“We always ask our RAs to use judgment about the way students might perceive their actions and to be a role model and have an open door policy to all students.”
– Kelly Johnson, assistant director of University Housing

On any given day students can be found wandering around campus yelling, “Dude, where’s the party at?” But you aren’t likely to hear anyone screaming, “Hey, where’s the Bible study?”

But despite its quiet presence, religion as a popular movement on campus is being threatened for some students at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

Lance Steiger, a resident assistant, was told in July that he would face disciplinary actions if he continued to hold Bible studies in the basement of the dorm as he had during the 2004-’05 school year.

According to a November Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article, a university official said that because RAs are essentially state employees and need to be accessible to all students, they are only allowed to partake in religious activities as long it doesn’t occur in the same environment where they are in supervisory roles.

UWM, however, does not agree with UW-Eau Claire on the Bible study issue.

“We do not have a policy here that prohibits that,” said Kelly Johnson, assistant director of University Housing. “We always ask our RAs to use judgment about the way students might perceive their actions and to be a role model and have an open door policy to all students.”

Last year in Sandburg Hall, Jeremiah Snyder, an RA for an all-male house in West

Tower, held Bible study in the cafeteria every Tuesday at 7 p.m. for about an hour.

When he heard about the Eau Claire decision, he said that he had mixed feelings.

“I kind of expected it because I know that Satan is out there working against us,” Snyder said.

He always knew that some people were intolerant of Christianity but at the same time was surprised because of how supportive his residential programming manager was of his religious involvement.

“He said if there is anything you need, I will help,” Snyder said.

Third-year RA Kris Rosenwald said: “The goal of our job isn’t to push anything on anyone. If he just did it as a student on campus, then it should be OK as long as it didn’t interfere with his job and residences.”

UWM students agree.

“I wouldn’t think anything of it if they weren’t doing it as a house program,” said Jori Carloss, a junior resident of East Tower and the national communications coordinator for Sandburg Halls Administrative Council, which takes groups to regional and national conferences on university housing programming.

Snyder’s Bible study was organized through Campus Crusade for Christ and he never solicited residences to attend. But he never made his religion a secret either.

“If conversation started going that way and (a resident) was really struggling in family situations, I started telling them about what I was a part of,” Snyder said.

On his board outside his room, he openly stated his enjoyment in reading the Bible and participation in religious activities. Knowing of his involvement, “Two residents choose to come, but no one ever felt pressured,” Snyder said.

The year before Snyder was an RA, he co-led a Bible study in the dorms and didn’t intend to move it because of his position.

“It’s easier for students to meet there,” Snyder said. “I had to walk like 80 steps and anyone walking through we are open to (joining us).”

His Bible study was not an element in his RA programming but he said his Christian beliefs did affect his interactions with residents. One resident in particular was repeatedly drunk and disruptive, tearing down decorations and making lots of noise. One drunken night he told Snyder that he must hate him because of his behavior.

“I remember feeling real compassion for him but I wasn’t even really upset,” Snyder said. He then told the resident, “ ‘I’m going to love you no matter what. You have the capability to make amazing decisions.’ I think it was good for him to hear that.”

Snyder later found that the young man had a spiritual side and used that as a way to connect. By the time spring semester ended, Snyder could see a dramatic difference in the resident.

No longer an RA, Snyder lives off-campus and holds Bible study at his house, but the Bible study issue was not a factor in his decision.

“It is simply an issue of freedom of religion,” said Campus Crusade for Christ President Michael Dick. “We like to see people get involved in Bible study because you are able to talk about deeper issues in smaller groups.”

He said more than a dozen Bible studies affiliated with Campus Crusade for Christ are held on- and off-campus.

“If I wasn’t allowed to have an open Bible study in the dorms because they felt that people couldn’t be open and be themselves, that would be limiting me as an individual,” Snyder said. “It makes me question whoever is running Eau Claire.”

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