Dean denies student group campus meeting space
40 students blocked from religious meetings to preserve HCF's presence
Kirsten Adams
Issue date: 2/12/09 Section: News
Every Saturday afternoon, about 40 Hillsdale College students from a multitude of different denominations meet at the Church of the Nazarene for prayer meetings and fellowship.
They belong to Hillsdale College's chapter of University Christian Outreach, a charismatic group that welcomes students from both Protestant and Catholic traditions.
Senior Jordan Kowalkowski, who has been a part of the group since it was established at Hillsdale, referenced a printed article from Pope John Paul II to explain the idea behind UCO prayer meetings.
"Charismatic renewal is essential for Catholicism," the article said.
Initially, the group began meeting last year in a student's off-campus home. Attendance has skyrocketed from around 10 students in the group's early days to about 40 this semester, mainly through word of mouth.
Kowalkowski said the growing group first applied for permission to meet on-campus. When the administration denied that permission, the group secured a meeting space at the Church of the Nazarene.
"The administration wants to wait," Kowalkowski said. "They don't want different groups competing."
Dean of Men Aaron Petersen said the administration wants to keep campus worship groups under the authority of Hillsdale Christian Fellowship, which relies largely on student leadership. UCO, on the other hand, has staff leaders come from its Lansing headquarters to help lead worship and prayer meetings.
"With regards to HCF we're kind of a one-man show," Petersen said. "We don't want to set up two different horses pulling in different directions."
When a Hillsdale administrator traveled to Lansing to meet with UCO staff members at their offices there, they came to the joint consensus that the Hillsdale chapter of UCO would be better off independent from HCF, and thus, off-campus.
"It's prudent for us to control what outside groups we allow on campus," Petersen said. "They can be self-governing off-campus."
Kowalkowski said that UCO is happy to meet at the Church of Nazarene. And, despite the off-campus location, Kowalkowski said that UCO is still positive about its future on campus.
"There is no doubt in my mind this is absolutely what the Lord wants," Kowalkowski said. "The Lord's really with us right now, so I think it'll happen."
Petersen cited the small population on campus and the close-knit student body as reasons for limiting on-campus worship groups. While student groups are welcome to discuss their options with the administration, Petersen said that as far as worship groups are concerned, the conversation is over.
"It doesn't satisfy everybody, and we recognize that," Petersen said. "But that's why we have a Catholic Society."
They belong to Hillsdale College's chapter of University Christian Outreach, a charismatic group that welcomes students from both Protestant and Catholic traditions.
Senior Jordan Kowalkowski, who has been a part of the group since it was established at Hillsdale, referenced a printed article from Pope John Paul II to explain the idea behind UCO prayer meetings.
"Charismatic renewal is essential for Catholicism," the article said.
Initially, the group began meeting last year in a student's off-campus home. Attendance has skyrocketed from around 10 students in the group's early days to about 40 this semester, mainly through word of mouth.
Kowalkowski said the growing group first applied for permission to meet on-campus. When the administration denied that permission, the group secured a meeting space at the Church of the Nazarene.
"The administration wants to wait," Kowalkowski said. "They don't want different groups competing."
Dean of Men Aaron Petersen said the administration wants to keep campus worship groups under the authority of Hillsdale Christian Fellowship, which relies largely on student leadership. UCO, on the other hand, has staff leaders come from its Lansing headquarters to help lead worship and prayer meetings.
"With regards to HCF we're kind of a one-man show," Petersen said. "We don't want to set up two different horses pulling in different directions."
When a Hillsdale administrator traveled to Lansing to meet with UCO staff members at their offices there, they came to the joint consensus that the Hillsdale chapter of UCO would be better off independent from HCF, and thus, off-campus.
"It's prudent for us to control what outside groups we allow on campus," Petersen said. "They can be self-governing off-campus."
Kowalkowski said that UCO is happy to meet at the Church of Nazarene. And, despite the off-campus location, Kowalkowski said that UCO is still positive about its future on campus.
"There is no doubt in my mind this is absolutely what the Lord wants," Kowalkowski said. "The Lord's really with us right now, so I think it'll happen."
Petersen cited the small population on campus and the close-knit student body as reasons for limiting on-campus worship groups. While student groups are welcome to discuss their options with the administration, Petersen said that as far as worship groups are concerned, the conversation is over.
"It doesn't satisfy everybody, and we recognize that," Petersen said. "But that's why we have a Catholic Society."
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Travis
posted 2/12/09 @ 6:09 PM EST
It's ironic how the college praises competition and capitalism in its economics courses, yet they are opposed to competition when it comes to Saga and allowing more than one type of worship group. (Continued…)
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