You Belong Here: Building a Culture of Belonging at Texas Christian University
Nine students from distinct faith backgrounds at Texas Christian University snapped photos responding to a series of prompts about belief and belonging on campus. They composed the photos as part of a retreat-style photovoice project Interfaith Photovoice facilitated in late January to identify shared experiences, needs, and concerns related to life on campus as students from multiple faith communities.
Participants used the photos to tell stories about their beliefs and faith practices on campus, where and how they experience belonging, what hinders their sense of belonging, and what a campus culture of belonging could look like. To paraphrase one student, “This is how I want TCU to be known!” Others described an increased understanding of other religious traditions; a deeper appreciation for the people, places, and things on campus that help them feel safe and that they belong; and a stronger sense of unity and trust.
"Sometimes to be accepted into a group, you have to think the right thoughts, wear the right clothes, know the right people. You have to morph into the right puzzle shape that the group is missing. To belong is to be accepted into the beautiful mosaic of originality and authenticity that is unique to each group of people. To belong is to be embraced for who you already are." — Sarah
"The Commons is an incredible third space on campus. With circles of purple and grey adirondack chairs, it's a great place for people of all backgrounds and perspectives to come together. I hope that TCU continues to develop more third spaces-places neither at home nor places of work-to allow people to slow down and communicate across faith traditions and practices." — Katie
"The fountain at the Neeley School of Business represents, to some people, a beautiful education journey that springboarded them into a career. For me, it represents times where I spent questioning whether our core values were the same as everyone else's on campus. It is also representative of a space where I felt like I had to put my guard up to get through the day. It represents a sense of not belonging. But Neeley is a springboard for me in other ways because it helped launch my drive to create spaces where all were welcomed and loved." — Noah
"If God is real, there is no way that God fits into any binary of what a man is. In my mind, if God is anything that humans can identify and label, God would be a queer figure. To me, to be queer is to be all loving and accepting. When I came to a Christian university, I did not think this concept would be celebrated, but I also didn't think that my queer identity would be targeted. If God is real, and I am made in the image of God, why do people hate and dismiss those who do not follow the earthly tradition of heterosexual relationships? It feels awfully anti-Christ to me." — Sarah
"This is a table and banner we set up to promote our Know Your Neighbor Night (KYNN). KYNN is a night where students of different faith backgrounds gather at tables to share a meal and be led through questions to foster authentic and vulnerable conversations about our faiths. Throughout this experience, we learn more about other peoples traditions and how we can better love and be in community with them. I hope to create more spaces like this on TU's campus so we, as students, can all better support one another as we journey alongside each other and grow in our own faiths." — Noah
"A collection of paintings depicting biblical passages from an Orthodox Christian Campus Ministry meeting. Beside the officers, everyone was from different faiths, and we spent this time painting, chatting and eating popcorn. I hope for more spaces like this at TCU." — Jonah
"These are some scattered music stands in the music building at TCU. A music stand holds a musician's music when playing or using their instrument. Although all music stands function similarly, they all carry different types of music for various instruments and styles throughout their journey. To compare a music stand to humans, we all have similar functions and our bodies work similarly, but we have different brains, ideas, and faiths that individualize us. The stand is our body; the music is how our brain is wired and what we believe and value in different things. We all stand together in one room with the power of many minds." — Sophia
"TCU football (and athletics in general) has been a bridge for many students on campus. We set aside our differences of who we are and what we believe to do things like cheer on our undefeated football team, sit with each other after a devastating loss, or even be in community with one another as we mourn the loss of a student at the game. This feeling of togetherness embodies what it means to be a Horned Frog. How do we create more spaces and feelings like this on campus?" — Noah
"As we sat together at dinner, my aunt and I shared space for our authentic vulnerability. We shared common ground of not thinking that any religion has it right. She shared wisdom of the power of listening and experience, one that I desperately needed a reminder of. I felt at peace listening to her and story-swapping. Our experiences in this country are vastly different from each other, and yet we shared common ground of being curious and open minded about what faith and truth means to us." — Sarah
"For as long as I can remember, every Sunday after attending 8:00 am mass, my grandmother makes brunch for my family. This image represents how food in general is a daily reminder of my Catholic faith-before eating a meal, I pay a prayer of thanksgiving with the sign of the cross. Brunch also symbolizes the importance of celebrating my faith as part of a community, and community is so often cultivated with food." — Katie
"I learn a lot from working with kids. The way they play, the authenticity is something I try to carry as a part of my daily life." — Jonah
"This statue stands on the side of Rees-Jones Hall. Every Tuesday and Thursday, as I walk from my 8:00 am in the music building to get my daily dose of Peet's Coffee, this statue stands along my path. I never noticed it until I finally looked around and took this picture. This statue represents the student body at TCU and how we pass each other every day, but we never look up at the people around us and how individual and unique any person can be in who they are and their faiths." — Sophia
"The first verse of the first chapter ("The Opener") of the Qur'an reads, "Praise be to the Lord of the worlds." The philosophical and theological implications of this verse are profound-all of creation inhabits a unique subjective world. Each of our worlds are designed by the sum of our unique life experiences, memories, and perspectives. The occurrence of each experience of each being has a probability of zero and thus is so special and important that God created the rest of the world so one may experience that. This core piece of my belief has shaped my worldview, each interaction has become an opportunity to travel across worlds and learn from ideas and perspectives that I could never even imagine. The more diverse the ideas, backgrounds, cultures and beliefs of those I meet, the greater the opportunity to expand my own perspectives and explore dimensions of existence previously unknown to me. In this picture, the different window panes symbolize individual perspectives, each coloring and shaping reality in its own way. Yet a combination and appreciation of them all, gives a greater view of the bigger picture." — Habeeb
"Rest is incredibly important to me in my daily life. The routine of lying down at the end of the day and waking up fresh and renewed is sacred. On a particularly warm January day, I opened my windows and enjoyed the fresh air and breeze that embraced my face and body. There, I rested." — Sarah
"Being Coptic, there's a lot of misconceptions about my faith. "Are you really Christian?" followed by a questioning look or confusion about our traditions. I wish we could see the ways we were alike first and then learn to appreciate each other's differences too." — Jonah
"My confirmation saint is St. Joan of Arc, so my confirmation sponsor gave the necklace to me at my-you guessed it-confirmation when I was 14. It's a reminder of how I can emulate St. Joan by following Christ through the challenges that I face, and that I shouldn't fear what God has in store for me, regardless of what others may think. My family has also always supported me and helped me develop in my faith, so when I'm not with them, and especially when I'm not with them, and especially when l'm at college, I wear it as a reminder that all my family's taught me how to live out my faith." — Katie
"This photo initially just looks like a rearview mirror of my 2010 Toyota Prius as I wait for the light at the intersection of University and Cantey to turn green. But below the surface, it reminds me to stop focusing so much on what has happened in the past that I lose sight of the here and now." — Noah
"This is a piano at the music building at TCU. I find my spirituality, religion, and connection to God through the messages and impacts music makes." — Sophia
"This is a picture of one of my cousins took on his disposable camera while I threw up the signs to rock on and closed my eyes because of the flash. Surprisingly, it captures a core practice of Islam that I practice daily: to have faith in God and enjoy the music (situation of life) in the moment for happiness, sadness, victory, and defeat. All are just the ever-changing seasons of life, and to enjoy or experience them fully is the control l have." — Habeeb
"For my religion credit, I took a class titled, "Understanding Religion, Society, and Culture." As a first year, I could not have taken this class at a more opportune time. As someone who didn't know they were in need of some spiritual grounding, I journeyed to the first level of Beasley Hall where I learned that God is not one; where I learned that I find beauty and knowledge in every religion. I wish that TCU students were more willing to engage in interfaith dialogue." — Sarah
"As a Coptic Christian, I spend the nights before Easter or Christmas in prayer with my community, up until 12:00 am, then we break our Lent fasting with a huge feast. My brother and I are both deacons, but we are also big sleepers. This photo was taken by a friend while my brother and I enjoyed a quick nap." — Jonah
"This is a cart that fell over after a long journey of trying to get some children's books into a garage at the church I work at. It makes me think of times in my life that I have felt like that cart-that my journey was too bumpy and now everything is scattered. How can we better see when others carts have fallen over and be there for them to pick it back up?" — Noah
"Love is the truth. The prophet Muhammad peace and blessings be on him, says is one of his 40 Nawawi narratives (Forty Hadith of an-Nawawi), 'None of you will believe unless you love for others what you love for yourself.' And 30% of the Qu'ran teaches only ethics and moral values. When I came across this poem on the New York metro, it really stood out to me and has become one of my favourite ones. To love those different from ourselves, to know good and bad, are only two sides of the same coin, and forwarding the love we receive to all of humanity is one of my most cherished practices in daily life." — Habeeb
"A message of peace and love for one's self and one's body. As an agnostic college student at a Christian college conference, I found myself looking for what I could take away. The sharing of this message of peace and love felt humanizing. I hope that despite your background, you know that I love you." — Sarah
"This is one of my favorite spaces on campus. In summer it's bright and full of flowers; in spring there are butterflies everywhere, flitting around; and winter brings calm stillness. It is a perfect place for meditating on life, alone, or with friends." — Jonah
"These are students working on an art project at the English center where I volunteered when I studied abroad in Spain. Volunteering with them reflects how the Gospels say that the two greatest commandments are love of God and love of neighbor. Volunteering is one way I'm passionate about showing love to my neighbor, yes. But this photo also reflects how I value showing compassion, love and patience towards all people whom I encounter." — Katie
"I can't help but stop and partake in the beauty of a sunset at TCU. With the chapel in the background, I find a sense of solitude amidst the challenges of each day. A sunrise and sunset represent much more than a picturesque scene - it reminds us that even through darkness, there is always light." — Ryan
"There is nothing that sparks my faith and belief like nature. The wind knocking down the gorgeous fall foliage in my home state of Georgia reminds me that faith is seen through individuals ready to move mountains for others." — Ryan
"The Christmas tree lighting at TCU is a special night. As a practicing Christian, the lighting symbolizes a season I am closely in touch with. The TCU community comes together to bask in joy, hot chocolate, and music in a manner which is not commonly seen throughout our university. TCU also provides events for students of all different faiths on this campus, a key detail in ensuring that every student's varying religious needs are seen and heard." — Ryan