The Lindsay-Crossman Chapel, as well as student-run faith-based organizations at Baldwin Wallace University, provide students with resources for their faith, including guidance for various religious groups and spaces for students to fulfill their spiritual wellness.
Reverend CJ Harkness, director of spiritual life, has made it his mission to build relationships within the interfaith groups on the BW campus, regardless of which religion they are part of.
“Everybody is welcome to be in here, but we don’t see the walls of the chapel as the only place where spiritual life is going to be taking place,” Harkness said.
BW also runs a chapter of Hillel, a national community and organization for Jewish individuals, with Ellen Posman, chair of the Department of Religion serving as the advisor. At the end of September these individuals met to construct the Sukkah on Davidson Greens for the week-long festival of Sukkot.
“We are creating community among Jewish students so they can discover who they are. Non-Jewish students can join to learn about Jewish culture, meet people and understand new things,” Posman said.
The Muslim Student Association has worked closely with Harkness in the last year by establishing a prayer room for Muslim students. Since then, there has been a collaboration for putting up signage to help new students identify the prayer room in Strosacker.
Senior psychology student and Muslim Student Association secretary, Ayah Jadallah, emphasized the importance of working closely with Harkness, which Jadallah said allows students to ask for guidance or advice in handling situations that may arise on campus.
Posman said that she seeks to aid students, no matter how many attend each meeting.
“I am here as a resource for Jewish students on campus,” Posman said.
With Judaism being a religion and a culture, Posman said it is important that students have a person they can approach with questions or concerns.
“It is important for the school that there be someone for Jewish students to go to as a point person,” Posman said.
Within the last year, the Muslim Student Association has gained over 20 new members, going from 35 during the 2022 school year to over 50 this year. Jadallah, attributed this growth to fellow members of the MSA.
“We have pulled people from our communities to come to BW, and that is something we are proud of,” Jadallah said.