In the era of Dartmouth founder Eleazar Wheelock, religion took the form of a required daily worship for students.
This practice ended in 1925, and today a multitude of religious organizations reflect a religiously and culturally diverse campus.
Now, one of the major functions of campus religious groups is to serve as a support group for students who are accustomed to having religion play a large part in their lives. Community is an important aspect of religious life at Dartmouth, according to campus religious leaders.
As well as coordinating community service, the Tucker Foundation facilitates much -- but not all -- of the religious activity on campus.
The Tucker Foundation lists nearly 20 different religious organizations in its literature, but various other groups worship privately.
There are more than 10 active Christian organizations on campus, spanning a variety of denominations, including the Catholic students' organization Aquinas House, the Baptist Student Union and Navigators Christian Fellowship.
Below are descriptions of a few of the major religious groups on campus.
Aquinas House Catholic Center
Located at the corner of Webster Avenue and Occom Ridge, the Aquinas House is where community members of Catholic faith gather.
The group offers opportunities for intimate discussions about personal religious experiences and opportunities to help out in the community.
Community outreach programs include Good Beginnings, a volunteer baby-sitting service for poor working families, excursions to the Hanover Terrace nursing home every Sunday to visit patients, and Chore Corps, a program to help elderly and disabled people fix up their property and homes.
Aquinas House also offers the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults program for students who have not yet been confirmed, or would like to know more about the Catholic religion.
Meetings are held weekly and led by a priest and students discussing their faith.
Jewish Chaplaincy and Hillel
The newly constructed Roth Center for Jewish Life is the home of the Hillel Jewish student organization on campus. Located near the Choates residence cluster on the West side of campus, the Roth center -- in conjunction with the Tucker foundation -- forms the backbone of the Jewish community at Dartmouth.
A range of social, cultural, intellectual and religious events are sponsored by Hillel, which are all planned by the students who comprise the organization.
Shabbat services and home cooked dinners are held at 6 p.m. every Friday evening during the regular school term. Every other Saturday morning students can attend a Torah reading, discussion and pot-luck lunch. Regular activities also include Sunday bagel brunches, trips and movies, as well as holiday celebrations throughout the year.
The new center is equipped with a library, kitchen, and meeting and entertainment lounges for members of Hillel.
Al-Nur Muslim student organization
Students of the Islamic faith can participate in weekly meetings held in the Tucker Foundation and Friday prayers at Rollins Chapel on campus.
Adel Mansour, the organization's advisor, said there are also social activities and discussions at Tucker with groups of other faiths.
In addition to weekly prayers, the Al-Nur organization convenes to celebrate the coming of the holiest month, the month of Ramadan.
Celebrations are also held for Eid-el-fiter at the end of the month of fasting and for Eid-el-adah.
Students wishing to study Arabic and the Qur'an can attend classes on Sundays in Dartmouth Hall.
Navigators Christian Fellowship
Every Thursday night the Navigators, along with Christian Impact and Campus Crusade for Christ, hold an evening fellowship meeting from 8-10 p.m.
In addition, the Navigators hold retreats, Bible study and sponsor speakers to come to Dartmouth.
Though students have varying interest in religious life at Dartmouth, a core group of committed students and strong support from the College ensure that groups devoted to the spiritual side of college life will remain a force on campus.
