NC State, the largest university in North Carolina, is home to students of many backgrounds, including those who belong to smaller religious communities. Students in these religions engage in organizations, events and practices to engage with their communities on campus.

Kathryn Adams, a fourth-year studying psychology and social work, is the president of the Unitarian Universalist Campus Ministry, a pluralistic faith that draws ideas from multiple religions. 

“Unitarian Universalism essentially operates under the idea that everyone has the right and the freedom to find out for themselves what they believe,” Adams said. “Some people believe in God. Some people don’t. Some people believe in an afterlife. Some people don’t.”

Adams said it can be odd to practice such a small religion because most people know little about it, but the small group setting can have its benefits.  

“I think that it creates better connections, and we’re able to give each other more time,” Adams said. 

Within her religion, Adams said community engagement is an irrevocable part of the practice. 

“In my personal opinion, there’s not really a way to be a Unitarian Universalist without having values of love and community,” Adams said. “There’s not really a solo path that you have to go on like in other religions. It’s an ongoing process that you share with other people.”

Adams said even though most of the campus doesn’t know the group exists, she still feels their impact matters.

“We have our small circle, and we’re able to create meaning and good experiences and value in that small space,” Adams said. “That feels like it’s enough. Like you’re making a small difference, but it’s still a big difference to you.”

Mazin Salah, a third-year studying computer science and the vice president of the Muslim Student Association, said his main role for his religious organization is to plan outreach and charity-based events.

In public schools growing up, Salah said he did not have a large Muslim community ora mosque nearby. Now at NC State, he said that although there are some inconveniences, his experiences have brought him closer to the community. He prays five times a day and shapes his schedule accordingly, and the ritual brings him together with other Muslims on campus.

“Here on campus, there are interfaith prayer rooms,” Salah said. “Usually when I walk in there, I see some Muslims and we all know, ‘Ok, it’s time to pray together.’ That really helps with community building. Eventually I made plenty of friends just by praying alone.”

Through these connections, Salah started going to Muslim Student Association events and local mosque services with fellow students.

“I’ve definitely become a lot more conscious and practicing of my religion as a result of coming to college and meeting the Muslim community here,” Salah said.

Salah said he always appreciates when NC State Dining makes an effort to accommodate Muslim students, and also when professors are understanding of any accommodations he requests.

Sarah Irwin, a third-year studying elementary education and a member of the Lutheran Campus Ministry, said she found it difficult to find people to attend church with until she came to NC State. 

“[Community] is important for me because it’s allowed me to work on my relationship with God and get closer,” Irwin said.

Irwin said the community she has found within her ministry has provided a place for her religiously, but also as a general social setting that is inclusive and welcoming.

“This has been a way for me to find friends and have that group where I feel like I belong,” Irwin said. 

Dhanush Jamadgni, a doctoral student studying material science engineering, practices Hinduism. When he initially moved to the United States, it was to attend Iowa State University where he had no connections or safety net.

Jamadgni was part of an Indian students association, then joined the Hindu YUVA, which stands for Youth for Unity, Virtues and Action, after attending a few events. This membership helped him when he moved to North Carolina. When he couldn’t get housing because of short notice, Jamadgni stayed at a fellow member’s house.

“That’s when I realized that it’s not just an organization which is there to help people on campus or to promote events,” Jamadgni said. “It’s outside of that, doing help for the community, to other people.” 

Being a part of Hindu YUVA also helps Jamadgni maintain cultural traditions, even if they aren’t widely practiced.

“You realize the essence of how important it is to celebrate your culture when you don’t have it around you,” Jamadgni said.

On the day he was interviewed, he was celebrating a festival celebrating the harvest season called Sankranti. Jamadgni said it is celebrated by making a certain dish, and his roommate and he made a concerted effort to cook that dish for themselves and their community.

“We cooked enough so that we can make sure that everybody gets to eat some. It’s small things like that which help you build a community and make sure that you support each other,” Jamadgni said.

Coming to America, Jamadgni knew it would be different and he has found it best to learn how to make those different belief systems coexist.

“You can’t say, ‘It’s my way or the highway,’” Jamadgni said. “It has to be more, ‘We from our belief system that we come from, here’s what we’ve learned, here’s where we’re living and here’s the belief system of this place. How do we make sure that we can co-exist without having to live in a certain way where you’re not happy?’” 

Jamadgni said it’s not only a culture shock for him as a foreigner to American culture, but also for Americans. According to The American Religious Landscape survey by the Public Religion Research Institute in 2020, only 0.5% of Americans identify as Hindu. 

When cultures coexist, Jamadgni said the important thing is promoting understanding and education. Learning about other people’s beliefs, he said, can help inform and reinforce your own.

The representatives from the Unitarian Universalist Ministry, Hindu YUVA, MSA and Lutheran Campus Ministry all emphasized that all are welcome at their events and meetings, to take part in the practice or simply to learn more.