Wicca given religious status at BU

After applying and getting denied twice, the Boston University Nemeton Wicca Student Group was approved by the Religious Life Council as a new religious organization on campus Wednesday afternoon at Marsh Chapel.

The RLC denied the group, which applied as a pagan organization the first two times, because paganism is not formally recognized as a religion. But, last semester the organization changed its affiliation to Wicca, which is considered a religion, changing its name to the Wicca Student Group this year.

Nemeton President Aubrey Hooser said renaming the group was not an issue.

"The majority of the group follows Wicca, but the group welcomes anyone who is open-minded," the University Professors Program senior said.

As a unrecognized student group, Nemeton was denied certain privileges extended to religious groups, according to Nemeton Treasurer Jeffrey Barnett.

"In the beginning of the year, all of the religious groups have a table in front of Marsh Chapel," the College of Arts and Sciences senior said. "We would like to be able to represent our religion for the new students, as well. We would also like to be a part of the Interfaith Initiative, where a number of groups from BU get together to discuss their religions. Religious organizations also enjoy several resources the student groups do not have, such as a regular space to meet, protection from the school, the use of religious representations and being listed as a resource for students."

CAS senior Elizabeth Moss stressed the importance of being listed at the Office of the Chaplain.

"We are a very difficult community to find on-campus, even with a lot of initiative," Moss said. "Being associated with the Office of the Chaplain makes it a lot easier for interested people to find us."

Nemeton members said they were thrilled with the RLC's decision.

"I'm very happy about the results," Barnett said. "I'm very enthusiastic about working with the RLC and their resources in the future."

"We're very glad to become a part of the religious community at Boston University," Hooser said.

Moss said although the group's activities will not change, they will have the university privileges available to other religious groups.

"We have to meet with the Associate Dean of Marsh and we are now responsible to Marsh Chapel as well as the Student Activities Office," Moss said.

BU's Nemeton group was founded five years ago to provide an organization for pagans on campus. The group has 10 to 15 regular members and about 80 students on their mailing list.

The group will continue to be active on and off campus, meeting weekly, holding tarot workshops and hosting speakers like local pagan Christopher Penczak, Hooser said.

"We take part in a number of pagan programs, such as Pagan Pride Day, where pagans from all over Massachusetts meet, an annual retreat for the high-holiday Beltaine and open circles for lunar holidays on the BU Beach," she said.