NSU Horizons Spring/Summer 2009

A lexis Melville was raised a Christian, but her family has always supported the exploration of other faiths and religions. So, she naturally gravitated to a new program at NSU called Faith Connections, which was launched to sup- port the spiritual discovery and development of students and faculty and staff members. “In my household, a lot of different viewpoints were expressed. My family always encouraged me to seek out other religions and find my own niche,” said Melville, 25, who is in her second year as a clinical psychology student at NSU’s Center for Psychological Studies. “I’ve always been really curious about other religions and wanted to see how other people worship.” The program, which is coordinated by NSU’s Spiritual Life Council, connects those who are interested in exploring a faith with someone who is currently practicing a religion and has volunteered to serve as an educa- tional guide. There are more than 160 registered participants in Faith Connections representing a wide range of religions, including Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Baha’i. Melville learned about the Baha’i faith from NSU administrator Lua Hancock, Ed.D. The connec- tion between the pair included discussions on the foundation and beliefs of the faith. Melville even attended a Baha’i celebration of the birth of Bahá’u’lláh, the founder of the faith. “NSU is an incredibly diverse commu- nity made up of people with different religious backgrounds and beliefs,” said Terry Morrow, who oversees the program as director of student leadership and civic engagement. “Faith Connections provides an opportunity for NSU stu- dents and employees to build meaning- ful relationships within the context of spiri- tual exploration.” Visit our Web site at www.nova.edu /studentleadership/spirituallife for more information about Faith Connections. n around campus S howcasing the step, stroll, and salute talents of 10 different fraternities and sororities from col- leges across Florida, the second annual Brown and White Jump Off step competition filled the arena at the Don Taft University Center with a crowd of 1,200 spectators in fall 2008. Stepping is a form of dance that has been tradition- ally practiced by historically African American frater- nities and sororities. It involves teams of dancers using their bodies to create complex rhythms through a mix- ture of footsteps, spoken word, and hand claps. The high-energy event, hosted by NSU’s Lambda Theta Phi Latin fraternity, showcased the creativity and vigor of step teams from NSU, Florida Atlantic University, Florida International University, Florida Memorial University, University of South Florida, Uni- versity of Florida, and University of Central Florida. Although the event was just in its second year, organizers hope to build on its success and make it one of the premier step events in Florida. “Other schools have step shows, so we wanted to bring a lot of people and step teams to NSU to make a statement,” said Rafael De La Rosa, president of Lambda Theta Phi at NSU. “The event is only going to grow and get more competitive as teams try to top each other. It’s going to keep progressing, and the teams are going to have to get even more creative with their routines.” NSU’s own Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority and Florida Atlantic University’s Alpha Nu Omega fraternity emerged as the winners of the $1,000 prize. Both teams also received com- memorative paddles. Visit www.nsulambdas.org for more information about the Brown and White Jump Off. n Taking a Step Forward 12 horizons Exploring Religious Diversity and Understanding on Campus NSU’s Phi Beta Sigma performs in step competition