The Medical and Counseling Care Center is reporting a substantial uptick in Chapel-related injuries among students, faculty  and staff this year.

Tyson Alexander, director of the MACCC, said the injuries and ailments his office has seen related to Chapel have been higher this year than any point since the university began keeping records.

“Usually, we see injuries related to intramurals or maybe new member orientation,” he said. “But with the exception of a few students getting concussions from walking into glass walls or bumping into doors, this year it’s been all Chapel.”

For example, several students in recent months have been treated at the MACCCC for breathing problems related to excess smoke inhalation. Others have experienced mini-seizures induced by flashing and spinning colored lights.

“Plus we’ve had a few people complaining of temporary hearing loss from experiencing emotive worship music at high decibels,” Alexander said.

Fortunately, none of the injuries or conditions have been life- or soul-threatening.

Nathan Kranz, campus minister, said the Chapel office and the Office of Student Life are aware of the issues and is taking steps to alleviate the problem.

“We’re placing respirators at all four exits to Moody Coliseum, so anyone who experiences shortness of breath during the Chapel worship can utilize those and not miss a beat,” he said.

In addition, he said, the Chapel office will provide eye masks and ear protection for anyone affected by the pulsating lights or extreme audio volume. 

“So anyone will be able to experience Chapel without seeing or hearing anything,” he said.

The MACCCCC had not logged any Chapel-related injuries for more than three decades until recently Alexander said. Occasional dizziness has been reported by some students after singing Said I Wasn’t Gonna Tell Nobody, but those issues didn’t rise to a clinical diagnosis, he said.

The last major spike in Chapel-related injuries was during 2013 and 2014 when there were a few incidents of bat-related rabies and again in 1983, when the Chapel office still took attendance by taking pictures of each section in Moody. The university that spring implemented a 11 a.m.-sharp deadline for students to be in their assigned seats for the pictures to be taken, and several students were trampled as crowds clamored to get Chapel credit.

Charmin Garcia said she has been among the many who have been injured in Chapel this year.

“I was coming in to get my seat with my friends, and all of a sudden, the lights went out, and I got disoriented in the smoke, tripped on a step and fell,” Garcia said. “Next thing I knew I was on the floor, and everyone around me was stomping to Days of Elijah.”