Former student returns for faith

By Alex Roman
Daily Forty-Niner

The beginning of the fall semester not only marked the start for students, but also a return home for former Cal State Long Beach student Carol Clason.

Clason's return to her alma mater this semester as the Catholic Campus Minister in the University Interfaith Center marked a new beginning for the excited and enthusiastic alumna.

"It was like a homecoming for me, because when I was here before as a student, I was very active in the Catholic Newman Community," Clason said. "I wasn't too nervous. I was actually excited more than anything."

The Catholic Newman Club began in the 18th century and was named after John Henry Cardinal Newman.

"Cardinal Newman believed that all college students should not only get an education, but have the opportunity to have a theological experience," Clason said. "It was because of his statement that the Newman Clubs were founded."

While each group that makes up the Interfaith Center has its own individualized programs, the Center also works together for various on-campus and off-campus activities, such as the center's annual food drive, which will run from Monday, October 16 through Friday, October 27.

Clason graduated from the recreation and leisure studies program at CSULB in 1988. It is from her internships on campus that she became involved with working with young people, paving the road for her to work as a campus minister.

"I began working with the Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the Diocese of Orange," Clason said. "I enjoyed working with people, but I also enjoyed the ministry aspect. So really from the word 'go,' what I wanted to do is be part of the Catholic ministry."

Her work lead her to a position with the L.A. Catholic Archdiocese, where she worked for seven years before returning to CSULB.

"Different colleges and universities have Catholic campus ministers," Clason said. "But they are all hired and sponsored through the Catholic Archdiocese."

In addition to the Catholic Newman club, the Interfaith Center also has representatives on campus from the Jewish Student Association, Cooperative Protestant Campus Ministry and United Methodist. The groups are also able to link students with other faith groups located off campus.

"We're part of the well-being at The Beach, which means the spiritual health of the students," said United Methodist Campus Minister Mary Kay Will. "That means providing a community where they can find friends and people who share their values."

The center, located in the University Student Union, is run solely on the support of larger religious groups off campus.

"Each group is funded separately," Will said. "So we each have funding through our individual groups and through that we pay rent to the student union and our costs. The university doesn't pay any of our costs. We're considered volunteers of the student services division."

Besides getting reacquainted with CSULB and doing her part in the upcoming food drive, Clason enjoys her job and encourages more students to stop by and pay a visit to the Interfaith Center.

"I love my job because I enjoy working with young people and I love my faith," Clason said. "There are a lot of students who drop by, but we still want everyone to know that we're here from nine to five if anyone has any questions."