The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, April 19, 2000, Page A11, Image 11
EtCetera
USC accommodates religious diversity
by Mackenzie Clements
Staff Writer
Herb Silverman, a professor at the College of
Charleston, is an atheist.
> Because of that, when he tried to become a notary public
for South Carolina, his application was denied.
In 1996, Silverman, with the help of the American Civ
il Liberties Union, took his case to the state Supreme Court,
hoping to win rights for atheists in South Carolina, a “Bible
Belt” state.
According to the S.C. Constitution, “No person who
denies the existence of the Supreme Being shall hold any of
fice under this Constitution.” Silverman won his case, and it’s
now illegal in every state to deny public office to atheists.
But the South still has a reputation. It’s known for grits,
for “yes, ma’am” and “no, ma’am,” and for hot summers. It’s
also known for being deeply, fundamentally Christian - some
thing that can be intimidating for non-Christians and Chris
tians alike.
Nursing sophomore Laquisha Stokes thinks Christianity is
so important in the South because tradition and family are
• equally important. “The South is majority Christian, and we’re
all about traditions and beliefs,” Stokes said. “I was raised that
way. It’s all about how you were raised and what you’ve been
exposed to.” Stokes’ parents raised her in the Baptist faith. “I’ll
incorporate those religious beliefs into my children,” she said.
“It’s an ongoing process.”
Stokes said that if her parents had been of another faith,
she probably would be, too.
On campus, there area variety of religious, organizations
for Christians and non-Christians.
Hillel is a group whose purpose is “to provide guidance
and oiganization for religious, cultural, educational, social wel
fare and interfaith activities for Jewish students at the uni
versity.” The Muslim Students Association seeks “to provide
academic support and services to Muslim students and to pro
mote social interaction between students.”
Other groups on campus include the Newman Club, the
Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the Latter-Day Student
Association and Campus Crusade for Christ.
The Newman Club is a group for Catholic students, al
though students of other faiths, such as Baptist or Episco
palian, have been known to attend meetings.
“[Being accepted as Catholic] used to be very, very diffi
cult because we were such a minority, but I think there’s more
of an openness now,” said Sister Julienne Guy of the St. Thomas
More Student Center.
Guy thinks it’s particularly hard for people who convert
to Catholocism after being raised in the South. “Some [con
verts] were saying what a hard time they were having with
their parents accepting that they were coming into the Church,”
Guy said. “One person’s roommate asked, ‘How’d that hap
pen?”’
Overall, Guy agrees that USC promotes religious diversi
ty, especially because the student body is composed of so many
different religious persuasions.
Groups such as the Newman Club allow students to grow
in their own faith while being tolerant of other religions.
Fiction
from page 10
“Just leave her alone for right
now,” Laura said, walking back
into the house. “Let Carrie have
her fun with Ryan.”
“Fine, I’ll leave her alone,” he
said.
But not with Ryan, he thought.
James had known Ryan since
he was in middle school, before
Ryan’s family situation and drug
scathed lifestyle had gotten the
better of him. Not that they
were best friends. Ryan and his
hippie-adoring crowd had always
I ~
stayed way too far out in left field
to care anything about James and
his more popular buddies.
In ninth grade/though, Ryan
did something to leave; a perma
nent impression on James’ life,
stealing James’ first girlfriend,
Miranda, right out from his fin
gers. It had been blatant, and out
right, like a classic country song.
And because the two boys were
from opposite sides of the cultural
spectrum, James would neveV fQr
give Ryan. He had never even con
fronted his delinquent counter
part, considering him too far
beneath his level to bother with.
But the anger had stayed with
James. Deep inside, maybe, but
still a part of him.
And now... the pain! “Jesus,”
he muttered to himself, stumbling
back down the steps of the house.
Though not a lightweight, the
effect of alcohol and jealousy was
doing strange things to James’
state of mind.
He knew what he had to do,
what the night’s circumstances
had forced him to resort to.
He tore his jacket off the rack
and headed back outside, to his
car.
To be continued...
*
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\ Jlhnft °^OAf4Ct! \
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f ,26 2000 *6 P^'12 \
\ Wednesday-^r^aUP.E.Ce«tet
T • 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament • r
r • Triples Sand Volleyball Tournament • 4
i • Intramural Floor Hockey Finals • ]
1 • Stress-free Carnival Games • Caricature Artist • F
T • "Bone Up on Calcium" Milk Mustache Contest • C
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f • Weight Room Open All Night • Spin Art • f
l • FOOD • DOOR PRIZES - ALL FREE! • 1
f I ALCOHOL I 0 l
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< -' programs] c^rotiM\_ ?
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