It is well known on campus that courses are typically not scheduled at 10 a.m. on Wednesdays so that students, faculty, and staff, have the opportunity to attend Capital’s chapel service. However, within certain departments this is not the case.
The education department and the nursing department appear to have several courses that conflict with the 10 a.m. hour on Wednesdays. The majority of this scheduling conflict cannot be solved.
“There are eight courses within the education department that are during chapel time. Six out of the eight of them are what we would identify as field experience courses. We have no control over the fact that the students have to be out there,” said Dr. James Wightman, the Chair of the Education Department.
Still, many feel that having this mid-week break is essential to a healthy spirituality. Junior Kayla Keller looks forward to this part of her schedule.
“It’s very important to me. I like to attend worship services regularly. I work Sunday mornings so I can’t go to church on Sunday. Wednesdays are really the only time of the week that I can reconnect with my spirituality,” Keller said.
Dean of the Chapel, Pastor Gary Sandberg, also feels that having this time on Wednesdays is necessary to our well-being. He stresses that even if a student, faculty, or staff member do not use this time to attend chapel, it is still important to have the opportunity to be spiritually alive and at peace.
“I really think that instead of ‘Chapel Hour’ we could call it ‘Sabbath’ because that translates into so many different religious experiences. It is a time when we all get rest and renewal. For some people that is coming to chapel, for other people it is a time when they know that in the midst of a long week there’s a moment when nothing has to be scheduled,” Sandberg said. “No matter what your spiritual grounding, I think honoring a time of Sabbath in the midst of a work week speaks volumes for what makes Capital the special place it’s been for students over the years.”
He stressed that he is not looking to force anyone in to attending a service, despite how busy or free their schedule may be on Wednesdays.
“We are certainly not at a place where I think we should be tracking chapel attendance of individuals and requiring participation. At a Lutheran university we understand that the beauty of our university is the diversity within. To require people to go to chapel would counter what it means to be a diverse institution,” Sandberg said.
Sometimes it is inevitable that classes, work, or meetings may be scheduled during the 10 a.m. hour. However, for some it is important to make sure they can have this time to reflect and recollect.
“I purposefully look at my schedule to make sure I have that time free because I know that there are some classes on Wednesdays at 10 a.m. If I was required to take a class during that time, I would be devastated; I rely on that hour every week. It refocuses me on what I’m doing and why I am at school,” Keller said.
There is a glimmer of leeway when it comes to some of the courses scheduled during chapel. For example, Wightman said content area courses also factor in to the scheduling conflict within the education department. These are courses that must be taken within other departments that go toward a teaching license.
“These courses have multiple sections, one of which is during chapel time. If a student feels strongly about attending chapel they have an opportunity to register for a section that is not during that time,” Wightman said.
“The key is that we keep the ethos of Capital alive. It is what makes Capital special,” said Pastor Sandberg.
