By Sean Grealy

SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

If you take a walk on the campus of any major college or university in the United States, you will notice some universal buildings that each one offers. There will always be a student center, a library, a wellness center, etc. Hofstra offers amenities that you will see less often, like an arboretum, a bird sanctuary, a serenity garden and an outdoor echoing labyrinth.

However, there is one space that Hofstra glaringly lacks that can be found at nearly any other institution. This is a chapel, or some designated area for interfaith prayer and worship, and it is a necessity for Hofstra to implement immediately.

First, let’s look at what Hofstra has now in terms of interfaith amenities. It’s pretty much limited to the Interfaith Center, which is found at 213 Student Center, and consists of a small common area in the middle of offices for Catholic, Jewish, Protestant and Muslim chaplains. This is usually suitable for small committee meetings for religious clubs but is limited in its capacity for any real prayer. Each small office is incredibly close to the others, separated by doors or thin walls, so privacy is nearly non-existent.

The chaplains offer religious services regularly and consistently and they do an amazing job of utilizing what Hofstra offers them. Ask any Catholic student about Mass on campus, or a Jewish student about Friday night Shabbat services and you will hear about what a great community the chaplains develop. However, these services take place in the Student Center Greenhouse more often than not, which is not a suitable place for services. Worship is constantly interrupted by slamming doors, or by Greek life, step teams and other groups using the Rathskeller.

Obviously, this is not to blame the other organizations using that space, but only to point out that having services with loud crashes, stomps and voices in the background is not conducive to meditation or prayer.

One of the most painful experiences I’ve had at Hofstra was when I was in the Catholic office of the Interfaith Center, and a Muslim student walked in asking if she could go in the corner of the lounge area to pray because there was nowhere else to go. She acted as if she was a burden and seemed embarrassed to have to ask for a place to pray. No student should ever be embarrassed about such a basic, inalienable right.

Hofstra’s administration, not the students, should be embarrassed about this. Hofstra has existed since 1935, and the reality that a worship space has not yet been implemented is appalling.

Hofstra is committed to “Pride and Purpose.” A new worship space would be something to be proud of and would inspire purpose through self-realization. Hofstra’s PRIDE principles boast of Respect for Self and Others, Diversity and Community, and Expression and Free-Exchange. Yet, we disrespect spiritual students by disallowing a space designated for prayer. We hide away our religious diversity as long as there is no permanent worship area. We deny religious expression, and free-exchange is masked by the culture of shame that the University passively promotes.

Therefore, I want to take this opportunity to publicly call on President Rabinowitz, Provost Berliner, Deans Barkwill and Pertuz, Vice President Dougharty and the other administrators to prioritize this matter. If you already have plans, please expedite them.

Hofstra needs a space for all well-intentioned students to use, where God, whatever He is to you, is sacred.

Expanding national recognition and increasing academic appeal are aspects of Hofstra we can all be proud of, but personally, I would be more impressed by the University’s commitment to making sure current students’ basic needs are being met, first and foremost.

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