The Interfaith Engagement Initiative at Utah Valley University aims to increase religious inclusion and understanding on campus. It includes the formation of the Interfaith Student Council consisting of members from various faith organizations. The initiative also supports the UVU Reflection Center as an interfaith space for prayer, worship, and discussion, academic programming like lectures and participation in the Parliament of the World's Religions, and community partnerships with local religious groups. The overall goal is to cultivate positive interfaith discussions and understanding among UVU's 33,000 religiously diverse students.
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interfaith outreach aims to increase campus inclusion
The Interfaith Engagement Initiative at Utah Valley University aims to increase religious inclusion and understanding on campus. It includes the formation of the Interfaith Student Council consisting of members from various faith organizations. The initiative also supports the UVU Reflection Center as an interfaith space for prayer, worship, and discussion, academic programming like lectures and participation in the Parliament of the World's Religions, and community partnerships with local religious groups. The overall goal is to cultivate positive interfaith discussions and understanding among UVU's 33,000 religiously diverse students.
The Interfaith Engagement Initiative at Utah Valley University aims to increase religious inclusion and understanding on campus. It includes the formation of the Interfaith Student Council consisting of members from various faith organizations. The initiative also supports the UVU Reflection Center as an interfaith space for prayer, worship, and discussion, academic programming like lectures and participation in the Parliament of the World's Religions, and community partnerships with local religious groups. The overall goal is to cultivate positive interfaith discussions and understanding among UVU's 33,000 religiously diverse students.
The Interfaith Student Council By AARON MURDOCK As part of the initiative, the With more than 33,000 Interfaith Student Council was religiously diverse students now formed in 2014. It consists of attending UVU, the formation of members of the various faith the Interfaith Engagement clubs and organizations on Initiative demonstrates the campus, such as the Hindu Club, universitys dedication to the Muslim Student Association, inclusive learning. The initiative the Atheist Club, and the Latteris headed by students and seeks day Saint Student Association, to to cultivate positive interfaith name a few. The council traveled discussions on campus. to New York City in June to be The initiative, introduced in immersed in a place that has 2014, includes four components: some of the greatest religious the UVU Reflection Center, the diversity in the country. Birch Interfaith Student Council, said the reason was so the academic programming and students would gain a full flavor events, and community of religious diversity in that partnerships. context so they can bring those ideas back here and implement The Reflection Center them on campus. The council has been influential The Reflection Center, located in bringing interfaith subjects to on the first floor of the Student students attentions. Their efforts Life and Wellness Center, is a brought Tito Momen, author of place for students to meditate, My Name Used to be pray, and worship. The center is Muhammad, to speak to approximately 2,000 square feet. students. This was part of a new Located within is a room for series of monthly lectures on convening to discuss interfaith campus called the Faith Forum. topics, used for the monthly Faith Forum. Academic Programming It is symbolic and powerful, said Dr. Brian Birch, Director of With the help of Birch and as the Ethics Center, because its part of the initiatives efforts, 55 the universitys statement that we students from UVU were able to take this seriously and we want attend the Parliament of the students to feel welcome, even Worlds Religions in Salt Lake though we are a state university. City in October. This parliament, The Reflection Center is divided the largest and oldest interfaith into three areas: a Quiet gathering in the world, has a Meditation Room, a Prayer mission to cultivate harmony Room, and a meeting room. It is among the world's religious and a place where students can be spiritual communities. Their religious on campus, as well as vision is a peaceful, just and engage themselves academically sustainable world.
Birch was heavily involved in
preparing the parliament. He was able to organize 200 student volunteers from Utah for the event. According to Birch, the students volunteered for 20 hours each in exchange for free registration, VIP access to events, and special sessions designed for students. The parliament took place over four days, was attended by people from over 80 countries, and hosted 600 sessions on various interfaith subjects. Some of these were aimed specifically at students. Aliza Allred, a member of the council, said one of her favorite sessions was the Womens Plenary, a session of women giving prayers. The closing plenary of the parliament included prayers and musical demonstrations by groups representing faiths from all over the world. Prayers, choirs, and dances were exhibited by Sikh's, Whirling Dervishes, Catholics, Hindus, and many others. The Orem Institute Singers, from the LDS Institute of Religion located just northeast of campus, consists of many UVU students and represented the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the plenary. Community Partnerships Partnerships with various community groups have been developed through the initiative. Included are the Interfaith Youth Core, the Orem LDS Institute of Religion, the Foundation for Religiuos Diplomacy, and Utah Valley Interfaith. The purpose is to engage the
students and faculty of UVU
with the community, be what faith tradition they may. Allred mentioned an event when an evangelical group came to the LDS institute to discuss the smiliarities and differences of Mormonism and evangelicalism. Because of these experiences Ive gained a different perspective of what religion really does, she said. It really is here to bring people together more than just tear people apart.