University of Nevada to have 'interfaith prayer-room' in upcoming Student Center

07 March, 2013

Prestigious University of Nevada-Reno (UNR) has reportedly included the interfaith prayer-room in the design of proposed Student Achievement Center building expected to open in Fall 2015.

Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, one of the leaders of the group, which was pushing for the interfaith prayer-room since 2011, met UNR President Marc A. Johnson yesterday and presented a memorandum in this regard.

Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, was told by Johnson that until the Student Achievement Center building containing the proper interfaith prayer-room was ready; UNR would provide a temporary facility as interfaith prayer room in Raggio Building of the campus as a short-term solution.

Zed has commended UNR for accepting the longstanding need of students of interfaith prayer-room and thus recognizing the intersection of spirituality and education. It is a step in the right direction, Zed adds.

Many universities in USA and Canada already have prayer/meditation room/chapel for quiet reflection and spiritual exercise.

Zed stresses that with the presence of a prayer room, UNR students will have a spiritually meaningful life in addition to material success after they graduate from here. Prayer room will be another feather in UNR’s cap in making it a world class educational institution, Zed points out.

Johnson told Zed that this 76,000 square-feet Student Achievement Center would include various student service units, academic support units and common spaces, including student veteran’s lounge; all directly affecting students; and would stay open into late night hours. Designers were currently designing the building and working on the design of interfaith prayer-room which would be an important part of it. Construction would start on January 14 next, he added.

Northern Nevada clergy belonging to various religions/denominations; including Sparks Summit Christian Church Senior Pastor Stephen Bond, Roman Catholic Diocese of Reno Chancellor Matthew Cunningham, Northern Nevada Muslim Community President Sherif A. Elfass, Reno Buddhist Center Priest Jikai’ Phil Bryan, Temple Beth Or Rabbi ElizaBeth W. Beyer, Bahá'í teacher Bradley S. Corbin, St. Anthony Greek Orthodox Church Priest Stephen Karcher, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Area Public Affairs Director Nicholas F. Frey and Reno First Congregational Church Pastor Rich Smith; have welcomed the UNR’s initiative for interfaith prayer-room.

UNR, founded in 1874 and which has over 18,000 students, is known for helping to create the world’s most accurate atomic clock, earthquake expertise, highly ranked MBA program, several Pulitzer Prize winners and for "study of the behavior of matter at extremely high temperatures and densities". About half-a-dozen Hollywood films were shot here and it is home to one of the largest earthquake-simulation labs.