Anticipating the Christian Studies Center: Students React to Webb Proposal
Excitement and anticipation. Those are just two words that describe the mood surrounding the new Christian Studies Center first proposed in the December issue of The Phoenix. The Christian Studies Center proposed by Professor of Religion Stephen H. Webb has struck a chord among students, alumni, and faculty. This new Christian Studies Center would be directed toward the needs of Christian students on campus and their desire to grow spiritually and in knowledge of their faith. It would not have any direct connection to Wabash, but as Prof. Webb stated, “Its mission will be completely dedicated to the college.”
In an interview with Professor Webb, I discovered what kind of response he has gotten from the call for student, alumni, and faculty support.
“The response has been great,” said Professor Webb. “There is a pretty good group of alumni who have expressed interest, all on the basis of The Phoenix article, and I haven’t really begun talking to alumni about it yet. Many students have asked if they can help. I think once we begin getting better organized and get the word out, more people will want to be involved.”
In just a matter of a few months, this concept has gone from an idea to a project rapidly gaining momentum. Immediately following the article, emails began to pour into Prof. Webb’s inbox with overwhelming support for this new project.
One example of such support is from Luke Blakeslee ’11. He said in response to Prof. Webb’s column, “It’s encouraging for Christian students to see such supportive faculty. Rather than just simply sit back and hope to see your idea come about, I’d like to also be involved in the effort, to be an active part of such a worthy endeavor.”
The immediate desire of Christian students on campus to help with this project says a great deal about the desire of the Christian students on campus wanting to have a connection with other supportive students, professors, and community members. The Studies Center will be a place for Catholics, Protestants, and other Christians on campus to convene in one place with people who share the same basic beliefs.
It would also serve as a common ground for Christian groups on campus- most notably Wabash Christian Men and the Newman Center. David Haggard, president of the Newman Center, said, “Things will still be done separately, but it will enhance [The Newman Center] because it will bring people together for conversations. It will give us an equal forum for us to discuss things.”
This equal forum for discussion is exactly what the purpose of the Center is going to be. Professor Webb envisions it being a sort of community Christian center. He said in the original article, “We envision working with Crawfordsville churches to achieve our goals. People with connections to area churches are encouraged to become a part of this project. We want this Center to be a place that makes connections between local churches and Wabash students.”
Making connections with students seems to make sense as many students are not aware of the opportunities and events that many local churches have. Students may not know what local churches offer and what they, in turn, can do for the churches.
Even if not directly affiliated with the College, it could enhance the school’s image and its attractiveness to possible future students. David Haggard said, “It will show [future students] that we take our faith seriously. Many small, liberal arts schools have lost connection with their religious past. This would show that we are serious about our faith.”
When asked about what the Center could do for the College’s image, Student Body President Juan Carlos Venis said, “I don’t feel that it would detract from the Wabash image in any way. I highly value the diversity of our College’s community. A Christian Studies Center, as described by Dr. Webb, could facilitate further exploration of personal beliefs for many interested students, faculty, and staff, as well as Crawfordsville community members.”
It seems then, that a common theme of this Center would be to help enhance the exploration of personal beliefs. Thus, it is easy to draw the comparison that this facility would fit directly into the Wabash mission of educating students to “Think Critically” and “Live Humanely.”
Although the vision is for Wabash College, it goes beyond this campus to Crawfordsville and beyond. Webb said, “It could become a real center for Christian activities for several colleges and universities in central Indiana.” After its initial start here at Wabash, the proposed Center could really be groundbreaking in Indiana and the Midwest. As Professor Webb stated in his column, “Christian Centers are already established or are being established at many Ivy League universities.” He went on to mention in our conversation that there are none in Indiana. Wabash College could be on the cutting-edge of independent religious exploration and research at the collegiate level in Indiana.
Even with alumni and student support strong so far, the administration’s response has not been as strong. “So far, the administration has taken a very cautious, even suspicious approach to the idea,” Webb said, “but I think further dialogue will convince them that this will be a great thing for the College. We want to work outside the official College structure for the good of the College. We want to be partners with the College for the good of the Christian community.”
This lukewarm reception to the idea was almost inevitable, given the uneasy situations present when religion is involved. The results of the Quality of Life study released last fall should help make sense of the response by administration. Some faculty comments in that survey included “religion is too public an issue,” and that there is an “excessive emphasis on Christianity among students and some faculty.” One faculty member, however, wrote that “student spirituality is underserved.”
This Center would more than likely revive even more of those sentiments, but that may not be a bad thing on a campus that challenges students to “Think Critically.” Whether they think religion is “too public an issue” or that “spirituality is underserved,” most people seem to have a consensus in one area: keeping it completely separate from the College.
Mr. Venis said, “I agree completely with Dr. Webb’s feelings regarding the Center’s independence from the College. I feel there are several community members that will participate and many who will not. Giving them the opportunity and freedom to choose so is important and respectful of the diverse group of people at this College.”
Professor Webb echoed this sentiment, albeit in a different form. He seems to focus on the perception that increasingly, students are seeking out religion more and more, while there are very few resources for students to use. “Wabash has done so much for so many constituent groups at the College, but Christian students are kind of neglected, and that’s probably inevitable given a strongly secular faculty. We really want this to be a gift to Wabash from the Christian community.” This new Christian Studies Center as it has been laid out certainly would be a gift.
All of this may be good, but there are some questions that still have not been answered. What step is next? What is being done now? “We are in the most preliminary stages. It’s really just a vision right now,” Professor Webb stated. His focus right now is on lining up alumni who would be willing to support it and gaining more and more student support. This should give enough of a foundation to move this Center on to the next stage: realization of the vision.
Eventually, students will be called upon to help brainstorm for this center through the student leadership board proposed in his original article. The next step after forming that board will be to “begin some modest fundraising activities among current students, as a way of demonstrating student support and excitement about this project.” From there, interested alumni will get involved with the development of the Center.
Although it seems ambitious right now, there is much excitement and hope for this project at Wabash. Even if it is not necessarily available for current students, there are many who see it as a way to leave a mark on Wabash long after they have graduated, or in Professor Webb’s case, retired to a beach somewhere. Webb sees that it may take a while, but that it will last long after us. “It is something I think Christians at Wabash can give to the next generation, a legacy for the future.”
To get involved in helping with the Christian Studies Center email Professor Webb at webbs@wabash.edu.
Related posts:
