Student Affairs
Whenever I have a chance to talk about religion with somebody else, I always introduce myself as a kid from a multi-religion family. Interestingly, it might sound weird, but my parents have different religious backgrounds even after marriage. My mother was Buddhist from early childhood due to the strong influence of her grandparents, who regularly …
I mostly read for pleasure in the twilight of my day, in a liminal space between wakefulness and sleep. Often, I create a sense of peace for myself during this time, so I value stories which are captivating but not gripping. Outlander is not that kind of story. One night, I could tell that I …
Traditionally, queer and religious identities are seen as mutually exclusive – one cannot exist alongside the other as their values are in contradiction. As a Jewish trans man, I struggled to feel whole and authentic in both of these identities. There are two valued principles in Judaism that have allowed me to validate and uphold …
On June 24th, 2022 the Supreme Court shockingly overturned Roe V. Wade, a legal case that had been around for almost 50 years. This overturn not only immediately took away a significant right from women, negatively affecting thousands of women seeking abortion during that time, but also (deservingly so) gave the Christian community even more …
This Sunday, inshAllah, I’ll be boarding a plane on its way to Tel Aviv. It’ll be the first time since my birth that I will be overseas, and it just so happens that I’m visiting Israel and Palestine—arguably the most politically complex region within the middle east. Hillel on Campus is sponsoring a Student Leadership …
Ever wonder what it feels like to be a sous chef, a waiter and a food deliverer at the same time? That’s what it felt like 45 minutes before iftar as I ran between houses delivering food to one neighbor, grabbing extra tomatoes from another and waiting for another neighbor to plate two dishes for …
I have spent a lot of time and energy being angry. Angry at my youth pastor for manifesting self-hate in his young audience. Angry at my church for allowing this harmful rhetoric to fester throughout the congregation. Angry at the bible for leaving so many ambiguities. And honestly, angry at God. I know I am …
Simon Peter was crucified, Catherine of Alexandria was beheaded, Saint Lawrence was grilled alive and Pedro Poveda was executed by firing squad. The long history of Christianity has generated a wealth of martyrs, many of whom have been canonized as saints by the Roman Catholic Church. According to tradition, saints are those holy few who, …
“So, what are you?” This is one of the most frequent questions you will get asked as a Jew —by other Jews. What the question asks is which denomination of Judaism you fall under. For those unfamiliar, there are 3 main sects of Judaism in the United States: Reform, Conservative and Orthodox (there are more, …
The days are beginning to lengthen, the birds are singing louder in the mornings, the daily average temperatures are more likely to be above freezing, and there are hundreds of students worried about impending midterms. As much as I would love to identify as a bird excited for spring, the reality is that I am …