Campus-wide unity event takes on religious tone

| Senior News Editor

In the wake of the various tragedies which occurred over the summer, Washington University students, administrators and faith leaders led the community in song and speech in the hopes of reaffirming their core values of respect and diversity.

The event—called Reflections: Unity, Social Justice & Peace—featured piano tunes by Provost Holden Thorp, songs from Vice Chancellor Lori White, a welcome address from Chancellor Mark Wrighton and multiple readings and performances by students.

A large crowd listens to a capella, led by soloist RJ Doro, in Graham Chapel. This event’s goal was to collect voices from across the university on issues of social justice and peace.

A large crowd listens to a capella, led by soloist RJ Doro, in Graham Chapel. This event’s goal was to collect voices from across the university on issues of social justice and peace.

Though each presenter shared different perspectives, attendants noted that religion was an overarching theme, and events from the summer were not explicitly addressed.

“Join us as we gather to reflect upon recent events here at home and abroad, our individual and collective roles in our community, and how we can draw strength from our diverse perspectives,” the event description stated in a University-wide email sent Monday afternoon.

This description, though vague, lead some students to believe that the space would be a platform constructed with the goal of discussing some of the more painful themes of this summer, from terrorist attacks to police violence to natural disasters.

Instead, attendants heard passages from Hindu scripture “Bhagavad Gita” and Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel’s “Religion and Race”; a poem by 13th century Persian poet and Islamic scholar Rumi; an a cappella performance and a solo “Man in the Mirror” rendition by a graduate student; remarks by the Rev. Gary Braun and other administrators.

Rev. Braun of the Catholic Student Center focused his talk on the inevitability of uncertainty in every aspect of life, and the importance of embracing fear.

“We cannot live in fear, you and I, because we cannot live in fear,” Braun said to the crowd. “Something inside of me wants to believe that someday I can be assured I will be safe. And that everybody I love will be safe. But I’ve come to see that to expect to be safe myself, or that the people I love will be safe, is a very difficult demand to make on life. There is little in life that is safe and secure for long.”

White said that her thinking behind bringing religious perspectives to the event was to acknowledge, despite the secularity of the University, that many students do find peace and comfort in religion.

“Even at a University that doesn’t have a historically religious tie like so many other universities do, we shouldn’t shy away from the fact that that is an important aspect of the experiences of many,” White said.

Some students, however, weren’t satisfied with the angle the University chose to approach the event.

“I think that approaching such an important topic solely from a religious perspective really limited the event’s potential,” junior attendee Elizabeth Levinson said. “Our University has a responsibility to educate, and I think they passed up an opportunity to do so.”

She thinks administrators need to utilize such platforms to directly address issues instead of skirting around them.

“Honestly just a missed opportunity,” Levinson said. “But the student speakers were really powerful and great.”

Junior attendee Jeffrey Kahn Blackman was less than enthused with the message Rev. Braun delivered.

“His message to me was that I will never be safe and that I have to run towards danger,” Blackman said. “Run into the thick of things and risk yourself because you’re going to die anyway.”

White admitted that the goal of the event might have been unclear, and that more context should have been given before the speakers began. That being said, she believes the event focused on unity as a predecessor for the difficult and more granular conversations regarding justice, race and more that are on the horizon.

“It was a warm, peaceful, reflective opening to what we think may be some challenging conversations on campus—but conversations that we need to be having,” White said.

Leading up to the presidential debate, White and other administrators are planning to host three panels dealing with topics of justice and peace, tentatively scheduled to address protest in politics, democracy and disagreement and the election across the disciplines.

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