On Friday afternoon, students and faculty gathered in the University of Massachusetts Campus Center for a lunch sponsored by UMass Cru. The lunch gave students the opportunity to speak with Christian faculty about their faith, as well as listen to Rick Harper, an extension associate professor in the department of environmental conversation, speak about his personal faith journey.

Ric Haupt, the UMass Cru team leader of 20 years, organized the event in the hope that students and faculty might discuss the interaction between faith, God and academics.

“We started this about four or five years ago, trying to partner students with faculty, and it just felt like an informal lunch would be a great way to do that,” said Haupt. “I want our students to integrate with the faculty a lot more and help them see that there are Christian faculty.”

Harper detailed his experience with faith in recalling a “spiritual revelation” he had in a coffee shop as an 18-year-old undergraduate studying in Minnesota when he overheard others discussing faith. He encouraged those in attendance to similarly embrace their vulnerability as students in a new environment on campus and welcome new opportunities.

“My biggest calling is to try to love other people, to try to be honest with people and to try to conduct myself in a humble way in academia,” said Harper. “I think you have tremendous opportunities at this stage in your life because you have tremendous freedom. Use that freedom to learn, to grow, to travel, to serve others and to serve God.”

Christine Crago, an associate professor in the resource economics department emphasized the importance of the presence of Christian faculty.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for students and faculty to get together, who are all invested and interested in Christianity, to share their thoughts and their life experiences,” said Crago. “Some students may have the impression that spirituality and belief in God are in contradiction with science and reason, but hopefully the presence of professors and other academics who are Christian will be a good way to hopefully show that they don’t have to be in direct contradiction with each other.”

Alison Germagian, a senior nutrition major, was excited to attend the lunch and hear how faculty specializing in the sciences incorporate their Christian faith into their fields of study.

“I think it’s really cool to talk to professors who have the same faith because they’re professionals, they’re highly educated and it’s great to hear their perspectives,” said Germagian. “I really value hearing about what they have to say, about how they live out their faith in their workplace, but also how their faith influences their discipline and how their discipline influences their faith, especially with science, because I’m a science major.”

Germagian is a part of student leadership with UMass Cru and helps lead life groups, which are small study groups held throughout campus. She hopes to see continued fellowship and growth within UMass Cru, and wants future members to “feel like part of a family.”

UMass Cru has been an active Christian organization at UMass for 50 years, hosting a variety of events such as kick-off parties at the beginning of each year, holiday gatherings, fall retreats, winter conferences and group outings to UMass athletic events. About 40 of the group’s members are currently preparing for a spring break retreat to St. Augustine Beach in Florida, where students will engage in outreach, learn how to communicate faith with others and help with an orphanage in Jacksonville.

UMass Cru holds daily prayer times in its Bartlett office, as well as weekly group meetings Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. in Room 163 of the Campus Center.

McKenna Premus is a Collegian columnist and can be reached at [email protected] and followed on Twitter @mckenna_premus.