As a senior student, there have been numerous expected and unexpected changes throughout my time in college. Some moments would genuinely be difficult to describe to people who were not there for them, but others are more so disappointing for the student body to experience as a whole. The sad departure of Reverend Jennifer McCurry from the university has prevented students of different religious or spiritual practices from building a community with one another. 

In a time of stress and potential crisis for many folks, spiritual health can be pivotal in allowing students a healthier way to process their emotions and simply exist. The ability to exist without distraction nowadays seems impossible, and is needed now more than ever.

The university has the responsibility to offer more than a meditation room to students. To better flesh out their mental health resources, the school should focus on providing a trauma-informed professional with interdenominational spiritual experience, hosting grounding circles, organizing nature field trips, and supporting more diverse religious representation.

A notable deficit of representation can be seen through the lack of pagan or witchcraft-centered organizations through Student Life. Even as a nondenominational and private university, there are individuals who practice eclectic or pagan practices in their own spirituality or religion. 

Students deserve for holidays such as Samhain, the celebration of which symbolizes the end of the harvest season, or Yule, which represents the winter solstice and longest night of the year, Imbolc, the pagan holiday representing St. Brigid and the halfway point between the winter solstice and spring equinox, and Ostara a pagan holiday which celebrates the start of Spring to also be celebrated publicly, as these also coincide during the school year– not to mention they are the foundations of holidays in Christian denominations. 

Now more than ever, students need the option to proudly be themselves out in the open. The safety of students is a strong priority, and with resources of spiritual health and wellness depleted, this limits the opportunities for a thriving atmosphere of interpersonal connections in the campus community. 

As practitioners of any religion or faith, it is not about vanity. Activities or events organized through the university to include students of all religious and spiritual traditions do not need to be exuberant in nature. 

Simple opportunities to grab a cup of coffee, tea and a snack can be enough to be seen and feel seen. As college students, this may be the first time people are exploring what their experience as a person who does or does not practice any faith is– and what that looks like for them. 

Point Park should reaffirm their commitment to students’ spiritual health and wellness. Any hired professional’s– or team of professionals’ – boundaries need to be fully respected as they navigate supporting thousands of undergraduate and graduate level students. 

As a reminder, you are not alone and have the right to practice any spiritual or religious tradition which you feel suits you best. Safe welcome back to campus, Pioneers.