<ll the publications Carleton puts out, one would think that there would be no more room for another being distributed at Sayles on Friday mornings. However, Joe Gammello, ’08, found a gap in the subject matter. Gammello says he and a few others in the Christian community “had it on our hearts to create a public forum for interfaith dialogue and existential pursuits.”
He believes this will be a great addition to Carleton, which he sees as a place where students are curious, even passionate, about their faith. However, opportunities for discussion of faith are few and far-between. Unashamed could be a starting place for an increase in religious thought and conversation on campus.
The first and only issue of this term will be distributed today, in a format similar to that of the Progressive. So far, the publication has received twenty-one submissions, “primarily from Humanist, agnostic, Christian-Catholic, and other Christian points of view.”
At this point, Gammello admits, he just wants students to grab an issue and take a look. Despite the initial advertising push for submissions, Unashamed is relatively unknown on campus. He encourages students of all faiths, including those that identify themselves more with a lack of faith, to respond to anything they read.
Although Carleton is a campus where discussion is encouraged, where there are forums and Chili/Curry Nights for just about every topic and all opinions are deemed welcome, religion is another issue. For some reason, there are students who seem to feel that respecting different faiths is not as necessary as respecting different cultures or lifestyles. Possibly for this reason, those with strong faith tend not to speak out about their ideas.
“I think people of faith at Carleton often do feel like a minority on campus. It’s clear that many people here are a bit hostile toward some views on campus, but there is also a sizable portion of the campus that takes faith seriously and lives out their beliefs actively. It’s not like we don’t exist or something, but I feel it’s fair to say that we are a minority viewpoint on campus,” Gammello said.
However, he and others in the Christian community publishing Unashamed hope for positive feedback.
“We are hoping that people will recognize the need on this campus for a publication addressing issues of God, faith, and existence and that they will be supportive and inspired to write something. We realize that a lot of people might be uncomfortable about the concept of faith and that it is a seemingly taboo topic of public discourse, but that does not in and of itself disqualify it as an issue not worth talking about, particularly when it is a subject many do want to discuss,” he said.
Perhaps the addition of this discussion forum to Carleton’s publications will change what might be perceived as a taboo nature of faith on campus. At the very least, it could start people talking.
Whatever the effect on the student body, Gammello hopes to publish two or three issues in subsequent terms, depending on the volume of submissions.
He hopes that students will pick one up at Sayles tomorrow. Don’t just leave it in a stack with The Clap and The Progressive and forget to read it. Read the viewpoints, and start thinking. Maybe even submit for the next issue, which has the theme “Faith and Tradition: How have your beliefs been shaped by your family’s faith tradition?”
Faculty, staff and alumni are also encouraged to submit. Send your thoughts to [email protected].