Interfaith Outreach Aims to with others.

Increase Campus Inclusion

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.