Head of Pagan group clarifies club’s aim
October 2, 2007 by JENNIFER JACKSON
Filed under Variety
Raymond Wiley, the co-president of the Pagan Students Association for three years and a senior from Canton, was interviewed about the organization as part of a Q & A club series.
Q: Why does your organization exist?
A: The PSA is classified as an advocacy group, so it’s not like a campus ministry. The purpose of the group is to exist as a co-religious group. We all belong to different paths, but we meet together.
Q: What is a common misconception about your organization and how would you clarify it?
A: A lot of people want to discredit our group because of the word “Pagan.” In previous centuries, to call someone a “Pagan” was to call them unreligious.
Some people call us a witches’ coven, but that’s not what we do. We don’t perform set rituals – we have rituals in the Founder’s Garden a few times a year, but everyone looks at them from a different perspective. It’s about building a community.
Also, I don’t know where people get this from, but we’re not the S&M club – we do not advocate public sex. That’s not what we’re about. But at the same time, we’re not going to turn someone away because they identify with a different sexual orientation.
Q: What does your organization do besides meet?
A: We do a social event during the semester such as a dance – we’ll be doing one at the end of October. Also, we planned and organized two anti-war rallies last year where we worked with other student groups.
Q: Who is encouraged to join your organization?
A: Spiritual-seekers – or people who want to learn more about all of the choices and paths that can be found in this world.
Q: When, what time and where do you meet?
A: We meet in Tate 141 at 7 p.m. on Tuesday nights.
Q: Is there anything else students should know about your organization?
A: Everyone is welcome here. Also, if you want to learn more about Pagan topics, here is a link to a discussion named “The Eternal Pagan Psycho Drama.”
