SMU hosting a group of Tibetan monks exemplifies the receptivestance that the community holds towards other religious groups,including Buddhism.
The multi-colored sand mandala, presently being created in theHughes-Trigg Commons, represents SMU’s continuous growth ofreligious acceptance.
The composition of the mandala, with its uniquely coloredsegments, could easily be a representation of SMU’s balanceof religious backgrounds. Although a well-defined boundaryseparates the different mandala regions, the edges that distinguisheach color segment, still allows room for amalgamation.
Although students at SMU are not required to take religionclasses, attend daily chapel, or adhere to an honor code or professtheir faith, our student body represents varying backgrounds andreligions. SMU continues to grow in its sensitivity towards a morediverse student population.
The monks coming to SMU alone shows how the campus came togetherto learn more about the Tibetan culture. The Chaplain’soffice, Program Council and Student Senate all sponsored the event.The monks are also staying at the Jewish StudentsAssociation’s Hillel House.
The visiting Tibetan Monks are not the only example ofSMU’s religious tolerance. Currently, there are 29 religiousgroups on campus. The 2002 first-year class was 23 percentMethodist, 22 percent Catholic, 16 percent non-denominational and 6percent were of the Jewish, Hindu, Muslim or Buddhist faith.
The religious make-up if the student body is not the onlyattribute of this increasing open-mindedness. In fact, universitypolicy encourages celebration of various religious observances. Inaccordance with University Policy 1.9, students may receive excusedabsences for recognized religious holidays. This list currentlyincludes Christian, Muslim, Hindu and Jewish holidays. There arealways amendments to university policy as more observances may beadded in the future.
The Chaplain’s office supports a welcoming atmosphere,where students of all backgrounds can feel at ease. The office wasinfluential in creating,”The Quiet Place,” anon-denominational prayer room on the third floor of Hughes-Trigg,that is open to all students. On many occasions, Chaplain Finninhas delivered non-denominational sermons and tries to be sensitiveto his listeners’ beliefs.
SMU surpasses other private schools such as Baylor and NotreDame in tolerating their students’ beliefs. Notre Dameteachers will typically lead students in prayer at the beginning ofclass. The Baptist-affiliated Baylor requires students to take sixsemesters of Bible-related courses to graduate.
At SMU introductory religion classes are offered, but only as apossible perspective. Even then students get a broad understandingof various religions.
SMU is not perfect, but regarding religion, it is on a positivepath.
