THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY, AUGUST 14, 2006
ONTHEHILL
3C
RELIGION
Religious groups unite
Groups come together to provide services for students
BY DANI HURST
What unites us is stronger than our differences, said Michael Bretches, Hutchinson senior and president of the University Christian Fellowship, a religious organization on campus. He said he thought it was great when religious organizations worked with each other to bring students together.
Religious organizations on and around campus are making a conscious effort to plan events together that cater to more than one audience. They will still have programs aimed at their constituency, but involving different religious groups has recently become a higher priority.
Bretches said that when more groups are involved in a program or project, more people attend or show
up to help out.
"It helps you build your own faith
uite a bit," Bretches said.
KU Religious Advisors is a group on campus comprised of religious professionals from all around the city who educate students, faculty and staff about the specifics of the religion they represent.
Conversations between religious groups is important because it broadens students' perspectives and helps them to overlook stereotypes, Sean Heston, president of KURA and campus director for the University Church of the Nazarene, said. There are a lot of images in the media that
portray certain groups in a negative light, he said, and this type of communication and education will hopefully give people a different perspective when meeting new people from diverse backgrounds.
Liz Cohen, Lewood senior and student president of KU Hillel, said she thought the interfaith interaction was great because it gave students both a lesson in diversity as well as their own religion.
"It's important for people to learn about other religions," Cohen said, "because it helps you understand your own religion."
KU Hillel is a University Jewish organization located at 940 Mississippi St.
The Rev. Thad Holcombe, campus minister for the Ecumenical Christian Ministries, 1204 Oread Ave.,
agreed that interaction between the different religions and cultures would harbor better understanding, which
was important in helping students prepare for the world outside the University.
The real world doesn't consist of just one type of person, Jay Lewis, KURA secretary and executive director of KU Hilnel, said. It's al-
the same goal," Lewis said. "I think we're modeling for students what interfaith relationships are like."
"It's important for people to learn about other religions because it helps you understand your own religion."
ways better when "we can find stuff that unites us instead of divides us."
He said that might sound comy, but it was true nonetheless.
LIZ COHEN KU Hillel president
"So many of us are working toward
An example of a program that is co-sponsored by different religious groups is "Human Sexuality in Everyday Life," a non-credit 10-week seminar led by Professor Ementius Dennis Dailey at the ECM. The seminar includes discussions about sexual development and how current behavior reflects that development, and is open to both students and non-students.
According to the ECM Web site,
the sponsors of this seminar include the ECML Lutheran Campus Ministry, KU Hillel, First Presbyterian College Ministry and United Methodist Campus Ministry.
"We all have the gift of sexuality," said the Rev. Holcombe. "It's there to be explored. We want to ask the question 'What does it mean to be a man or woman in this society?"
The Rev. Holcombe said that everyone, regardless of religious affiliation, deserves a chance to understand their sexual nature. He said this is why all the religious group sponsor the class together.
Kansan staff writer Dani Hurst can be reached at dhurstkansan.com
STUDENT LIFE
—Edited by Adrienne Bommarito
New school year brings new challenges for students
BY ADRIENNE BOMMARITO
The beginning of a new school year means new classifications. The juniors are now seniors, preparing to graduate. The sophomores are now juniors trying to buckle down and graduate in a year. The freshmen are now sophomores trying to choose a major. And the incoming freshmen are starting an entirely new aspect of their lives.
With all these changes come transitions, such as taking harder classes
and making challenging choices.
Moving out of your parents' house and leaving your hometown and high school friends is a hard transition, as is starting a new school where the choices you make greatly affect your life and future. However, there are ways to make the transition into freshman year easier, and things to focus on to have a successful college career.
Tricia Shaw, Olivet, Mich., freshman, said she planned on becoming
involved with activities outside of school to help her through college. Shaw plans on graduating in the five-year Architecture program and is adamant about making sure she graduates at the end of five years.
"If I get involved more in stuff," she said, "I can find people who can help."
Another incoming freshman said graduating in four years was not on her top priority list. Betsy Beymer, Lakin, pre-nursing student, said she
wants to study abroad, so she had let go of the idea of a four-year graduation date.
Beymer, along with Shaw, attended KU's Freshman Summer Institute, a four-week program designed to give incoming freshman an early start in college to help familiarize them with the University.
Both girls said the institute made their freshman jitters go away because they became more comfortable with the campus
and met friends through the program.
"Through FSI I met a lot of connections to get into the nursing program," Beymer said. "Which gave me a head start."
Sophomore year is the time to start choosing a major. A good way to decide on an area of study is by taking classes in an array of schools to familiarize yourself with what the University has to offer.
Eric Olivas, Parsons sophomore, has been doing just that.
Olivas hasn't completely decided on a major, but is looking at accounting. He said if he decided to continue studying accounting, he would apply to the School of Business soon. To ensure he was ready for the application process, he said he had been getting all his
SEE TRANSITIONS ON PAGE 4C
THIS WEEK ON CAMPUS
Freshmen Elections are Fast Apporaching!
ATTENTION NEW KU FRESHMEN
August 14,2006
Every fall, freshman elect 5 of their peers to represent them in Student Senate, and this year's election is just around the corner! If you think you might be interested you need to stop by the Senate office on the fourth floor of the Kansas Union in the Student Involvement and Leadership Center or go to http://studentsenate.ku.edu to pick up an application. Applications to get on the ballot are due August 25th (next Friday!) and the election will be the 5th and 6th of September. Student Senate is eager to get new people with new ideas, so don't hesitate to run for a freshman seat!
funded by:
SENATE
PAID FOR BY KU
What does Student Senate do here at KU?
KU on Wheels
KU on Wheels is the student-run bus system that provides transportation for students around the KU campus and Lawrence community, unique nationwide for the fact that the program is almost entirely ran by students; routes are chosen by the student Transportation Board, and additional bus rental and fuel purchases are made by the student board, not the University.
SafeRide
SafeRide is a Student Senate sponsored late night taxi service that provides students with safe, free rides home.
Student Legislative Awareness Board
- Are you interested in politics?
- Do you want to get involved make your voice heave.
- Would you like the opportunity to a positive change for the students, university, faculty,and staff?
nswer!
Working with the state legislature is the most normal role that anew performs. Over the past few years it has become a more proactive approach to advocating on behalf of students, even writing legislation. Our new focus is a more collaborative approach with students, alumni, and parents to further build upon our relationships that have been established. We will make frequent trips to the capital and attend Board of Regents meetings to ensure that students' voices are articulated to lawmakers.
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