Damon Pierson Jr., a senior music major, said he had drifted from Christianity after a negative church experience in his youth. He reconnected with his faith after joining Gospel Choir, an introductory-level performance class at Columbia College.
In the class, he met fellow student Jayla Treasure, currently a senior music major, who invited him to “Glory Night,” a weekly Christian celebration hosted by Columbia XA, a Christian organization on campus.
The college currently offers three faith-based and one spiritual-based organization on campus; Columbia’s Hillel for Jewish students, Columbia XA, Columbia Cru for Christian students and Call of the Cauldron for spiritual students. The Muslim Student Association is currently inactive after its leadership graduated last year.
Columbia offered three religion-related courses this semester out of 10 that have been offered in recent years. “Religion and Gender,” “Religion and Gender: Honors” and “Religion in U.S. Law and Politics.”
However, Stephanie Frank, an associate professor of instruction in the School of Communication and Culture who teaches religion classes, told the Chronicle that she will be laid off at the end of the semester. The college eliminated 23 full-time faculty positions in January, citing a historic restructuring aimed at reducing the $17 million deficit and boosting enrollment, as the Chronicle previously reported.
“The college has claimed that DEI is an orienting value but never acknowledged religious diversity in anything other than a phrase in an official statement,” Frank said in an email. “They have now laid me off, after I built at their request, over the last 13 years, a cross-cultural religious studies curriculum.”
Ames Hawkins, interim director of the School of Communication and Culture, said the school is reviewing the new core curriculum and is committed to continue offering religious classes.
Columbia’s faith organizations extend beyond campus. Columbia XA is part of Chi Alpha groups located at colleges throughout Chicago, including Northwestern University and the University of Illinois Chicago. Columbia Hillel is part of Metro Chicago Hillel, which serves multiple campuses and hosts events such as Shabbat dinners, movie nights and holiday celebrations.
Roughly 15 students from Columbia attend these events on average.
“Going to Shabbat dinners is really nice with Hillel and friends. All the events are really awesome,” said Ian Toppall, a sophomore comedy writing and performance major and Hillel treasurer.
Jonah Hicks, a senior arts management major and vice president of Columbia Hillel, said the group has helped him form deep relationships. “I’ve made lasting connections with staff and Rabbis who’ve given me so much guidance,” he said.
Hicks said that connections are important because he has had difficulty over whether or not to express his faith.
“For Jews there’s always going to be difficulty expressing yourself in a non-Jewish world,” Hicks said. “I think every Jew wonders when walking into a classroom, can I have my Magen David or Chai necklace out? Can I have Hebrew stickers on my computer? Can I wear a Hillel sweatshirt? This is a very real thing that Jewish students across the country have to face every day. I know personally I wonder that before going to every class, or even being put in groups for projects, will I be treated the same way if I’m visibly Jewish.”
Columbia Cru hosts “Art and Faith: HOMEBASE” every Wednesday evening on the third floor of the Student Center, where students come together to discuss their beliefs.
Call of the Cauldron meets weekly on Fridays and covers topics such as herbalism, full moon celebrations, and spell crafting. The group’s president, junior entrepreneurship major Arwen Miller, said she found her spiritual path through learning about paganism and witchcraft practices.
“We make it clear to our members that Paganism, as a religion, and witchcraft as a practice, are two separate things that hypothetically overlap,” Miller said. “Anyone of any religion or gender can be a witch, and anyone of any gender.”
Columbia XA hosts Bible studies Tuesday through Thursday and weekly “Glory Night” services on Fridays at the 600 S. Michigan Ave. building. These gatherings include music, food and worship in a mass-style setting open to all students.
Alexis Delgado, a junior music major, attends weekly Bible studies with Pierson Jr. He said one of the most impactful moments for him was during a Monday morning prayer focused on grace.
“That was the first time in a while where I felt God’s presence,” Delgado said. “I just feel like that’s very powerful.”
For sophomore music business major Ziel Chonillo, his faith was reignited after seeing members of Columbia XA at 754 S. Wabash Ave. during his first year at Columbia.
“Everybody here is so supportive and they try to help you out with anything,” Chonillo said.
Justin Morris, the group’s campus pastor, said the organization aims to foster a space where questions are welcome.
“We don’t have the answer to every question,” Morris said. “But we know that in all God’s ways, He is good, and He doesn’t change.”
Copy edited by Patience Hurston
This story was corrected.
Resumen en Español:
Hay cuatro organizaciones enfocadas en fé y una en espiritualidad.
Columbia ha ofrecido tres clases de religión, pero la profesora Stephanie Frank, quien instruye esas clases, va ser despedida al final de este semestre.
Columbia XA, Columbia Cru, Columbia Hillel son tres grupos Cristianos. Muslim Student Association es un grupo de religión Islámica, pero está inactivo porque sus miembros de liderazgo se graduaron el año pasado. Call of the Cauldron se enfoca en prácticas de Paganismo y brujería.
Los estudiantes han dicho que conectaron o fortalecieron su fé después de ser miembros de los grupos.
Resumen Por Uriel Reyes
Resumen editado por Doreen Abril Albuerne Rodriguez
