2008 Woodie Awards
Lack of spirituality at Emerson
Kristen Golden
Issue date: 9/22/05 Section: Opinion
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Coming to Emerson as a freshman this fall was a frightening experience. Not because I was afraid I wouldn't make friends, the classes would be too hard or everyone else would be 10 times better at everything than me, but because I am a Christian coming into a secular school that publications like The Princeton Review highlight for a lack of fellowship within the student body.
Emerson is the perfect environment for those who break the mold. What generally is not considered the norm by most is eagerly welcomed and accepted at Emerson. Things that used to be controversial, such as homosexuality, piercings and rainbow colored hair, fill our classrooms. Let's face it, this is what makes Emerson the unique community that it is. Yet, it is odd that in such an accepting community, where all lifestyles flourish, there is one minority population of students shut out.
Being a Christian at Emerson is an outstanding challenge. Most colleges and universities offer multiple groups, such as InterVarsity and Campus Crusade for Christ, which allow college students to connect with fellow Christians on campus, around the country and internationally.
Yet, the Emerson Spiritual Life Office offers Christian students only one small group- Emerson Good News Fellowship (EGNF). While EGNF is a tight-knit, loving community offering counselors and Bible studies for students, it is not connected to any of the surrounding Boston area schools.
The two largest nationwide Christian on-campus groups are InterVarsity, which consists of 35,000 students and Campus Crusade, which over the past five years has seen over 37,000 students make the decision to become a Christian and follow the example of Christ. Campus Crusade offers multiple mission trips and retreats throughout the year along with Bible studies and on-campus activities.
This gives students the opportunity to better their communities as well as strengthen fellowship on-campus with other students.
Emerson cannot offer InterVarsity or Campus Crusades until they formally invite the groups onto the campus, and so far the college has failed to extend this invitation. By not offering these groups, Emerson has shut off many of its students from some of the largest on-campus Christian groups in the country.
Emerson is the perfect environment for those who break the mold. What generally is not considered the norm by most is eagerly welcomed and accepted at Emerson. Things that used to be controversial, such as homosexuality, piercings and rainbow colored hair, fill our classrooms. Let's face it, this is what makes Emerson the unique community that it is. Yet, it is odd that in such an accepting community, where all lifestyles flourish, there is one minority population of students shut out.
Being a Christian at Emerson is an outstanding challenge. Most colleges and universities offer multiple groups, such as InterVarsity and Campus Crusade for Christ, which allow college students to connect with fellow Christians on campus, around the country and internationally.
Yet, the Emerson Spiritual Life Office offers Christian students only one small group- Emerson Good News Fellowship (EGNF). While EGNF is a tight-knit, loving community offering counselors and Bible studies for students, it is not connected to any of the surrounding Boston area schools.
The two largest nationwide Christian on-campus groups are InterVarsity, which consists of 35,000 students and Campus Crusade, which over the past five years has seen over 37,000 students make the decision to become a Christian and follow the example of Christ. Campus Crusade offers multiple mission trips and retreats throughout the year along with Bible studies and on-campus activities.
This gives students the opportunity to better their communities as well as strengthen fellowship on-campus with other students.
Emerson cannot offer InterVarsity or Campus Crusades until they formally invite the groups onto the campus, and so far the college has failed to extend this invitation. By not offering these groups, Emerson has shut off many of its students from some of the largest on-campus Christian groups in the country.