Religion-themed floors begin 10th year

Most students who move into dorms don’t expect to be visiting Tibetan monasteries with their dorm communities, however for students living in the History, Ethics, Religion and Philosophy floors in Wright Quad, it’s a normal day out.\nAbout 30 students live on HERP floors. The two floors, located in Wright Quad form an open and welcoming community where viewpoints are respected, said floor Residential Assistant Saralyn McKinnon-Crowley.\nHERP has been around since 1996 when members of the Community Council of Wright Quad suggested its formation, said Director of Academic Initiatives and Services for Residential Programs and Services Nancy Lorenz.\n“I remember saying, ‘are you sure you want to put all those four distinct sectors together,’” Lorenz said. “I didn’t think it would last this long and that it would get confusing for those who lived there and that they’d get confused as to what direction to take.”\nHowever, the community has thrived over the past 10 years, Lorenz said, and has been full every year. This year, there are 17 returning sophomores.\nWhile the community has been active since it’s formation, the question arises as to how students will react when placed in a community with such diverse outlooks, especially regarding religious studies, which are, according to Lorenz, emphasized more than the other components.\n“In religious studies we draw an important distinction between the practice of religion and study of religion,” said Kathryn Lofton, a religious studies assistant professor. “How will people decide if they belong (in this community)? Is it because they are ardently religious or want to learn more about other religions?”\nMcKinnon-Crowley said there are only about five people in the community whose majors directly relate to HERP.\n“(Students), don’t feel as if you have to be a religious studies major or anything like that to live here,” McKinnon-Crowley said.\nInstead, the community is a forum for discussion and new ideas. Lofton said tension and painful moments are part of religious discussions. \n“A religious conversation is not unlike a really intense fight with a friend, it has to get worse before it gets better,” Lofton said. “But you try to seek commonality more than you take pleasure in differences.”\nLofton said religious interest, especially by college-aged students, is a growing trend around the nation, including increases in expansion of existing Religious Studies departments, founding of more departments, formation of more institutes focused on religious studies and an increase in the talk of religion in the public sphere.\n“The simple reason is that people feel religion, ironically, is impacting society now more than ever,” Lofton said.\nThe increase in religious studies enrollment and interest is a cross-country event. Lofton offers one explanation for this development.\n“A lot of people believed that in the modern period religion would be removed and we’d be a secular society; 9/11 changed all that,” Lofton said. “9/11 made a lot of Americans realize that we still have a lot of religious beliefs”\nCollege is a time to explore these thoughts and beliefs and either gain new outlooks on the world or solidify current ideas, Lofton said. HERP is a community that allows such discussions about these commonalities and differences to take place in a relatively calm atmosphere.\n“It’s one of the best communities for having a good conversation about religion in a safe environment,” HERP resident, sophomore Amanda Hare said.\nThis sort of environment for thought and debate is why McKinnon-Crowley decided to be an RA for HERP.\n“I’m a religious studies major, which seems thoroughly appropriate, and I really enjoy discussions and debates in a non-heated or contentious setting,” she said.\nApart from discussions, HERP also takes part in a variety of activities, led by both students and the Residential Fellow.\n“We’re very active as a community, constantly in contact with our advisor Father Bob and going out to do things together, like last year we went to the Tibetan monastery here in Bloomington as well as a group of us went to Lenten Mass,” Hare said. “We also do more secular things like go out to eat, and see performances at the theatre like Aida.”\nIn addition, the community has movie nights related to one of the themes followed by discussions and weekly coffees with the Residential Fellow to talk about controversial or thought-provoking issues, according to McKinnon-Crowley. Any other ideas depend on what the residents and the Leadership Council want.\n“(HERP) is different because the people who live here are interested in really discussing and thinking about big issues,” McKinnon-Crowley said. “People usually don’t come to HERP just because they have to live on campus freshman year; they come out of a genuine desire to live in an open and welcoming community where their viewpoint is respected.”