Category Archives: Student Posts

Do We Need Religious Community?

Religion graces us with the tools to grapple with grief, loss, death, love, and connectedness. Religion is service: to oneself, to others, to duty. Religion is the recognition of a Universal network of love and justice. For some, religious community … Continue reading

Posted in Student Posts | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Lessons from Groot

Last weekend I watched a stupid movie with my son and my daughter in law.  My son is involved with the world of medical care, and my daughter-in-law is director of a preschool. They both spend a lot of time … Continue reading

Posted in Student Posts | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Reflection on Muslim Student Advising

For many years Muslim students at Smith College built a sense of community among themselves with little assistance from the Center for Religious and Spiritual Life. They organized events, planned activities and led holy observances largely through the behest of … Continue reading

Posted in Student Posts | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Be-Longing: Interrogating Loneliness with Art, a Week-long Pop-up Installation!

How do you conceptualize loneliness? Is loneliness an environment, an entity, or a fear? For me, it’s all of the above. I fear that if I give energy to trying to understand my loneliness, I legitimize it: give it power. … Continue reading

Posted in Programs & Events, Student Articles | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Combatants for Peace:
ex-combatants lay down arms to seek peace

Two representatives from the bi-national grassroots organization Combatants for Peace (CFP) joined Smithies for a Peace Meal earlier this week. One representative was Palestinian; the other, Israeli. CFP was formed in 2006 when combatants on both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict … Continue reading

Posted in Programs & Events, Social Justice, Student Reflections | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Activism in religious spaces:
Smithies pushing for peace at the J Street Conference

A handful of Smithies traveled to our nation’s Capitol last weekend to join 1,200 students at the national J-Street conference, which coincided with the organization’s 10th anniversary. J-Street is a national political movement that advocates for a peaceful, two-state resolution to … Continue reading

Posted in Interfaith Matters, Social Justice, Student Reflections | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Women’s Activism on the Religious Right

Dr. Lihi Ben Shitrit, Assistant Professor of International Affairs at the University of Georgia, presented a chapter summary and lecture drawn from her 2015 book “Righteous Transgressions: Women’s Activism on the Israeli and Palestinian Religious Right.” Dr. Shitrit travelled throughout … Continue reading

Posted in Interfaith Matters, Programs & Events, Student Reflections | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Legacy of Reverend Dr. King:
Where Do We Go From Here?

Twenty-two-year-old Stephon Clark was fatally shot by Sacramento Police in his grandmother’s backyard on March 18, 2018. If there is a vigil to be held in writing, let us do so now. The Center for Religious and Spiritual life held … Continue reading

Posted in Interfaith Matters, Programs & Events, Social Justice, Student Reflections | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

DACA Discourse and Action Panel highlights student voices

Many students, some Smithies included, have found themselves in the midst of political upheaval since President Trump’s move to rescind DACA. The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program protects eligible youth from deportation. The administrative program implemented in 2012 by … Continue reading

Posted in History, Programs & Events, Social Justice, Student Articles | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

SCJC celebrates Shabbat and fans the “radical flame”

The Smith College Jewish Community is an inviting and engaged group on campus, and they’re in the midst of hosting an array of events. SCJC recently hosted a special Shabbat service open to all; University of Massachusetts alum Molly Bajgot … Continue reading

Posted in Programs & Events, Student Articles, Student Orgs | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment