About 50 students and faculty gathered in the Driscoll Ballroom Friday to discuss their experiences with faith and religion on-campus and share concerns about religious inclusion and the importance of religious accommodations at the University of Denver.
The focus of the discussion was how to create an inclusive and welcoming community for students so that they can celebrate and observe their faith while attending classes and participating in campus life.
“Over the past two and a half years several events, such as the sale of hockey season tickets, rush and LLC retreats have all been originally scheduled on Jewish holidays,” said Rachel Pinsker, director of Hillel, the center for Jewish campus life. “Once campus [administrators] realizes that the events are on the holidays they will bend backwards, but if they had known in advance it could have been prevented.”
The event began with introductions by sophomore Joel Portman.
Gregory Robbins, professor in the Department of Religious Studies, discussed how DU seeks to provide optimal learning for student athletes and those with learning disabilities, but the university also needs to be sensitive to the religious accommodations for students.
“Since DU is a private university, it can set its own rules (about religion),” said Joyce Rubin from the Anti-Defamation League. “Legally, there is a blank slate and a lot of choices in policies.”
Neivin Shalabi, a Muslim student, also expressed concerns about DU’s policy on religious observances. She said she struggles to find places to do her five daily prayers and usually ends up in the women’s restroom or the library.
“We need to educate the campus about Islam and its prayers and movements,” said Shalabi.
Shalabi said the school needs a policy that enables students to observe holy days of their religion without being marked absent from class, suggesting that one solution would be to create a school calendar of all religious holy days.
“Putting dates on the calendar empowers students to know that the university is conscious and willing to accommodate,” said Rabbi Yossi Serebryanski.
Others in attendance commented on developing religious inclusiveness through creating a calendar of religious holy days.
“With over 1,600 different religious traditions, American life values freedom of religious expression,” said Robbins.
Provost Gregg Kvistad, who attended the meeting, said creating a religious calendar is too confusing and unrealistic.
“No religious holidays are intentional on the calendar as of now,” said Kvistad.
However, Rubin said, “Students shouldn’t be forced to choose between student life and religious faith.”
