(Graphic by Helena Bologna)
Bhakti Yoga Club
Vice President: Udoka Omenukor
Members: Seven to ten
Yoga Meeting: Thursday, 7:30 p.m. in Hughes-Trigg Atriums A-B
Religion: Hinduism
Religious text: Bhagavad Gita
Sabbath: None
Afterlife Belief: Reincarnation
The Bhakti Yoga Club meets once a week for yoga, discussion and a vegetarian dinner. Vice President Udoka Omenukor said the free vegetarian food attracts students, but the meditation and discussion keep them coming back.
Kalachandji’s, a local vegetarian restaurant and Krishna temple, supplies the vegetarian dinner. The Krishnas who prepare the food are called Devotees, or Gopi’s, which translates to “milk-maid.” Kevin O’Toole, a Bhakti Yoga Club member, said this name is derived from a story about Krishna.
In the story, Krishna played his flute by the river, and 16,000 milk-maids flocked to him. Thus, he divided himself 16,000 ways and had a personal relationship with each of them. O’Toole said this story demonstrates how deep a person’s level of personalization with Krishna can be.
He said it is similar to Christianity, but “they probably wouldn’t say they have sex with God as a Christian.”
Destino Movement
President: Not at present
Members: Undetermined
Meeting: Monday 1:30-2 p.m. in the SAMSA office
Religion: Christian
Religious Leader: Pastor
Place of Worship: Church
Religious Text: Bible
Sabbath: Sunday
Afterlife Belief: Heaven or Hell
Destino Movement is a national organization for Latinos. SMU’s chapter was created by a former student a few years ago.
As a national organization, Destino Movement has fall retreats, winter conferences and international missionary opportunities. Melissa Silva, spiritual advisor for Destino Movement, said a group outside of SMU spent this past summer doing missionary work in Africa.
“That’s something we desire [for SMU students],” Silva said, “We don’t want it to be just Tuesdays 11 a.m. to noon. We want it to be… a Christ-centered lifestyle.”
“I feel like the Lord has great plans for SMU, and we’re excited to be on campus talking to students, hearing their stories and getting to know them,” Silva said.
Muslim Student
Association
President: Samaiya Mushtaq
Members: 50-60 active, 150 total
Activities: Weekly Friday prayer in Porticos BCD in Hughes-Trigg
Religion: Islam
Religious Leader: Imam
Place of Worship: Mosque, or Masjid in Arabic
Religious Text: Quran
Sabbath: Friday
Afterlife Belief: Heaven and Hell
Followers of Islam believe in the revelations of prophets, including Muhammad, Abraham and Jesus. Muslims do not believe that God has taken human form. The religious text is the Quran, which was divinely revealed to the prophet Muhammad.
President Samaiya Mushtaq said the core belief is centered around a five-pillar system. The Five Pillars of Islam are belief in God, worship five times daily, fasting during Ramadan, almsgiving and a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in a lifetime.
“It really provides a haven for students who are of Islamic faith,” Mushtaq said of the Muslim Student Association. “To really meet other people and know that they’re not alone where they’re a minority.”
Thursday, Sept. 9 marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting. Friday, Sept. 10 is the Eid Al-Fitr, the celebration of the end of Ramadan.
Sikh Student
Association
President: Komal Suri
Members: Three
Religion: Sikhism
Religious Leader: Bha Sahib
Place of Worship: Gurdwara
Religious Texts: Holy Granth or Guru Granth Sahib
Sabbath: Sunday
Afterlife Belief: Reincarnation
Sikhism is a relatively new religion. Guru Nanak Dev Ji founded Sikhism in 1497 after he walked into the Sirsa River, disappeared for three days and returned with a calling from God.
It is a monotheistic religion, and its main philosophy is that salvation is the purpose of human life. Salvation can be attained by doing Nam Japna, remembering God’s name, Krit Karni, living an honest life, and Wand Chhakna, sharing with others.
President Komal Suri said Sikhs believe all gods are the same, whether it is God or Allah or another name. This means that a person does not have to believe the Sikh philosophy in order to reach salvation.
“Sikhs don’t discriminate against any religion, creed, age, gender or sexual orientation. All are considered God’s children and are all the same,” Suri said.
SMU Hillel
Co-President: Nathan Mitzner and Sam Aronowitz
Members: 300-350
Activities: Friday services
Religion: Judaism
Religious Leader: Rabbi
Place of Worship: Synagogue
Religious Texts: Torah
Sabbath: Friday sunset to Saturday sunset
Co-President Nathan Mitzner said SMU Hillel is important because it provides a space and place for Jewish students to be themselves, so they do not lose their heritage.
“We’re here to provide them with that opportunity — to express their Judaism at Southern Methodist University,” he said.
Mitzner said SMU Hillel acts like substitute Jewish parents. When the high holidays come up, they have an ‘apples and honey’ event where traditional food is served for Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year which ends today, Sept. 10.
There were no Rosh Hashanah events on campus, so SMU Hillel provided approximately 25 tickets, at about $250 each, to students who will observe the holiday in Dallas.
Mitzner said he feels that SMU Hillel is important to SMU because it helps promote diversity and could lead to a higher ranking.
“I think you’re going to see that SMU growing and developing into a top-tier university is going to coincide with more Jewish students coming here,” Mitzner said, “I don’t think that’s going to be a coincidence.”
He compared SMU today to Vanderbilt University and attributes the rise in prestige of Vanderbilt to the increase in Jewish students.
For more information about SMU Hillel or any of the other organizations mentioned, visit smu.edu/chaplain/.
