Religious morning during the AID in The Spot. Photo Herman Stöver There was singing, clapping and prayer. The Sunday service on campus had all the makings of a ‘regular’ church service, albeit in The Spot rather than an actual church. Welcome to the third day of the student introduction week in Wageningen. ‘I am not looking to drink and party.’
Student cafe The Spot is jam-packed during the English-spoken inter-faith service, organised by, among others, Spectrum, formerly known as the student parish, and several Christian student clubs and churches. There is spirited singing and clapping while many sway with the music, and some raise their hands.
Mike Vellekoop (17) from Veenendaal is unfazed by the fact that the service is held in a secular university’s building. ‘I attended a service in a tent in France, so I have seen weirder accommodations’, he says.
The new student of Molecular Sciences visits the information stands of the four Christian student associations after the service to determine which one he would like to join. ‘Seeing that there are people with whom I can share that part of my life is great. I am not much of a partygoer. Spiritual development is important to me, and I aim to mature in my faith with others. While having fun as well.’
Hinke Visser (18) from Zwolle had some difficulty getting up early for the service. ‘I went for drinks at some student clubs last night and made it home by two in the morning, after which I stayed up chatting with housemates until four. Not very smart, but pleasant, nonetheless. But attending church on Sunday mornings is important to me.’ she states.
Praying
Selecting a student association is difficult for the incoming student of landscape architecture. ‘It will certainly be a Christian association; I am not looking to drink and party.’
Josine van der Horst of Spectrum says the religious morning meets a demand. ‘Many new students are accustomed to praying or attending church on Sundays. Seeing that they are not the only students who are religious helps them feel at home.’
Sjef Moling, the AID project leader, sees there is plenty of enthusiasm for this item in the programme. ‘We have been facilitating the service for over twenty years. We want to offer students the opportunity to get to know all aspects of student life such as social, sports and study associations. Excluding Christian or Muslim associations would make no sense. They are as much a part of student life as other associations.’
‘Religion is very important to me’
Indonesian Michelle Natali Marcus (26), Fitri Rachmadita (26) and Aliya Nadira Irsyad (25) of the Islamic student association Avicenna are present in front of the Forum building. The offer a tour of all of the prayer rooms on campus, which are available to Muslims.
‘We also provide tips for apps on your phone that help you identify whether your food is halal’, Marcus explains. Rachmadita: ‘You can sometimes enter the additives or scan the barcode. But anything non-alcoholic and vegan is fine.’
Yaşar Ateş (23) from Turkey is one of the students who wants to get to know Avicenna. ‘I want to join an association to meet people with whom I share common interests. Religion is very important to me.’ That also applies to Indonesian Nadhif Girawan (23). ‘I am seeking contact with like-minded people so that I don’t feel like a stranger. I want to make friends; the more, the better.’
This article was published in De Gelderlander/Manon Bastidas
