Dartmouth College strives to foster a pluralistic environment in which all expressions of religion and faith are respected and recognized. Currently, the Student Organizations Committee within the Student Assembly is pursuing a project that we believe will promote these principles.
Through an investigation of the condition of the stained glass windows in Rollins Chapel, we hope to gauge the feasibility of restoring these precious works of art in a chapel that acknowledges many different faiths.
One suggestion raised by members of the student body is to remove the stained glass windows and place them in the Hood Museum after they are restored.
Some students have indicated that they prefer not to have religious images in Rollins, which is intended to be a non-denominational place of worship.
As the co-chair of the Rollins project subcommittee, I feel that a more appropriate option would be to retain the historical value of the chapel by leaving the windows in place, allowing the students who want to see the windows to do so and covering the images for those students who prefer not to view them.
The Student Organizations Committee recognizes that sometimes events and religious ceremonies are held in the chapel during which it is not desirable to have Christian images present and is investigating various ways in which to cover the windows for these situations. One option is to configure hinged slabs of frosted glass that would, when necessary, hide the depictions on the windows while still allowing light to enter the chapel.
This plan would serve all students by adding to the chapel's ability to accommodate the desires of multiple faiths: While Christians and admirers of fine art would benefit from viewing the images that are currently concealed, the beliefs and practices of non-Christians would not be impeded or compromised by the depictions on the windows.
Furthermore, this new system would benefit all groups by bringing much-needed light into the dark chapel.
Transferring the windows to the Hood would detract from the historical and artistic significance of both the windows and the chapel. When Rollins Chapel was completed in 1885, its valuable stained glass windows were dedicated in honor of the past presidents of the College. Thus, the windows make up an important part of the chapel and the College's rich history.
Moving the artwork from its original location would diminish both its meaning and its value. This perspective is shared by our fellow Ivy League institutions, which continue to display religious artwork in their interfaith chapels.
The location of the stained glass windows is also important symbolically.
Currently, Rollins Chapel contains physical manifestations of each of the major religions practiced by Dartmouth students. The elimination of Christian images would suggest that Christianity was being removed from the chapel, which is not consistent with the pluralistic values of the College.
It is important to remember that we are still in the preliminary stages of this project. At this point, the only decision that the Student Assembly has made regarding the windows is to further investigate the possibility of restoring them.
The Student Assembly is a representative body for all students, and as we continue to discuss possibilities for the windows, we want to ensure that everyone is included in the investigation of this project.
We have been seeking input from the various religious groups on campus, and invite anyone who has an opinion on this issue to blitz or speak directly to us.
Restoring the stained glass windows in Rollins Chapel would allow for the uncovering of valuable historical artwork and would improve the chapel for everyone by letting in more light.
The Student Assembly works to bring about progressive changes that are beneficial to the student body, and this is what the Rollins window investigation project is ultimately all about.
