So maybe the university’s off-campus policy isn’t all bad. True, it is sometimes hard to find, since everything — from the Sullivant Hall courtyard to the new physics research center — seems to be undergoing construction, while the off-campus area lies sad and dormant. USG even had to pass an activity fee to ensure that some form of entertainment at all related to the university occurs.

But though they are hard to find, OSU-sponsored off-campus initiatives are there, often in the most interesting places.

In the economic and entertainment vacuum that has been created in part by the STOP program and partly by the impotence of Campus Partners, it has been — to a large degree — religious organizations that have tried to fill the void, with the help of the OSU Wellness Center.

The increasingly popular trend of late-night church activities — a union cooperative effort between the different churches and the Wellness Center — is beginning to offer students with a lack of late-night entertainment opportunities a social outlet.

The late-night breakfasts at the Indianola Presbyterian and Summit United Methodist churches have become fairly established. Other programs with the Lutheran Student Chapel and the King Avenue United Methodist Church have been discussed, as well as a similar program at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church.

Pam Elwell, St. Stephen’s campus ministry coordinator, oversees a quarterly event at her church, including an open mic session, a free meal and the guarantee of open camaraderie.

“We welcome anyone who comes through the door,” she insists.

Most campus churches do. I admit: At first my friends and I were afraid to enter the Summit United Methodist Church late one night. We had no idea what was at stake, and in the state we were in, heading into an unfamiliar church can be dangerous for sure, if not permanently damaging.

But those serving us acted like we were visiting pastors — not wandering drunks — and treated everyone like old friends instead of possible converts.

I experienced gentle hospitality at the Indianola Presbyterian Church, when I attended a breakfast there months ago.

Campus ministry has always been a strong presence, but sometimes for the wrong reasons and with messages that are proclaimed too forcefully to fall on anything but deaf ears. But these institutions — in a smart extension of their already strong campus ministry — are showing that all one has to do to help the dangerous and volatile campus after hours situation is hard work, a cafeteria and a smart idea.

The local church programs could be commended for a number of reasons, most of which revolve around the fact that they are providing a service to the community in which they are situated. Their service — though based in Christian traditions — is one where the evangelism is only offered, not mandatory.

Their grace is that the events are never self-serving, but instead benefit any student interested.

While I am not sure what the implications of this program may be for the success of larger-scale faith-based initiatives, the vigor of campus churches, coupled with OSU support, is a small glimmer of hope, showing that the administration has not completely abandoned everything and everyone east of High Street.

These programs represent one piece in a puzzle that must be deciphered soon for the benefit of everyone on this campus — the type of program that offers much to the OSU community, which has been robbed of many of the things that may have brought them here in the first place.

John Ross is a senior in comparitive studies. He can be reached for comment at [email protected].