USF religious groups express disapproval of unaffiliated preachers

USF religious leaders criticized external groups for their methods of attracting attention, citing student emotional well-being and the bad reputation they bring to religion. ORACLE PHOTO/ALEXANDRA URBAN

USF-affiliated religious organizations have raised concerns over students associating them with aggressive external preachers on campus, bringing down their reputation.

These same external groups have led to extensive criticism on behalf of students, according to Program Director of USF Hillel and Religious and Spiritual Life (RSL) President Sylvie Feinsmith. 

“It’s very difficult to separate ourselves from these individuals who are strangers to our campus, who are essentially taking advantage of free speech and promoting toxic ideas,” she said.

RSL is a group of religious leaders affiliated with student organizations intended to provide support and resources for the USF community for many different faiths, according to its website. 

The program includes groups such as the Catholic Student Center, the Bhakti Yoga Society and St. Anselm’s Episcopal Chapel Center.

USF organizations differ from external groups in that they must follow university guidelines and policies, which requires all affiliated groups to be recognized as an official student organization by the university. 

The groups are created exclusively for the well-being of the community, which contrasts greatly with the external groups, according to Feinsmith. 

“[RSL is] partners with the university — we are founded. We are vetted, and our behaviors are in line with university policies,” she said. “We are here specifically to partner with the university for the well-being of its students.”

Aldo Mondin, a campus minister from the Reformed University Fellowship, said the groups widen the divide between college students and religion by repelling them with their disruptive tactics of spreading their messages.

Students often react negatively to the aggressive manner or inflammatory messages of the external groups, giving them a bad impression of religion, according to Mondin.

“[The preachers] go out there and they yell at people. And then people react negatively to being yelled at — shockingly,” Mondin said. “They get to confirm their beliefs … And so what it actually does is reinforce the biases that pull us apart.”

Social media campus preacher Cindy Smock — also known as Sister Cindy — for example, held an event at the Marshall Student Center on Jan. 18 to spread her messages concerning religion, which extended to censorship of how young women may dress and controversial comments on the LGBTQ community. 

“[They are] targeting students and speaking to them poorly,” Feinsmith said. “It’s very hurtful for all of organized religion at USF to be painted with the same brush.”

Both Mondin and Feinsmith emphasized that students should ideally avoid interactions with external religious groups to prevent any potential emotional distress caused by their message or behavior. 

“My recommendation is not to engage. There’s absolutely no point — you will not win an argument,” Feinsmith said. “It is not worth your time. It is not worth your energy.”