Diversity and Public Celebrations of Religious/Cultural Differences at SCSU

The following is an articulation of the acknowledged communal practice for St Cloud State University for and during public celebrations of different religious and cultural practices. The University has been and continues to be a very complex and diverse community of staff, faculty and students who all bring their own expressions of religious and cultural practice to our common campus. SCSU as a publicly funded campus is aware of the many issues which cross legal boundaries that protect all of us from any abuse of our diversity. However, we have become equally aware of an equally rigid and sterile environment which can also be abusive, when we confuse diversity with the expression of no celebrations, which obviously falsely represents our community. This statement is therefore an attempt to move between the extremes of an officially sanctioned religious or cultural practice of any kind and the absence of any practices which stimulates resentment and fear, and denies diversity.

Atwood Memorial Center, the students’ collective physical presence on campus, has been determined as an ideal and appropriate place for public celebrations to be expressed. Hence, a permanent case will be built and maintained in the main lounge of Atwood Center, in which all of the ritual and cultural objects of the many faiths and cultural of our students will be displayed. These objects and explanations will be collected and maintained by a group of students, faculty and staff for the purpose of sharing within our community our diverse practices. We will use a calendar to dictate the need to display examples of coming/current holy days, cultural events and communities from within the larger SCSU community. Other examples include, during the period of Ramadan, a month long period of daytime fasting for Muslims, a Koran will appropriate passages will be on display, and food services at Atwood will be especially available after sundown with appropriate food for Muslims. During December when Christians observe Christmas, Jews observe Hanukah, and many African Americans observe Kwanza we need to display and experience all of these symbols. Thus, it would be appropriate for there to be a Christmas tree in the lobby as well as an electrified Hanukah (menorah) and any/all of the seven symbols used to experience Kwanza. It is our expressed hope to multiply the opportunities for our students (and faculty and staff) to experience the cultures and religious practices within our SCSU community. Insofar as Atwood represents the single physical location on our campus that uses non-tax funds and by its very mission seeks to be a public expression of no single experience but rather ALL cultural/religious experiences having such symbols up during the actual period of observance is both valid and valuable. We will also include American and Minnesotan observances as the two public communal cornerstones of our campus community. The rules and logistics of how long prior to and following any observance such symbols are to be maintained, will be established by the public celebrations council.

All public displays outside of Atwood are to be maintained as has been determined appropriate for a publicly funded state university. For example, the small “aluminum-triangle” which has been created by our community’s maintenance staff has been privately funded and is set up annually outside of work and has been deemed not to hurt, offend, or limit the expression of any person or group on campus and is therefore allowed from the second week in December through January 3 of every year.

-November 2005

St. Cloud State University

Diversity and Public Celebrations of Religious/Cultural Differences at SCSU

President's Office (contact information)

	A-Z Index \| News \| Library \| Technology \| Support St. Cloud State \| St. Cloud State University Home Admissions Academics Student Life About SCSU Athletics Alumni & Friends Diversity and Public Celebrations of Religious/Cultural Differences at SCSU The following is an articulation of the acknowledged communal practice for St Cloud State University for and during public celebrations of different religious and cultural practices. The University has been and continues to be a very complex and diverse community of staff, faculty and students who all bring their own expressions of religious and cultural practice to our common campus. SCSU as a publicly funded campus is aware of the many issues which cross legal boundaries that protect all of us from any abuse of our diversity. However, we have become equally aware of an equally rigid and sterile environment which can also be abusive, when we confuse diversity with the expression of no celebrations, which obviously falsely represents our community. This statement is therefore an attempt to move between the extremes of an officially sanctioned religious or cultural practice of any kind and the absence of any practices which stimulates resentment and fear, and denies diversity. Atwood Memorial Center, the students’ collective physical presence on campus, has been determined as an ideal and appropriate place for public celebrations to be expressed. Hence, a permanent case will be built and maintained in the main lounge of Atwood Center, in which all of the ritual and cultural objects of the many faiths and cultural of our students will be displayed. These objects and explanations will be collected and maintained by a group of students, faculty and staff for the purpose of sharing within our community our diverse practices. We will use a calendar to dictate the need to display examples of coming/current holy days, cultural events and communities from within the larger SCSU community. Other examples include, during the period of Ramadan, a month long period of daytime fasting for Muslims, a Koran will appropriate passages will be on display, and food services at Atwood will be especially available after sundown with appropriate food for Muslims. During December when Christians observe Christmas, Jews observe Hanukah, and many African Americans observe Kwanza we need to display and experience all of these symbols. Thus, it would be appropriate for there to be a Christmas tree in the lobby as well as an electrified Hanukah (menorah) and any/all of the seven symbols used to experience Kwanza. It is our expressed hope to multiply the opportunities for our students (and faculty and staff) to experience the cultures and religious practices within our SCSU community. Insofar as Atwood represents the single physical location on our campus that uses non-tax funds and by its very mission seeks to be a public expression of no single experience but rather ALL cultural/religious experiences having such symbols up during the actual period of observance is both valid and valuable. We will also include American and Minnesotan observances as the two public communal cornerstones of our campus community. The rules and logistics of how long prior to and following any observance such symbols are to be maintained, will be established by the public celebrations council. All public displays outside of Atwood are to be maintained as has been determined appropriate for a publicly funded state university. For example, the small “aluminum-triangle” which has been created by our community’s maintenance staff has been privately funded and is set up annually outside of work and has been deemed not to hurt, offend, or limit the expression of any person or group on campus and is therefore allowed from the second week in December through January 3 of every year. -November 2005 President's Office (contact information) 720 4th Avenue South - St. Cloud, Minnesota 56301-4498 Page Revised: 11/15/2007 Phone: (320) 308-2122 © 2008 St. Cloud State University Site Map \| Map & Directions \| Contact SCSU \| Accreditations St. Cloud State University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity educator and employer. St. Cloud State University is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system.