UF is home to many vibrant communities of faith, and students are the driving force behind them.
The University of Florida is one of the largest public collegiate institutions in the United States. With a sprawling campus and diverse student body, many Gators find comfort in their faiths as a connection to home.
But in addition to being a way to approach a place that can feel like its own world, students also cite their faiths and the communities that make them up as uniquely part of a calling that goes beyond their time in Gainesville.
As Tyler Grace Krupa, a 4th-year Business Administration major from Safety Harbor, FL, shared after an Ash Wednesday service outside Saint Augustine Catholic Church & Student Center, “Faith gives me something outside of classes that helps remind me what I’m working towards and to know that there is something bigger. I’m able to trust God with my future. Even with all of the worries that might come after graduation or in trying to figure out what comes next, I know that God is eternal. He is never going to change. And just knowing that he is there helps me feel strong on my journey.”
Recent data shows that student bodies across the US have become more diverse regarding religious affiliation in the twenty-first century, which in turn, according to higher education scholars Rhonda Hustedt Jacobsen and Douglas Jacobsen, “has…been a factor in making religion more visible on…university campuses.”
UF is no exception, as anyone who walks down University Avenue or through the Plaza of the Americas can attest. Hillel, Krishna House, Gator Wesley, Gainesville LDS, Reformed University Fellowship, and Catholic Gators are just a few of the groups that one may encounter on campus and who make up a large mosaic that animates the faith community of campus. Many of their meeting places or administrative buildings are also landmarks for students and returning alumni alike.
For Christian students and caffeine enthusiasts, in particular, Pascal’s Coffeehouse has been a popular destination for nearly 25 years. Home to the Christian Study Center, Pascal’s offers fellowships and hosts events that explore and discuss the moral and intellectual roots of the Christian tradition. Casual patrons frequent it too for coffee from Gainesville’s own Resident Coffee Roasters as well as its prime location just off of campus for studying or gathering with friends.
Krishna House, responsible for the UF famous Krishna Lunch, arrived on campus even earlier, with the house being purchased in 1989 but its members having continually been a part of the UF community since the early 1970s. Extolling the values of upliftment, relationships, teamwork, kindness, and service, Hare Krishnas can be seen in song on the corner of University Avenue on Friday afternoons or providing their renowned vegetarian meals to students, faculty, staff, and visitors rain or shine.
Another impactful faith-based organization at UF is Hillel. With approximately 6,500 Jewish students, UF has one of the largest Jewish populations of any university in the country. UF Hillel is a chapter of Hillel International and housed at Norman H. Lipoff Hall across from Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. In addition to being a place of connection and community for Jewish Gators, UF Hillel is also known for their Spread Cream Cheese, Not Hate campaign to raise awareness for combating anti-Semitism and all forms of discrimination.
These are only a few examples of the involvement and engagement student faith groups promote at UF. Whether it be sponsoring a tailgate, running a charity drive, or providing opportunities for fellow Gators to learn more about this core piece of human identity, you may not always see their impact, but you likely can feel it.
Related Posts
