<p>I recently attended an information session with my daughter. We were quite surprised when we realized that the session was in a church. And we faced the entire information session with a large statue of a diety not our in front of us. As Jews, this did not seem welcoming at all. Now if we were at a private institution it would have been no issue. If we’d chosen to come to a Christian affiliated university, or any private university, that would have been fine. But for a public institution, let alone the institution of Mr. Jefferson, he of the famous “wall of seperation of Church and State,” to welcome prospective students this way seemed inappropriate and insensitive.</p>
<p>Jara, I am sorry you did not feel welcome. Where exactly was the info session? I was at Days on the Lawn yesterday, and my daughter and I attended several programs. The one on CLAS was in Old Cabell. We were seated near a family who commented that auditorium was as beautiful as a cathedral. If it is Old Cabell you are referring to, this might be useful:</p>
<p>[Old</a> Cabell Hall — McIntire Department of Music, U.Va.](<a href=“http://artsandsciences.virginia.edu/music/performance/facilities/oldcabellhall/index.html#a1]Old”>http://artsandsciences.virginia.edu/music/performance/facilities/oldcabellhall/index.html#a1)</p>
<p>Are you referring to the University’s small non-denominational chapel (which is mainly used for weddings, not religious services)? </p>
<p>Or, are you referring to a building that has a 120 year old historical mural that happens to be religious? </p>
<p>I went to UVa with plenty of Jewish people. UVa prides itself on its separation of church and state. It was the only college I dealt with that refuses to download any religious information from the Common Application.</p>
<p>The session was in the Chapel. And there were crosses and a staute of Jesus. I saw no Jewish imagery at all. I thought it was a very pretty church. If I’d been attending a wedding of a friend I would have thought it was lovely. But, in my opinion, it was not a good place for a public institution to hold an information session that was a student’s first introduction to the place.</p>
<p>I couldn’t remember any statues or crosses in the building (nor could my colleagues), so I went over to take a look and snap a few pictures. </p>
<p>[There</a> are no crosses or statues inside the chapel](<a href=“http://■■■■■■/HF4jKQ]There”>http://■■■■■■/HF4jKQ). There are stained glass windows, one bas relief, and three plaques. Almost all of these [have</a> dedications to students or members of the community who have died](<a href=“http://■■■■■■/HhSWFR]have”>http://■■■■■■/HhSWFR). The stained glass windows do have religious imagery.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, the Office of Admission has no space of our own that holds the numbers we see during high visit periods (spring break for high schools). We have to find rooms around Grounds that will fit the 300-500 people who show up for information sessions. Our usual space is the movie theater in Newcomb Hall, but that is under construction right now. There are classrooms that can accommodate the groups, but classes obviously take priority when it comes to reserving those spaces.</p>
<p>We use the chapel for all kinds of events, from weddings to religious services to concerts to theater productions. We try to mention this before we start our sessions.</p>
<p>Dean J. There is a huge cross outside the building. Is there not a large picture of Jesus (I remembered it as a statute but it is a very large picture) in the Stained Glass window that faces the audience? I could be mistaken but that is what I remember. </p>
<p>I don’t think you understand just how off-putting it was to my daughter and the other Jewish kids in the audience. Of course, no one wants to complain when they are in the position of wanting to get in to the school. </p>
<p>No one said “Sorry we have to have it here, our other spaces are under construction. We realize this is not the most appropriate place.” Perhaps this would be best in the future.</p>
<p>Nope, the chairs don’t have crosses on them (you can see them up close in [this</a> video from an open mic night](<a href=“Bilal Khan - "Bachana" (Live Cover!) - Barun Deep Singh - YouTube”>Bilal Khan - "Bachana" (Live Cover!) - Barun Deep Singh - YouTube)). They have some wood flourishes, but no crosses. The only religious imagery is in some of the stained glass windows. </p>
<p>We are a diverse community (and office!) with a wide range of beliefs. We are not governed by any religious sect, but we are tolerant of them all. </p>
<p>I’m sorry that you were offended. </p>
<p>EDIT: [This</a> video has a better shot of the chairs](<a href=“WPQ UVA 1.mp4 - YouTube”>WPQ UVA 1.mp4 - YouTube).</p>
<p>I have been in the chapel several times over the last couple of months and there are no religious symbols. Also there is no cross out in front.</p>
<p>As an atheist student, I relished opportunities to go inside the chapel, just as I did the Rotunda or various pavilions along the Lawn. I’m hoping you’ll be able to see these buildings as I did- representative of the long history of the school. The historical aspect of UVA is an intrinsic part of the experience students have. You walk the same paths students have walked for nearly 200 years. You study or attend functions in the same buildings (I used to go to chorus concerts in the chapel- the holiday ones were particularly beautiful in that setting). Traditions, like dressing up for football games, referring to students as “first year” rather than “freshman”, etc remain firmly in place and are, to most students and alumni, vitally important in terms of the school’s “character”. Obviously, UVA is not for everyone, but I truly hope that you and your daughter won’t make your decision based on where the information session was held but rather on what you heard and saw elsewhere. I can assure you, if she does not want to ever enter the chapel again, she will not have to do so. For many, its a beautiful building regardless of religious beliefs, and I’m sure that nobody at the school expected anyone would be offended by being there. Best of luck to your daughter!</p>
<p>Wossah, Does the chapel not have a cross on top? Was I imagining that? I know there is a HUGE stained glass image of Jesus right in the front.</p>
<p>UVa was founded on the idea of separation of church and state. While it’s too bad that there is simply not enough space to accommodate all the visitors in the spring, please try to understand that it was not meant to alienate anyone on the basis of their religion. Jewish life is huge at UVa. There are greek organizations for Jewish students, the Brody Jewish Center, kosher dining options, and something like 10% of the student body identifies as Jewish. I know this year there are DOTL tours about Jewish life.</p>
<p>As other posters have mentioned, the chapel is non-denominational. I am also an atheist, and I’ve never felt alienated by anything in the chapel nor by the star of David/Solomon’s seal on Peabody Hall. I realize you are entitled to feel however you feel about any of this, but I hope you aren’t left with the impression that UVa is anything other than tolerant of all religions.</p>
<p>Jara123 - Most non-Jews simply aren’t going to understand why you were put off. Some Jews wouldn’t have an issue either. Others, like you, do have an issue and it’s pointless to discuss what imagery is on the back of chairs, floor tile, on the roof, or in the stained glass. I think you were right to bring up your concerns because obviously no one at the university had thought that there was an issue. But, since you’ve already received an apology I’m not sure what else can be accomplished. I hope your daughter enjoyed all other aspects of her visit. Good luck with her application.</p>
<p>
We actually did talk about the location years ago and the non-Christian (including Jewish) staff members among us don’t feel that events in the chapel are an affront to any of our beliefs.</p>
<p>I’m Jewish. When I was in high school, I took night classes at Villanova. There were graphic crosses in every classroom… So UVA was definitely more comfortable than that. I hope you had a chance to check out the synagogue downtown, it has gorgeous stained glass windows and history. There’s also a Hillel and a Chabad on grounds. Since graduating, I’ve been in a number of weddings in churches. It’s something your daughter will just need to get used to about living in Christian America. FWIW, I was never in the chapel for anything but voluntary concerts, and never experienced any antisemitism (and I taught Hebrew, sang in the synagogue choir, and did a myriad of other blatant Jew things in CVille). Hillel does a great job of integrating UVA and Jewishness - like bagels on the lawn every wednesday, Israel day with cake on the lawn for yom ha’atzmaut, yom ha’shoah on the lawn by reading names all night long, etc. I realize it’s slightly different than your complaint, but because no one complains when Jewish people do these things on the lawn/publically, I feel we shouldn’t complain when another faith does something with their faith in our view.</p>
<p>I realize that admitted students days must be hectic for all concerned. But might it be possible to provide some leeway in the future for students who would prefer not to attend a session in the chapel? It’s my understanding, from having scheduled support group meetings in churches over the years, that some religions (or at least individual churches) forbid members from entering any other church - so this might be a problem for people whose situation is not identical to the OP’s.</p>
<p>I’m with 89wahoo above. I am not a believer, and don’t feel uncomfortable in churches, chapels, or other religious structures. But others may, for a variety of reasons. It might serve UVA well to attempt to consider that, if possible.</p>
<p>The OP was not here for an admitted student day. They came for an information session. </p>
<p>If stepping foot in a non-denominational chapel was forbidden or presented a challenge for a visitor, there are other options presented on the website. The locations of the information sessions are posted on our website over a month in advance, so when they made their reservation, they should have noticed the location of the session.</p>
<p>Yesterday, we were in Newcomb Hall Ballroom. Another day, we’ll be in the Alumni Hall Auditorium or the Rotunda.</p>
<p>89wahoo actually said that they are completely comfortable in the chapel. :)</p>
<p>I know.
I tried to convey above that I, too, am comfortable in chapels. I probably should have been clearer and just said that, as an unbeliever, I feel comfortable in chapels, rather than saying that I don’t feel uncomfortable in them.</p>
<p>My favorite are weddings in a Catholic Church. They make sure to say “The Lord’s Prayer” before Communion, so they can listen to the Protestants continue on with “For thine is the kingdom …” so they know which people can’t have Communion. (smile)</p>
<p>LOL Charlieschm that was too funny.</p>
<p>I’m not particularly religious but I love the chapel and plan to visit it when I’m at UVA next year. I thought it was beautiful and would love to be married in there some day. :)</p>