The University of Vermont's Independent Voice Since 1883

The Vermont Cynic

The University of Vermont's Independent Voice Since 1883

The Vermont Cynic

The University of Vermont's Independent Voice Since 1883

The Vermont Cynic

Taboo: Religion on Campus

In a recent episode of Everybody Loves Raymond, Ray Ramano’s character stood on Sunday morning in the middle of his messy house eating out of the cereal box in his pajamas. His hair looked unkempt and he hadn’t shaved in days. His entire family stood in the doorway looking clean and well-dressed with light shining in from behind them. “Aren’t you coming to church with us, Ray?” asked one of his family members. Ray paused for a second, stuffed some cereal in his mouth and announced, “I don’t want to go.” Is Ray Ramano the spokesperson for the current generation of students attending the University of Vermont? Is there an apathetic aura surrounding any religious involvement? Some may tend to agree that the level of involvement with some religious groups not only at UVM, but in Vermont in general is lacking. Others see UVM students being diligent and involved with their respective religion, even if it is not on the UVM campus. Eli Goldberg, the Jewish Student Life Coordinator sees a lack of involvement at times. The Hillel, which is a sponsored SGA club, holds secular holiday services and offers activities and trips to Montreal for UVM students. While UVM Hillel sees approximately 150 people for the Passover events, other events end up having a poor turnout with five to ten students showing up on a regular basis.

“The regular turnout for events is excessively small,” says Goldberg. “The Vermont Jewish community is comprised with the Jewish stigma that was put on them in New York. Vermont is a place where people can come to be more secular.” UVM’s location, which is in the epicenter of Burlington is home to roughly 100,000 people. This allows UVM students to have a number of places and options to worship that aren’t on the UVM campus which possibly could skew the perception that the religious involvement on campus is lacking.Sherwood Smith, at the Spiritual and Religious Life Council Center sees religion in Vermont and at UVM as a different scene than anywhere else. “Religion plays a much more central cultural role in places like the South which is very Protestant,” suggests Smith.

“It is more concentrated in one area whereas in Vermont there is a larger variety of religion spread not only through Vermont but also New England. However, it is important to distinguish between the difference of being spiritual but not going to church, and being actively involved with your respective religion.” Some UVM students feel that some of the bad press that some religious groups have received recently have discouraged their involvement. One anonymous student claims that if he became involved with a group on campus, he would be treated differently by his friends because of the negative association that may go along with that religion. Clearly, the negative press that has surrounded the Catholic religion with the sexual assault allegations and the condemnation of same sex marriages put a bad taste in people’s mouth when it comes to some religions, especially in a state such as Vermont. These, along with the association of the Muslic religion and terrorist attacks may have caused students to shy away from any potential involvement in a religion. However, the Catholic Center at UVM sees a good student turnout on a regular basis.

According to Kim Allbee, the Pastoral Associate at the Catholic Center says that there are 700 to 800 students at UVM. The Catholic Center holds four masses per week with approximately 250 students attending those masses. They also have an average of 30-50 people who regularly come to the dinners at the Center. The events of Ash Wednesday, which signify the beginning of Lent, saw many students attending mass. “All of our services were standing room only, it was very crowded,” recalls Allbee.

More to Discover
Activate Search
Taboo: Religion on Campus