Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Religious wciuui nt: By Angela Shepherd staff writer Twenty-six religious organizj tions .involve students at th University of South Carolina. Ten of these groups are represent ed by the Carolina Chaplain Association. "[The Association is] a group c individuals sent to campus by thei denomination or organization," Pat Fidler, director of research grant ? A _l :? -L - r\??-.~- - dllU ^lailllillg dl LUC WII1CC L Student Affairs, said. The members of the associatioi are not necessarily universit employees, but they meet weekl and participate in cooperativ efforts as well as activities in thei individual organizations, Fidler said Many religious organizations pro vide centers at which students ma gather to worship, socialize, or stud^ "The center is open so student can come in and study or make din ner," Kathleen Poole at the Catholii student center said. The Catholic student organiza tion offers weekly Bible study group and daily masses as well as monthly social events and annual retreats Approximately 600 students particl nr? n yjt v v/ By Angela Shepherd staff writer The difference between high-pressure religious groups, sometimes called "cults," and other religious organizations is the degree of pressure students feel and the use of guilt to manipulate their actions, Jane Poster, chaplain for the Baptist Student Union, said. High-pressure groups will continue harassing students, while other groups may simply attempt to open 11I1C5 UI CUtlUIIUIllCdLiUl 1 dUU glVC dLU' dents the option of responding later if they do become interested. Once a student joins, the group will continue applying pressure by affecting or changing the student's values, character, arfdidecisions, Mel Miller, associate director, for residence life, said. They may attempt to put students in contact with a related church off camDus. reauest large donations, encourage students to switch majors or move in together and even attempt to estrange members from family and friends outside the group. "Who they date is always a big one [issue]," she said. centers students pate in the various activities, Pool said. t PALM Campus Ministry, in whic e Lutherans and Methodists woi together, also provides a facilii open to students every day, secretai Carol Krebs said. Although the ministry has a coi group of 40, the mailing list includ< [T 120 students. Students do not hav ,j to feel pressured to attend, Krel s said. "[They are] welcome to come fc one event and never show u ^ again," she said, y The group of participants at th y Baptist Student Union varies froi e 25 to 100, and the center is open a r day for commuters and others wh world," she said. "Ihe thing that really got me was that they try to get you to be exactly like them." This student said that while the Bible study was fun and interesting, pressure began when she met in smaller sessions with just two other girls. "They had really gotten me very upset," she said. After attending three small sessions. she called her mother and Das tor to discuss the issue, then decided to quit meeting with the group. High-pressure groups usually target freshmen and international students. They become most active during the beginning of semesters and final [. want to drop in. "It's a good place to hang out an y study," sophomore Stephanie Bae r. said. s Baer said she attends weekl meetings and has been involved i; c the choir group, drama team and mission this past Christmas. At a recent BSU meeting s Missions USA Live, a travelin j group with the Baptist Horn* Missions Board, provided an ener getic performance with singing anc riwrt Ai4 U/i ? vy/ W\j vi One fresman who did not want to be identified said she attended a Bible study last semester, and a girl in a follow-up smaller session told her that she had to leave her boyfriend. "They told me I couldn't kiss him," she said. This student also said the group told her everything she had learned was wrong and Satan was leading her church. "They try to get you to look down on yourself and make you feel like you're the worst person in the I o TOGETHER WE PRAY: Sail: ^ Student Union Thursday night mt :r skits. y Other religious groups meet in the 11 Russell House. a Bernard L. Friedman, advisor tc the Hillel Group, the Jewish student !. organization, said meetings are open g "to all who want to learn, socialize i and be part of the group." The Hillel Group has been active 1 on campus since 1939, and the curference betw "They [highpressure groups] try to get you to look down on yourself and make you feel like you're the~ worst person in the world." exams, when many students are heavily stressed, according to Poster. She said they commonly approach students at the library, eating facili I Holcombe, Trent Smith and horde King '.eting. The group of participants in BSU rent attendance is about 14 pe : function, according to Friedman. The Group includes students fron > Europe, South Africa, Israel and al over the United States. They ar i involved in celebration or Jewisl holidays and have speakers, film and projects of community service. "[Students may] participate as much or as little as they want to,' een pressure ties, or sport fields and attempt to strike up a conversation or invite students to join them in activities. Another freshman, who also wished to remain anonymous, was approached last semester by an individual who called him 20 to 30 times, inviting him to talk about the Bible or go places. "I didn't really mind that, but he was really pushy," he said. Many high-pressure groups contin1 1 1 1 ue narassing memoers wno say tney want to leave by calling or sliding notes under the door. However, students who are heavily involved in such groups rarely call to get outside help. "Students involved didn't see they had a problem. The group does its job pretty well in indoctrinating [them]," Paul Fidler, director of research grants and planning at the Office of Student Affairs, said. "More complaints and concerns come from friends and family than students in the group," he said. Individuals who notice notice sig niticant behavior changes in a roomate and suspect involvement in a high-pressure group may talk to a resident advisor, a member of the mM^um B ;B Kelley Hurrle /Garnet &Black hold hands as they pray at a Baptist varies from 25 to 100 students. x Friedman said. Campus Crusade also meets in the n Russell House. 11 In addition to regular informal e discussion groups and social func\i tions, students in Campus Crusade s participate in conferences and retreats throughout the year in an > "up-beat" environment, Campus ' Director David Patchin said. and choice Chaplains Association, or the Committee on Religious Affairs to get help. A brochure published by the Division of Student Affairs entitled "Who's That Knocking on Your Door?" is available across campus and lists both on and off campus resources and warning signs of highpressure groups. Such warning signs include groups which refuse to answer all of a student's questions about its activities, tells them that doubts are signs of weak faith, pressure heavily for donations, or insist on students spending time with them to the exclusion of other interests. "Most residence halls sponsor proyiams dealing with- high-pressure groups or assertion training," Miller said. She suggests students first explore connections with organizations recognized by the university. "The best thing [is] to try to build a student's own skill in investigating nrkof i nottinilor rtrr\iin ic w i ici i_ a paiiivutai giuup 10 uuvul, jiiv said. In recent years, representatives of offices which commonly deal with continued on page 18