There are really very few ways to feel like an outsider at Bard whose maxim is diversity, but being religious is definitely one of them. Even during the most important Christian holidays, the tiny Holy Innocents’ Chapel in the middle of campus has a daily visitor average of 0.5, even those are mostly vocal majors benefiting from the intimate solemnity and unique acoustics of the two century old walls. Despite its central location you hardly find a more desolate place on campus.
Bard being the hodgepodge of hyper-liberal late-bloomers has probably the smallest population of students of any religion (apart from Obamaism) so it came as no surprise that the first (and probably last) faith-related student debate was entitled “America is too religious.” The promising panel duet consisted of Bard’s iconic Jewish president, Leon Botstein and its Chaplain, Bruce Chilton drew enough students to fill the largest auditorium on campus. Even in the midst of a busiest pre-midterm week, people gathered in masses at the smell of blood.
On the panel, students of varying (liberal) beliefs were also represented speaking out for or against the provocative resolution with a characteristically Bardian undertone featuring high levels of religious illiteracy or ignorance. A sample of talking points à la Bard: “the colonists were a bunch of sexist, racist, neo-mercantilist religious fundamentalists;” given the current demographic trends of America, “time’s up for the WASPs” so they better start preparing for their future role as America’s most powerful minority; America might not be too religious but “there are far too many fundamentalists defining its policy”; “religion is a private matter and politicians shouldn’t talk about religion when they make policy or diplomacy”; "it’s shameful that today nearly any minority can make it to the presidential office except for atheists." The last one being particularly worrisome for the vast majority of the audience in such a secular country as America.
Struggling with my strong reluctance to embrace these high-minded neoliberal propositions, it was quite comforting to hear that I was not the only one feeling a twinge of uneasiness. The brave and eloquent public statement of a sophomore sociology major was a real slap in the face of the “highly tolerant and accepting” Bard community. As much as she enjoyed all the benefits of a liberal arts education, she was raised in a Catholic family and thus regards herself as an observant Catholic she feels not only marginalized but recurrently labeled naïve by most of the students on campus. Three of her close friends, a Jewish and two Muslims left Bard pushed by the same feelings and disappointing experiences. So much for that famous sweeping tolerance that rules campus.
Bard, originally founded as St. Stephen’s College as a pre-school into the seminaries of the Episcopalian Church, has indeed come a long, long way since 1860.
