About fifty people celebrated a breadth of religious beliefs Monday morning as part of Northwestern’s New Student Week.
Student and staff representatives of religious groups shared traditions and beliefs in the Interfaith Celebration at the McCormick Auditorium in the Norris University Center.
The gathering was organized by the Council of Religions, the Office of the University Chaplain and campus ministries. Assistant University Chaplain Erica L. Brown said her office hopes to establish the celebration as an annual New Student Week event.
“The purpose was to welcome and offer students the opportunity to learn about a new faith,” Brown said.
The service included readings and musical performances by several campus religious organizations, such as Sheil Catholic Center and Baha’i Campus Club. Members from the groups were available after the celebration to talk with attendees and to answer questions.
Weinberg freshman Jason Gutsten said he attended the meeting because he wants to continue learning through interacting with students of other faiths.
“I think that all spiritual people have the same goals in life,” Gutsten said. He also said he wants to join a religious organization.
Gutsten is not alone in wanting to continue his religious education at NU.
Hillel Cultural Life President Zach Galin said the center recruits about 100 freshman per year. The center also restructured itself to allow more members to have leadership roles.
“There’s been a significant increase within the building in programming, so now about 50 people are in leadership positions,” Galin said. “It’s a high time.”
The Education junior also said events such as Freshman Fest, a pre-orientation overnight that drew more than 60 students this year, get students excited and involved.
Other groups use social activities to greet the incoming class. The Asian American InterVarsity Christian Fellowship hosted a picnic on South Beach to introduce themselves to freshmen, said group adviser Allen Wakabayashi.
“Asian American is a pretty significant population here at NU,” he said. “Just by virtue of that we have a pretty good turnout.”
Freshman interest even has some old clubs coming out of hibernation, such as the Baha’i Campus Club, which reformed after six years of inactivity. The club recently hosted a Hip Hop Devotional at the Baha’i Temple in Wilmette.
“We just started last year,” said club member Mia Townsend, a Weinberg sophomore. “Our main goal is to increase awareness and get people investigating interfaith studies.”
Reach Christina Alexander at
