Hagander told the Star Tribune that partnerships such as that between Bethany and CAIR are crucial to building a multifaith community, something Augsburg College long has held a commitment to as a school of the Lutheran church.

Bethany, through Matson, and CAIR, via executive director Jaylani Hussein, are looking forward to continuing to grow their partnership.

Read: “” on the Star Tribune site.

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Award-winning author, columnist, and professor Samuel Freedman featured five Augsburg College community members in a commentary for The New York Times’ On Religion section. The piece, “,” highlighted the work of Muslim Student Program Associate and Chaplain Fardosa Hassan ’12. 

As Freedman reported, Hassan is among dozens of chaplains on college and university campuses across the U.S. to “play a vital dual role: helping Muslim students feel welcome, and introducing Islam to non-Muslims.”

This work, according to Hassan, has the potential to assist students during their college days and positively influence individuals’ lives long after graduation.

“My role is to help students negotiate this multifaith, diverse environment,” Hassan explained to Freedman. “I’m going to give them a tool for when they go out of this institution, so they know how to be respectful of others. A lot of times, people are afraid even to ask the questions of people who are different. So I say, begin with friendship. Start by saying hello.”

In his column, Freedman acknowledges that interfaith conversations are meaningful and necessary not only on Augsburg’s campus but also just beyond its borders in Minneapolis.

Augsburg “is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and has traditionally attracted the vast majority of its students from white Protestant denominations,” he writes. “Yet its campus directly abuts the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood that is the epicenter of Minnesota’s population of 31,500 Somali Muslims. Perhaps nowhere else in the United States does a hockey rink sit so close to a halal meat market.”

While Augsburg has been a collaborative neighborhood partner for many years, President Paul Pribbenow has deepened that commitment in an effort to help the College fulfill its calling to foster conversations between the diverse residents of its vibrant community.

The story touches on interactions between Hassan and Augsburg College students whom Hassan has helped reflect on their spirituality to consider how it shapes their interpretations of the world. In this role, Hassan partners with College Pastor and Director of Ministries Sonja Hagander in individually supporting students as they navigate highs and lows, challenges and opportunities, faith and even their final exams.

Person-to-person efforts, according to Hassan, are at the heart of her work.

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Augsburg College alumnus, Chaplain to Student Athletes, and linebacker coach Rev. Mike Matson ’06 is the pastor at Bethany Lutheran and the driver behind this community meal. Supported by volunteers and one talented chef, Soup for You is a chance for people of varying backgrounds to come together in an environment that focuses on dignity. In the article “Church program offers hot soup, warm welcome,” Matson underscored that the program focuses on bringing people together.

“Our model is mutuality, and what better way is there to show mutuality than to gather at the same table together?” he said.

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By Wendi Wheeler ’06

Jeanette Clark ’07 and Antonio Spargo ’07 don’t know a lot of the current Day students. That’s because most of them were in high school when Clark and Spargo last attended Augsburg. So now that they are back on campus as campus ministry interns, they believe their most important job responsibility is getting to know students.

Both Clark and Spargo have been studying at Luther Seminary, and each has completed at least one internship already. Dave Wold, who knew Clark and Spargo because of their involvement with campus ministry as undergraduates, contacted the seminarians this summer and asked if they would like to work at Augsburg this fall.

“It’s like an internship but not,” Clark said. Though it is early in the school year, Clark sees her role as supporting students and helping campus ministry groups “get off the ground for the year.”

As undergraduates, Clark and Spargo were campus ministry commissioners and, as such, had duties to fulfill. Now they said they are not tied to any specific responsibilities, making them free to discover opportunities to engage with students.

Spargo said he hopes to connect with students at lunch and campus events. “The role that has appeared for us now is being the face of campus ministry to students and helping them see that campus ministry is here for them,” he said. Spargo, a former Auggie football player, is especially excited to find ways to interact with student-athletes.

Clark is looking forward mostly to hear what students want to do through campus ministry. “I want to work with students to make their ideas happen, and I’m very excited about the opportunities where faith and service connect.”

As graduate students, both know this year will provide learning opportunities for them. Clark is open to listening and learning, and she hopes to find ways to put students’ ideas into action. Because she aspires to a career in campus ministry, learning how to support students is important for her.

Spargo is glad to be back, learning and practicing in a place where he has strong connections. “There are so many great people here to learn from and young adults going from what they grew up with to what they now believe for themselves,” he said. “I want to serve them in whatever ways they need.”

Welcome back Jeanette and Antonio!

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Sarah is originally from Fremont, Neb. and has a BA in English from Midland Lutheran College. She is married (her husband is also a student at Luther) and has two young children. Sarah wanted to complete her internship in the Twin Cities to stay with her family. Though she likes working at Augsburg, she said it’s not what she expected. “Working at a college is relational ministry,” she said. “Augsburg is a congregation but in a different setting.”

Joe grew up in Papua, New Guinea and moved with his family to northwestern Minnesota at the age of 10. He received his BA in English and American studies from St. Olaf College. He has enjoyed working with the campus ministry office and with student leaders at Augsburg. “A big advantage to working on a college campus,” he said, “is there are so many educated people around. There is always someone to talk to about issues or your interests.” Joe has also appreciated hearing a variety of speakers in Augsburg’s daily chapel services, everyone from President Pribbenow to the students. “It’s a gift to be a part of that,” he said.

Joe is also working with athletic teams at Augsburg and has enjoyed attending sporting events and getting involved in the athletes’ lives. Sarah said she has been impressed with student involvement in ministry events. “Most events are student led and planned,” she said. “I think it says a lot about them that they are invested and take it upon themselves to get involved.”

Both Sarah and Joe were involved in helping the Augsburg community mourn the death of Ahmednur Ali, the student who was shot and killed Sept. 22 outside the Brian Coyle Center. They observed how Augsburg handled the situation and were able to hear from the outside community as well. Sarah said it was an opportunity for her to learn how to help people as a pastor. Joe said he appreciated the interfaith conversation and the challenge of incorporating different faith traditions into a unifying service in light of a difficult situation.

Sarah and Joe are eager to learn as much as they can about Augsburg and to truly be a part of campus life. “We appreciate when people introduce themselves to us,” Joe said. “It gives us a chance to get to know them.”

Meet Sarah and Joe during daily chapel: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 10:20 a.m. or Tuesday and Thursday at 11:20 a.m. Augsburg’s daily chapel service is open to all.

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