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Wicca
given religious status at BU
by Ashley Mateo - posted February 17, 2005 - Boston
University - Daily Free Press
After applying and getting denied
twice, the Boston Univeristy Nemeton Wiccan Student Group
was approved by the Religious Life Council as a new religious
organization on campus Wednesday afternoon at Marsh Chapel.
The RLC denied the group, which
applied as a pagan organization the first two times, because
paganism is not formally recognized as a religion. But,
last semester the organization changed its affiliation to
Wicca, which is considered a religion, changing its name to
the Wicca Student Group this year.
Nemeton President Aubrey Hooser
said renaming the group was not an issue.
"The majority of the group
follows Wicca, but the group welcomes anyone who is open-minded,"
the University Professors Program senior said.
As a unrecognized student group,
Nemeton was denied certain privileges extended to religious
groups, according to Nemeton Treasurer Jeffrey Barnett.
"In the beginning of the
year, all of the religious groups have a table in front of
Marsh Chapel," the College of Arts and Sciences senior
said."We
would like to be able to represent our religion for the new
students, as well.We
would also like to be a part of the Interfaith Initiative,
where a number of groups from BU get together to discuss their
religions.Religious
organizations also enjoy several resources the student groups
do not have, such as a regular space to meet, protection from
the school, the use of religious representations and being
listed as a resource for students."
CAS senior Elizabeth Moss stressed
the importance of being listed at the Office of the Chaplain.
"We are a very difficult
community to find on-campus, even with a lot of initiative,"
Moss said."Being
associated with the Office of the Chaplain makes it a lot
easier for interested people to find us."
Nemeton members said they were
thrilled with the RLC's decision.
"I'm very happy about the
results," Barnett said."I'm
very enthusiastic about working with the RLC and their resources
in the future." Continued...
Memorial
service for a Pagan held in chapel
– Brown University,
Rhode Island (no
longer available)
 March,
2003 - When Sandy Greene lost her husband Skott Greene in
the Feb. 20 [2003] West Warwick nightclub fire, she sought
comfort in her faith.But
the many multifaith services that took place in the wake of
the tragedy didn't include Paganism — her chosen faith… Because
of her Asatru beliefs… she and a handful of other friends
and relatives of the victims were yet to be included in any
of the interfaith ceremonies — until the Chaplain's Office
facilitated a Pagan ceremony…About 25 local pagans, heathens
and Wiccans gathered in Manning Chapel to remember those who
died in The Station nightclub fire…
Groups
mark pagan holiday - posted Dec. 8, 2003 (no longer
available)
Winter solstice
event celebrates rebirth of sun
By J.E. Espino - Lawrence University
Post-Crescent staff writer (Wisconsin)
APPLETON - No pun was intended
when a group holding beliefs alternative from the mainstream
stood on common ground to celebrate winter solstice Sunday
afternoon.
Two weeks ahead of the actual
day, Dec. 22, members of the Fox Valley Pagan Unity Council
(Fox PUC) joined the Lawrence University Pagan Organization
to honor earth, its seasons and celebrate the rebirth of the
sun - all so students could get a feel for the celebration
before they go on their winter break.
...It is the first time Fox
PUC and the student organization combined forces in an event
open to the public.With
a showing of some two dozen people, it is too early to tell
whether it will be repeated on campus next year, said Jon
Burke, Fox PUC vice chairman.
Mostly, organizers wanted to
get the word out to people with alternative beliefs that there
is place they can go for fellowship year-round.
"We're a cross-section
of the community," said Burke."We
have jobs
We have families, and we live like most other people live.We
just happen to embrace beliefs that are perhaps different
from the rest of the community. The term pagan is a bit of
a loaded term, and we understand that."
Nick Jacobson hopes he can start
a club at University of Wisconsin-Fox Valley, where he is
a student.
"It's nice to get together
with people of like minds.I
have found that most people here believe that the earth is
very spiritual.I
love (earth). All my life it's sustained me.If
it wasn't for the earth, I wouldn't be here … and it's
beautiful.I
looked out the window, and I saw the Fox River.I
saw a tree with no leaves, completely bare.Across
I saw a tree with red berries - I mean, red berries on trees.
It's beautiful."
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