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SIU to host first-ever Faith Week

SIUC's first Faith Week will take place today, promoting the diversity of faiths on campus and creating a safe forum for open discussions.

Twenty-eight faith-based Registered Student Organizations will work together with community organizations to put together on-campus and off-campus events throughout the week.

Faith Week's facilitator Roger Lipe said this week's purpose is to bring awareness and understanding to the SIUC community. Lipe said he would like students to feel comfortable enough to talk about religion freely and openly in their learning environment.

"You can talk about anything on campus except faith," Lipe said. "It's been almost a sanitized kind of environment."

A few groups that will be participating are the University Campus Ministries, American Baptist Campus Ministries and the Hillel Foundation at SIUC.

Lipe said the faith based RSOs wanted an open forum on religion, but the idea was put aside in the name of the University being public rather than pluralistic.

An RSO fair will be held today in the Student Center International Lounge. Students will be able to ask questions and read information about the various faiths practiced on campus.

"They can get a thumb-nail sketch of what each faith is about," Lipe said.

On Tuesday, an Issues Forum will take place from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Student Center Ballroom D. Different faith-based RSO representatives will make up a panel, who will answer six predetermined questions directed toward their respective faiths.

"Rather than create a debate format, which I don't want, we're going to take a more direct approach," Lipe said. "We're asking them to answer directly from their own faith and traditions as opposed to saying it in contrast to anyone else who happens to be there."

Some other events for the week include film screenings, dinners, discussions and an ice cream social.

Lipe said the biggest challenge he faced with the many RSOs working together was keeping discussions open enough not to exclude any faith. Lipe said he tried to be as altruistic as possible.

Lipe has strong convictions, and he says it was sometimes a struggle to remain neutral with multiple groups.

"What is hardest for me is to try to wrap my arms around a thing that is as broadly based as this is and to make sure everybody is treated fairly." he said. "The point is not to promote any particular faith, but to promote all of them."

Lipe encourages people to come to some of the events and take this opportunity to expand their knowledge.

"An event like this is aimed at opening the door, welcoming people to come, hearing what's the big idea and then you can make up your own mind rather than just be driven by someone else's views," he said.

For more information contact Roger Lipe at 618/559-2735. All evens are open to the public.

 

 

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