Religious diversity on campus lacks presence, action

With more than 20 churches in Vermillion, the University of South Dakota is exposed to a wide array of religious diversity.

But Jesus Trevino, associate vice president for Diversity, said religious diversity is not currently in the university’s plans to increase diversity and inclusive excellence on campus.

“No one has talked about that,” Trevino said. “Religious diversity is very challenging. There are significant differences between religious groups. It is a challenge to also say we’re doing that.”

Trevino said because most of the religions represented on campus are Christian-based, he can see difficulties for students of other religions.

“In terms of religions, I am more worried for Muslims and those of the Jewish religion because of discrimination,” Trevino said. “You bring white students, and you bring a lot of in-group religious divisions with them.”

Sophomore Miranda McIlroy is a Wiccan. However, McIlroy seldom practices her religion when she is at USD.

“When I’m home, I practice witchcraft on a small level,” McIlroy said. “I don’t do it at college because I’m not sure what people will think.”

Although she is the only Wiccan she knows at USD, McIlroy said she is sure there are other Wiccans on campus.

First-year Marah Smith is a student leader at the St. Thomas More Newman Center, the Catholic church on campus. She said she has not yet met students who are not Christian.

“A lot of people aren’t comfortable all the time sharing their faith, because they are afraid of what people will think of them, but I think we have a lot of faiths and people with different backgrounds on campus,” Smith said.

Smith said while mainly Catholics visit the Newman Center, activities like games nights will bring in a more diverse crowd.

CRU, the Campus Crusade for Christ, is a nondenominational Christian faith-based organization on campus. Co-leader of CRU’s movement team Bethany Buell, a senior, said she sees varying Christian denominations represented at CRU.

“You’ll have people who have grown up Catholic and Lutheran,” Buell said.

Buell said CRU has never planned to target specific Christian groups, and that religious diversity has never been brought up in the organization.

“It’s not really something identified or discussed,” Buell said. “We’ve never said, ‘Oh, let’s pick this denomination.’”