"It does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no God.  It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." - Thomas Jefferson

I had the distinct pleasure on Tuesday of once again heading over to the Multipurpose Lawn for Meet Your Religious Leader Night. It is an event that I look forward to each and every year, not just to push my own religious organization and certainly not for the loose-meat sandwiches from Chartwells, but for the sense of diversity celebration that happens there.

Some people I have talked to think that an event such as this goes against the supposed "separation of church and state" while others feel it simply reaffirms the powerful grip that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints holds over this community. I simply do not agree with those assertions. Anyone who takes the time to go to this event would see that in addition to the zillions of LDS college wards present, are Methodists, Lutherans, the Church of Christ and many other churches. Not only churches take advantage of this great event, as the Catholic Newman Club, Campus Christian Fellowship and even the Pagan Awareness club is there to reach out to the students. The atmosphere of openness and acceptance (not always a hallmark of religion) is a breath of fresh air that particular night.

Students come to SUU to get an education, and what kind of education would that be without interaction between different religions and backgrounds? As a na've young man from rural Utah, Meet Your Religious Leader Night was my first interaction with several different religions, and I have been much better in my endeavors outside of this state because of it. By the same token, a student who comes to Utah to study can't even think of getting out of here without some kind of interaction with the LDS Church, it's simply inevitable.

This event serves as a time of fellowship and even education, with representatives ready willing and able to discuss information about their respective organizations. I find it downright awesome that people from dozens of different religions and beliefs can sit down, enjoy their loose-meat and share what they have in common.

I think that it speaks highly of the culture of SUU that we hold this event, and that is such a success. It's not just about cookies from the Catholics and water bottles from the Calvary Chapel, but really a sense of community, and I hope that more can be done continually promote that feeling throughout the year.