A wide array of worships offered to students

Tanith L. Balaban Arizona Daily Wildcat Richard Dunmire, a family studies senior, finds out information about Wildcats for Christ, a campus evangelist group, from Jeff Phillips, while his daughter looks on.

Freshman Jory Akabowol related her less-than-pleasant experience with evangelists who solicited passerby.

"They were following me and kept talking about the Bible. I was annoyed and I had to yell at them to get them to leave," she said.

Graduate student Doris Mihm noticed that such encounters are frequent toward the beginning of the semester. She also said she finds them unpleasant.

"As much as I respect other people's religious beliefs, I just don't like it if they try to impose their opinions on me," she said.

However, she noted that less-aggressive methods of offering information are useful. She pointed to the information tents some groups erect around the UA Mall during the first week of school as an example.

"The tents are a good idea. You can make your own choices," she said.

Wildcats for Christ sponsors one of these tents.

Jeff Phillips, campus evangelist for the group, said, "I think college is the first time a student has an opportunity to make decisions as an adult. They should have the information to be able to make a quality decision."

College is a time for many students to seek out a religion that is right for them, said Director of Student Programs Daniel Maxwell.

He said, "My experience has been that students tend to want to figure out where religion is going to fit into their college life as opposed to what their religious experience was while living with their parents."

Freshman Megan Hardy is such a student. Raised as a Catholic, she is a former president of her religious youth group in Chicago. She is now non-practicing. Hardy said she would like to explore other faiths now that she is in college.

"I think everyone is spiritual and I'm just looking for a way to be spiritual on my own. I'm looking for an outlet to plug into or guidance for myself," she said.

She plans to sort through the plethora of campus religious groups.

For freshman in search of a faith or planning to continue their religious practices in college, campus religious groups and nearby off-campus religious centers are an option. These groups represent several faiths and many have programs and socials to rally University of Arizona students to their group.

Wildcats for Christ is a Christian organization that holds Bible study sessions and actively seeks to recruit students. Their tent, festooned with banners offering drinks and an opportunity to win a free bike, is up on the Mall during the first week of school.

Located near the intersection of Speedway Boulevard and Euclid Avenue, the Islamic Center of Tucson serves the Muslim community, including UA students. The center is also open to those of other faiths and offers tours to interested parties. Tours may be arranged by contacting the center's office at 624-3233.

The center includes a mosque as well as a library of religious and cultural materials. Students are welcome to use the facilities to learn more of the Muslim faith.

"We offer students an oasis of spiritual relaxation and intellectual enrichment. We're open for anybody; anybody can join in," said Hosan Bakry, member of the center's executive board.

The Baha'i Club provides an outlet for students of the Baha'i faith or those interested in learning about the religion. The group believes in the equality of all individuals.

Past-President Martha Yazdani said: "The Baha'i faith offers to the world a message of oneness and equality along with social teachings."

She said the group does not believe in aggressive recruiting.

"The Baha'i do not proselytize because we are all equal and are not here to tell others what to do. Each person chooses their faith for themselves," she said.

The Arizona Student Pagans is another group that is not active in recruiting but invites any interested people to learn more about their belief system.

Member and past-President Jessica Weinberg said: "Paganism is an umbrella term for a religion or spiritual path which holds nature as inherently sacred."

Those sharing that belief may find the group an outlet for discussion.

The UA Hillel Foundation is the campus branch of an international college campus Jewish organization. UA Hillel encompasses all campus Jewish student organizations.

Program Director Jonathan Kaplen said: "The majority of students involved are Jewish but Hillel is open to any UA student who would like to find out more about Hillel, Judaism or student organizations.

Several other campus religious organizations exist and club contacts may be obtained through the Office of Student Programs.

Maxwell advised that exploring religions can prove valuable to a student in defining identity.

"I think it is important that while students are trying to define what their values and morals are as young adults, it is also important to explore if religion or active religious life will be a help," he said.