Hillel Foundation, Newman Center get in on act

Catholic UA students Bree Lance, 19, (from left in cart), Carolynn Roesser, 19, Ross Helland, 19, Michelle Faria, 19, and A. J. Tio, hand out free water at East Second Street and North Park Avenue.

Megan Berge isn’t a Methodist, but the University of Arizona freshman sure liked what United Methodists were offering Thursday: free food in an air-conditioned auditorium.

“I forced them to come here,” Berge said, gesturing around the table to her family members. “We were here when my sister enrolled a few years ago, and I remembered they gave away free food.”

The sub sandwiches, chips, fruit and eegee’s were part of the annual United Methodist Wesley Foundation’s outreach to new UA students.

It was one of many efforts by religious organizations during move-in week to show students that college doesn’t have to mean a loss of faith.

UA has seven religious centers on campus and 14 religious clubs and organizations. Many offer weekly activities for students, ranging from movie nights to worship sessions to guest speakers and ski trips.

Because federal law forbids UA from providing information about students’ religious preferences to organizations, the groups try to connect with new students by getting out on campus when they arrive.

Student members of the UA Hillel Foundation – decked out in red shirts with “Arizona” written in Hebrew on the front – were helping freshmen move into Coronado Residence Hall on Wednesday.

“There are about 3,500 Jewish students on campus, so (helping with move-in) is a great opportunity for Jewish students to see there is a Jewish community on campus,” said Michelle Blumenberg, executive director of Hillel, adding that it was hard to miss the Hebrew-emblazoned shirts.

Likewise, student members of the St. Thomas More Catholic Newman Center piled into a golf cart loaded with cold water bottles and drove through campus Thursday and Friday offering hydration to the thirsty.

Tanner John, a campus minister at the Newman Center, said the outreach is natural for the center.

“Our first goal as Christians is to be hospitable and loving and that transcends denominational affiliations,” he said. “Freshmen are coming to campus not having a sense of community and our goal is to invite and welcome.”

The welcome came with the water and the invite with what was on the bottles: A tag reading “Wa+er U Looking 4? Find it at St. Thomas More Newman Center.” The motto was followed by information about a Friday volleyball game, free food and Wednesday student services.

The Methodists also passed out water with information about their Wednesday night services that are followed by free meals brought to the church from members’ homes.

The Rev. Dee Dee Azhikakath, director of United Methodist’s campus ministry, said it is important for religious organizations to let students know they have options to find community.

“Moving to college is a big time, with lots of emotions and people can feel lost,” she said. “We want them to know there’s someplace to go where they can be welcome.”

Religious outreach is more than just free food, water or a strong back to help with dorm moves, Blumenberg said. It’s also about getting a complete education.

“The mandate of a university is to touch on all aspects of humanity,” she said. “Spirituality is part of that. . . . Religious groups add value to the university community.”

The Rev. Lujet McCullough, senior pastor at United Methodist, agreed.

“This is the age when people start asking religious questions and often when they find their authentic faith. We provide an atmosphere where they can ask questions in a nonjudgmental atmosphere,” McCullough said. Then she added with a smile, “And we feed them, too.”

Nicholas La Rue, 19, (left), and Stephanie Zenz, 19, (right) hand out free water to Darlene Crawford and her daughter, Lynnea Crawford, 18, at the First United Methodist Church.

Catholic students hand out free water at East Second Street and North Park Avenue.

Kathryn Holland of the Wesley Foundation at the First United Methodist Church, 915 E. Fourth St., hands out pamphlets at a free lunch Thursday for UA students and their families at the church.

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On-campus religious organizations at UA

• Baptist Student Union

• Campus Christian Center (an ecumenical center that houses five campus ministries at UA)

• Hillel Center

• Islamic Center Tucson

• St. Thomas More Catholic Newman Center

• Little Chapel of All Nations

• LDS Institute of Religion

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