By Lauren Dixon

November 3, 2008

Amidst a whirlwind of reporters and media frenzy, members of EC Spiritual Life Council are trying to move past the incidents of recent weeks.

Safia Jilani allegedly lied to police by fabricating a hate crime. She was arrested and charged with filing a false police report. Her trial will begin on Nov. 17.

 SLC President and close friend of Jilani, Soofia Ahmed said the group is moving forward and helping members in whatever way they can.

“We've been talking about it,” said Ahmed, a junior at EC. “Students are very used to talking about it and what we can do to continue the healing process. The whole college has responded very well.”

SLC has offered counseling services and provided a place where students can feel comfortable talking about the incident.

“We definitely lean on each other for moral support,” said Ahmed. “Since we talk about such personal issues we have all become so close. It's been a safe haven.”

An interfaith organization dedicated to representing all religions of Elmhurst College, SLC's main goal is to promote tolerance and acceptance among students from many diverse faiths.

“SLC has really started to come alive during the years that I have been here,” said junior SLC Director of Outreach Carly Notorangelo. “In light of these tragic events, it's so refreshing to come into an environment where you can express your opinion and not be judged.”

The beginning of every SLC meeting has an introduction, followed by an icebreaker. The rest of the meeting is structured around an article of choice that fosters discussion about religious pluralism.

“We sit down and talk person-to-person on the issues, as people,” said Ahmed. “People can connect on a common perspective.”

Recently, SLC sponsored “Got Faith?” week on Oct. 26 through Nov. 2. The week began with a lecture by Sulayman Nyang, widely published scholar and professor at Howard University, on Oct. 26.

Events such as “Dean's Documentary and Danishes” and “Pasta with the President” were also hosted where the students could sit down with administration and talk about important issues of religious tolerance.

“Pasta with the President’ was very cool, he’s such a fun guy,”  Ahmed said. “He has been very involved. [The president] has come to SLC meetings several times.”

According to both Ahmed and Notorangelo, SLC will continue to be a safe place where all religious views and backgrounds are welcome.

“When people learn about religion, they learn about themselves,” said Notorangelo. “It might sound cheesy, but it’s absolutely true. Religion opens up so many aspects of yourself.”