I love Chapel. Or at least I used to. Once upon a time Chapel was my favorite part of the day; a chance to sit back, praise God, and hear more about what was going on in our community. Chapel was once a unique activity which combined building community with corporate worship, but it has lost that focus and instead continues to move in the direction of forced worship.

It’s become just another devo, or worship service, except that we are all forced to attend this one. And it has lost the student element which once made it so valuable.

Cutting out groups like Shades or the traditional yearbook presentation has lost what was once part of the greatness of Chapel: getting to recognize other students’ accomplishments. Things like IJM and Spring Break Campaign Chapel were important because they allowed students to become more aware of ways they could become involved in work which glorified God. And by not allowing executive speeches in Chapel during SA elections, the administration undercuts any SA efforts to increase student participation and awareness about voting.

But why don’t we hear outcries from the groups who have lost their Chapel privileges or the students who miss the community we once had? Maybe it is fear-fear of the administration’s reaction to criticism. But the administration is not made up of ogres. The people on the Chapel Programming Team understand that people have other opinions and have a right to voice them. And they are adult enough to accept criticism without back-lashing against those who criticize.

Chapel has grown increasingly more rigid, and what was once a joy has become a burden. Though the Chapel Programming Team has the students’ best interests at heart, perhaps it is time for them to admit that they might be wrong. And it is time for students to stop complaining about Chapel and start doing something to change it.

Aubrey Eyer
junior English major from Grapevine and SA Chambers representative