Religious symbols stir campus debate
The Memorial Union Chapel on the campus of Iowa State University doesn’t get a lot of visitors, but lately it’s been getting a lot of talk.
The chapel, tucked away in a corner of the Memorial Union Browsing Library, is “a drop-in, quiet space for reflection,” according to the Student Activities Center Web site.
The recent discussion has revolved around some symbols on display in the chapel, including an 8-foot tall wooden cross and a stained glass window adorned with Christian and Jewish imagery.
Memorial Union architect W.T. Proudfoot strategically placed the chapel below Gold Star Hall to symbolize his belief that religious conviction is at the foundation of patriotism. The space has remained relatively unchanged since it was built in 1956, but some voices on campus say the space is in need of a facelift.
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Jacob Wilson, a sophomore majoring in political science and an off-campus senator for the Government of the Student Body, said the symbols in the chapel show an obvious bias toward Christianity, and with this year’s record-breaking international enrollment, he thinks the space needs to better represent the diverse student body.
“Iowa State talks about its commitment to diversity … yet we have a chapel that doesn’t show respect and support for members of faiths other than Christianity or Judaism,” Wilson said.
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Wilson recently authored a bill for the GSB calling for a recommendation to the Memorial Union Board of Directors to remove all religious symbols for the chapel. He identifies himself as a Christian, and even considered attending Bible college, but he said he still considers the symbols in the chapel unfair to students of other faiths.
http://www.amestrib.com/articles/2009/11/07/ames_tribune/news/doc4af50bd45d463377746532.txt
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