Long Beach Union

No Pressure!

As I walk through campus during the first weeks of school, I feel as though I am just another head of cattle in the herd. No parking places, hour long waits in the bookstore to buy books and supplies, and lines that stretch to infinity to get a slice of pizza and a soda, all add to the hectic and barely survivable first weeks of school. As I weave my way up campus, I barely avoid elbows flying past my face as a blur of people narrowly escape my path. I could almost scream at the top of my lungs at the mass of confusion and chaos that occurs without fail at the beginning of each semester. It is at these moments during these beginning weeks that I realize what�s in store for me.

No longer are our days as students care free. We must now step into the real world and be judged for how we conduct ourselves both in and out of the classroom. Academics as well as a multitude of extracurricular activities will be our saving graces in our times of worry and stress. In times when most of us are looking for jobs, and when degrees are required to operate a coffee machine.

As students, we don�t come to college to get bombarded with flyers and handouts, or to be pushed to the point of serious aggravation by people tag teaming us and asking why we�re not interested in joining their religious groups. We come to school, primarily, to receive an education. Time and time again, people representing these clubs and organizations, stop us in the halls, walk with us to our classes, and try, in their own suave and desperate way, to convince us to join them in enjoyable activities.

Bordering on harassment, these tag team players dig right down to the soul, and persist in asking personal questions that our own parents don�t even know the answers to. This isn�t the way it�s supposed to be! We shouldn�t have to feel as though we�re being rude when we say we�re not interested. No means no! As the slogan asks, "What part of no don�t you understand?"

When we see these people, we might as well just pack our bags because we know that as soon as they start to talk, we�re going on a guilt trip. Listening to them stammer on about the injustices of society and how our lives would be so much more enlightened and fulfilled if we were only to join them in their quest for happiness. I don�t want your quest! I�m not interested in your quest! Just let me be, and if I become interested later, I�ll let you know.

This is why it�s good to have a middleman. An organization that is willing to give you the information you desire, interested in having an enjoyable time during college, but without the hassle and bother of tracking you down, and trying to convert you. Where you can come and go on your own terms.

The University Interfaith Center (U.C.I.) offers a wide variety of services that could help to make your college experience one to remember. Because bad days can sometimes be only the beginning to our troubles, the Interfaith Center is here to help. They offer information on many religions and religious organizations found on campus that are affiliated with them, and help to organize some functions to assist you in relieving stress and coping with everyday life. But, in no way are those high pressure groups affiliated with the Interfaith Center. To be affiliated with the Interfaith Center, the clubs and organizations must sign a waiver that states that they will not go out and actively recruit people to join their religion and/or religious organization.

Some of the organizations affiliated with the Interfaith Center have set up activities that enable students to meet each other, and share in common interests. Activities such as movie nights, breakfasts, and discussing faith issues raised in the Star Wars Trilogy and other movies, followed by some fellowship are all ways to communicate your worries and stresses about college life, and find a friend or two that could possibly help. As this is all voluntary on your part, there�s never any obligation that is to be met, except to show up and have a good time! Never choices that are to be made between family and friends, and the religion that so desperately needs your help. You go when you want to, and interact with the religion(s) that peaks your interest.

Many people are under the assumption that attending these religious activities means that you have to convert to that particular religion, or that you must be religious to attend the functions. Quite the contrary. These religious affiliated groups that are representative of the Interfaith Center don�t make any prerequisites that you must be religious or have faith in any particular god(s), idol(s) and/or deity(s). They are merely here to serve you and your inquisitive nature of exploring new and interesting venues of your own ideals and spirituality.

The Interfaith Center's purpose is "serving the educationcational community of Cal State Long Beach. They represent individual faiths while respecting the diversity of relgious traditions and the pluralistic nature of the university. They encourage students, faculty, and staff in their pursuit of spiritual growth, community building, faith development, and personal values. They strive to work cooperatively respecting the integrtiy of one another's religious traditions."

The Interfaith Center is also in charge of one of the biggest fund raisers on campus, the food drive. Each year, during the middle of October, the Interfaith Center sponsors the food drive during the week of World Food Days. This year, from October 12 through October 16, the Interfaith Center again will be heading up the fight against hunger. If you would like to become involved, be it with donations of your time, energies, talents and/or food, or would just like more information of or about the Interfaith Center, please contact the Interfaith Center at (562)-985-7629.