Maryville<\/a>\u00a0is one of just seven college campus Hillels to be honored from among 550 across the world.\u00a0The award was presented during Hillel International\u2019s Global Assembly held recently in Denver, Colorado.<\/p>\n\u201cWhile the diversity of Maryville’s student population continues to expand, students from diverse backgrounds have a natural tendency to seek companionship and support from others who share a similar background,\u201d says Erin Schreiber, manager. \u201cWe intentionally reach out to other minority groups on campus by welcoming them into our space and showing up in their space to lend support. These activities also advance Maryville\u2019s strategic goal of greater diversity and inclusiveness.\u201d<\/p>\n
Featured partnerships:<\/p>\n
\n- The Coping with Unrest and Uncertainty group was created for all marginalized populations on campus.<\/li>\n
- Souper Sunday brings the Muslim Student Association and Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵAPPHillel together to create vegetarian soup packets for the greater community and helps students learn about significant and symbolic foods from each culture.<\/li>\n
- Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵAPPHillel students support the Muslim Student Association’s Hijab Awareness Day.<\/li>\n
- LGBTQ students consistently attend Hillel events, having grown accustomed to the concept of Tikkun Olam and feeling connected to the same values despite religious differences.<\/li>\n
- The annual Holocaust survivor speaker event is one of the largest events on campus, with more than 450 people in attendance.<\/li>\n
- Monthly challah bakes on campus attract students from diverse backgrounds, and the experience of doing something Jewish side-by-side with others who may not have encountered Jewish culture before coming to Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵAPPhas a profound impact.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\u201cActively welcoming students from other diverse backgrounds into our spaces creates comfort and understanding. We live in a post \u2018tolerance\u2019 and post \u2018acceptance\u2019 world when other members of the larger community know and feel they are genuinely welcome in our community,\u201d says\u00a0student Kalix Jacobson.<\/p>\n