
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, August 22, 1995                   TAG: 9508230022
SECTION: WELCOME STUDENTS                    PAGE: WS-28   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: DOUG LEVY
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

COLLEGE STUDENTS CAN HANG ON TO THEIR RELIGIOUS TIES

Members of alternative rock group R.E.M. weren't just being poetic when they penned the Iyric "Losing My Religion." They were being prophetic.

Among the Generation X crowd that put R.E.M. in the limelight, religion seems to be significantly less popular than it used to be.

National polls show that only about 10 percent of the students on college campuses are involved with a religious organization at their schools. The percentage increases only slightly for those involved with local churches. Although these statistics are pretty grim to those in the religious community, they are showing signs of improvement.

This is largely because of the church community recognizing the needs of an average college student, and changing to accommodate those needs.

For instance, churches know that college students may feel uncomfortable in a new church atmosphere with few familiar faces. So many churches are implementing "adopt-a-student" programs, where church families "adopt" college students to give them a "home away from home." Benefits sometimes include: home-cooked meals, family outings, a relaxed study atmosphere, and exam packs (cookies, etc.) just to name a few.

Even though groups such as Young Life and Fellowship of Christian Athletes enjoy a large popularity among high school students, the new-found freedoms of college may cause students who were once Involved with such organizations to drift away from them on campus.

Students with religious backgrounds sometimes fall away from their faith and fall in with the "in-crowd." They begin experimenting in the party scene and the dating scene and in many cases, their grades tend to suffer for it

Aside from the good clean fun the religious campus organizations promote, there are other reasons to be involved with them. They often are involved with community projects such as clothing and food drives. Events feature contemporary music and issues that students can relate to; and they often have hiking or camping getaways, which can be a welcome break from stressful campus life. There also are people there who can help students answer some of life's toughest questions.

A quick glance at your student organization handbook or a call to your student center is all it takes to find out what on-campus groups are active. You can attend several to see which one is right for you.

A glance in the yellow pages is all it takes to find local churches. Ask about any college age programs they may have. Many churches will provide rides to students who need transportation.

Doug Levy is director of Eagle's Nest Campus Ministry at Radford University.

by CNB