Of the 46 religious and spiritual groups listed on  N.C. State’s website, 90 percent of the groups are Christian-affiliated. However, the Muslim Students Association, Hillel, Art of Living Club, Buddhist Philosophies and other clubs stand as exceptions to a Christian-dominated landscape.  

Though there are few organizations representing the University’s diversity, the minority is working hard to provide belonging for all.

Zainab Baloch, a senior in psychology and student on the Shura Council for the Muslim Students Association, said the group participates in member socials, service projects and various outreach and interfaith events throughout the year.

“Most of our members are very active,” Baloch said.

According to Baloch, the MSA holds general body meetings every other Thursday, and 80 to 100 members show up every time.

“February is Islamic Awareness Month,” Baloch said, “so we’ve had quite a few events for everyone.”

Aaron Sugar, a junior in environmental sciences and president of Hillel at N.C. State, said the group is “the center for Jewish life on campus.”

Sugar said the 80-member club has programs every other week, which focus on religious services, philanthropic activities and social gatherings.

The Secular Student Alliance group lists itself under the support and outreach category and

provides non-theistic students with a unique niche in campus life.

Nicholas Freeman, a senior in aerospace engineering and president of the Secular Student Alliance at N.C. State, said the group “promotes scientific and critical inquiry, democracy, secularism and human-based ethics.” 

Freeman said he believes one of the main functions of the SSA is to provide a community for non-religiously affiliated students. He said that many of the group’s members identify as atheist, non-theist or agnostic.

“Many students at N.C. State find community in their churches or other on-campus religious groups, and it’s very easy for the non-religious to feel left out or feel that they don’t have a voice on campus,” Freeman said. 

The SSA periodically hosts debates and guest speakers, according to Freeman. There are weekly meetings in which group members discuss a wide range of topics including history, philosophy and current events in science and politics.

Freeman said members of the SSA want to “increase the visibility of the secular community on campus” by placing tables on the Brickyard with information about the group and literature about popular secular culture.

“Anyone is welcome to join as a member, regardless of religious affiliation, as long they support our main principles of critical inquiry and the separation of church and state,” Freeman said.

The 42 Christian-affiliated organizations are broken down by denomination: Adventist,

Baptist, Catholic, Methodist, Non-denominational, Presbyterian and Quaker.

Several churches in the Triangle area have an on-campus presence to draw students into

a greater Christian community.

Cru, formerly known as Campus Crusade for Christ, is one of the more prominent Christian outreach groups at N.C. State.

Hundreds of students are involved with the campus ministry and many of them participate in

smaller, discipleship groups supervised by staff or upperclassmen leaders.  

The group is active in recruiting younger students and plans a variety of social events throughout the year to create a sense of community within the organization.

   Todd Smith, a Senior Field Staff member with Cru said “We host a lot of large, fun events during the school year that anyone can come to.”

   Smith said the group has grown in numbers over the years and a lot of that is “by word of mouth” from siblings and others who were involved with Cru while at State.

“When we meet on campus in the early fall, we will have as many as 1,200 students come out,” Smith said.

Students who are interested in learning more about a particular group should consult the N.C. State student organizations website.