking for religion?
To some, religion is a way to help relieve life's stress. Between dealing with professors, evil work schedule-makers and various robe-clad sidewalk cults, a person scarecely can get through a day.
Andrea Gross, Lawrence junior and member of Campus Christians, said that in many cases, religion gave her the rock she needed to cling to when weathering the college storm.
"Sometimes. God is all you have to hold onto," Gross said. "A Christian is who I am, a student is what I do."
"I think I definitely can be standing strong in my beliefs and going to KU," she said.
While being religious helped her, it didn't take away from being a student, she said. She said that the University and religion were not mutually exclusive.
Rev. Thad Holcombe of Ecumenical Christian Ministries said that the inquisitive nature of college shouldn't just apply to meeting new people and trying new flavors of beer.
He said the wealth of information at the University should work to the advantage of a student looking for religion.
"Faith is so dynamic," he said. "In the first year, you can stop there. Sometimes parental overviews aren't synonymous. Then they can step back and evaluate their faith. I'm concerned that they don't."
Students seeking a personalized God shouldn't give up hope in finding Him, Holcombe said. Being spiritual should involve more than just watching televangelists early Sunday morning. As a result, students should talk to people, take classes and above all, keep their minds open, he said.
"There's a whole other group that comes here with no tradition and they start looking at all the others," Holcombe said. "They need to take their spirituality and expand it, get connected with others. Some people are drawn to answers. I think they should raise up their questions."
Holcombe said that religious studies and campus ministries were the best choices for students searching for an
Oread oracle.
Timothy Miller, chairman of the department of religious studies, said that many college students usually became less devout in practicing religion after they entered the realm of house parties. Western Civ exams and taverns.
"Typically, statistically, college students don't go to church as much," he said. "College very typically is a time of questioning."
While religion might go on some students' back burners, Miller didn't advocate religious studies as the way to stumble onto a tailor-made Messiah.
"Religious studies wouldn't really address that," he said. "Religious studies are comparable to studying English or history."
Kelly Liebengood, Lawrence graduate student, said that his conversion wasn't as much going from zero to Christian as it was realizing his mfa faith.
"I would say everyone's religious," he said. "They all believe in something. A lot of people grow up in a Christian household without grasping it for themselves. But one of the great things about the University is different experiences."
He said that University life, while full of potentially immoral activities, didn't push religion into the background. It is possible to be a good student and a good Christian. Liebengood said, but that it is becoming more of a challenge.
"It's definitely possible, but it's becoming more and more difficult," he said. "There is very much an anti-Christian mentality in education. It's harder to express my viewpoint - everyone's tolerant unless it's Christian."
Matt Judd, Tecumseh junior is an atheist. He said that his non-belief really surfaced five or six years ago as he thought more about the issue.
He said that his rejection of redemption wasn't an all-of-a-sudden kind of thing.
"It wasn't really a turning point, I was just gradually heading in that direction," he said. "There were lots of reasons. There was nothing ever to lead me to believe that there was a God."
As far as scrambling for a perfect prophet, Judd said that for some, religion and student life could fit together like a well-mixed tequila sunrise.
"It's totally dependent on what you want," he said. "It's really easy to be sheltered in early life. Here, there are new experiences."
After highly successful semester, it's time for goodbye
By Bryan Volk
bvolk@kanans.com
Features editor
HillTopics groupies reload for more fun
Time for some shameless self-promotion ... The Spring semester is hereby finished, as far as we at HillTopics are concerned. You see, our real love is not going to class or studying; instead we live to bring you, our loyal readers, the best that campus and community have to offer. Our professors are thrilled.
Before you begin to weep bitter tears of loss, understand one thing: Nobody is going anyplace. Well, that's not entirely true, but I wanted to let you down easy. Let me break it down for you.
Kristie Blasi, one of our fearless managing editors, is leaving. "Who is Kristie?" you are asking yourself. Shame on you, gentle reader! Just kidding.
Blasi: Take her plate first or you'll get "the Look."
Kristie was the behind-the-scenes language (and etiquette) expert who made sure that a minimum of errors made it into your hands two or three days a week. Kristie is graduating. Apparently she never received the memo about the "Kansan for Life" club. She's headed to the Pacific Northwest to work at the Oregonian. More
exciting than that is her plan to drive through six state capitals on her way to the rain-soaked area. It's an obsession of hers. What's important, though, is that she is going to be dearly missed, as she has been a staple at the *Kansan* since 1981. She started out in the mailroom stuffing inserts. That's not true.
Tim Harrington, the world's Greatest Lover and associate features editor, also is
leaving, but he is not going far. In fact, he is remaining an "ass-o-cate" and will be sitting on the other side of Features/Opinion Island. Once Ann Premer took over elder statesman Andy Obermueller's vacated seat, Tim realized that I wasn't the prettiest girl he had ever seen, and because Ann will be returning as the editor of the
Harrington: Mr.
Suave thinks he's
too good for you
Opinion page, Tim jumped ship. I think he also was sick of doing all the work. He promises that he still will write for Hill-Topics, so step away from that window. Slowly, now, no sudden movements. There. Don't you feel better?
Bryan Volk (time for some third-person writing), this semester's editor and driving force behind the page, is not going anywhere! [raucous applause and cheering]
He did get the memo and in fact is a charter member of KFL. Because of his risqué ideas and less-than-orthodox design standards, he has been asked to step down and fill Tim's void. Sort of. Bryan still will not be doing any work. Because he will be taking a massive pay cut (so long yacht, so long limbo driver, so long
Volk: To the dismay of his parents, he never will graduate
penthouse suite), he no longer will feel guilty about delegating ... everything and can concentrate on his studies. That's not true. The studying part I. mean.
Lindsey Henry, this semester's highly successful editor of the *Kansan* will follow in Bryan's footsteps (in title only). After a semester of holding campaise by the ... hand and giving it all the news it needed, she couldn't bring herself to relinquish all her
—of ideas for the fall semester. Because she is smart, organized, knows reporting like Bryan knows leisure and is much better looking than Tim (this
power. We at Hill- Topics couldn't have happier to have her grace our desk with her presence. She plans to hit the ground running and has hundreds — no, thousands
Henry:The saving grace for next semester.
door opens both ways), the remaining Hill-
tonics staff couldn't be more excited.
So that's the lowdown. It'a little more complicated than I let on at first, but I think that was better for you in the long run. So for those of you returning, enjoy your summer knowing that we will be here when you get back. For you who are graduating, we have this to say: "So long, suckers!" Of course we don't mean that. We still love you. Chumps.
1