Isolation within Benedictine traditions

What does belonging mean to you? Being a part of a close-knit group of friends? Joining a club or organization on campus? Or something as simple as getting a quick study group together with some classmates for that looming chemistry PSA? No matter how belonging looks to you, it is essential to enhance our overall college experience.

When students feel a sense of belonging, they are more likely to be engaged, motivated and connected to their campus community—whether that is joining an intramural sport, club or organization on campus or attending some of the numerous events held around campus. Students are also more likely to perform better academically.

They are more likely to ask for help from others, whether that be from professors or other students, and get a better understanding of the material. In college, there are a lot of opportunities for group work. Working in group projects, forming study groups or being able to have meaningful class discussions becomes a lot easier when students feel like they belong.

Unfortunately, this might not come as easily for students here on campus, especially for those students in the minority, and even more so for international students.

In a recent opinion piece published on Feb. 8 headlined, “Belonging and the Benedictine Values at CSB+SJU,” which was a response to an opinion piece in the previous issue titled “SJU Senate shortcomings reveal larger university issue,” Sen. Liz Hamak discussed reimagining belonging as a verb, suggesting students take an active role in creating their space within our campus community.

However, it came across as minimizing students’ experiences on campus because this is something everyone deals with, especially students who might not necessarily fit the typical Bennie or Johnnie image. While it is true that belonging requires participation, students must first have a space or community to belong to.

This essential prerequisite is what many students feel CSB+SJU lacks. As institutions, CSB+SJU prides themselves on creating community, and to that, we ask, who is that community for?

While many students may feel a sense of belonging at CSB+SJU, that does not discredit the experiences of those who don’t.

In theory, the Benedictine Values make sense. Ideally, we would all embody those qualities—not because of their religious origin, but because many of them relate to being a decent human being. However, the Benedictine Values do not create community or foster belonging. People do. And unfortunately, no matter how many times we talk about the values in class, read them on marketing materials or complete obligatory reflections about their importance, not everyone will feel like they belong at CSB+SJU.

Rooted in Catholicism, the Benedictine Values themselves result in many debates about belonging and togetherness. What about the students who identify with a different religious tradition or no tradition at all? Though we are two Catholic institutions, Awareness of God should not be a prerequisite to belonging. Students who worship a different god or no god should have a space where they feel valued and heard.

Instead, we should focus on creating spaces for conversation and dialogue. Let’s listen with the intent to learn from others instead of listening to respond. And, lastly, let’s acknowledge that just because some students feel a sense of belonging on campus does not mean that is the norm.