We see their booths on a regular basis, staffed with friendlypeople waiting to discuss the issues of life and death,spirituality and culture.

They stage campus events to further engage members andnon-members alike.

While many students stop to talk, many more pass by them withouta second thought.

Some choose to use them as a way to gain greater understandingof themselves and the world around them. They are the religiousorganizations at Sac State.

There are currently 12 religious organizations on campus thatencompass many of the world’s faiths, including Christianity,Islam, Judaism and Sikhism. All are based on creating a bond amongmembers and providing education and guidance for anyoneinterested.

Basma Marmosh, vice president of the Muslim Student Association,said these groups provide an important aspect of college life forboth members and non-members of a religious faith.

“We want Muslims on campus to unite, but we also holdevents to open dialogue among students,” she said.

One of those events took place when the MSA invited non-Muslimsto join them in a fast for a day on Nov. 19 in honor ofRamadan.

Ramadan is a period of ritual fasting undertaken by all Muslims,during which they abstain from food and drink from sunrise tosunset for 30 days. The day culminated with all of the participantsbreaking their fast together in the Redwood Room of the StudentUnion. The celebration included food as well as a speech fromMuslim leader Sheikh Wasser Sazaqua.

Marmosh characterized the event as both a celebration forMuslims and an opportunity to share their culture with otherstudents.

“We had about 25 to 30 non-Muslims show up,” shesaid. “It went really, really well. One girl told me how shefelt really welcome.”

The MSA frequently holds similar events, such as guest lectures,exhibits and cultural displays, in addition to the table they putup in the library quad on most Wednesday and Thursdays.

Marmosh has found that interest in the 30-year-old organizationhas increased dramatically since the Sept. 11, 2001 tragedies, withthe vast majority of students reacting positively and with thedesire to learn.

“A couple people give comments about how Islam is not apeaceful religion,” she said. “But most peoplecome just to ask questions. A lot more people are interestednow.”

Marmosh’s sentiments are echoed by other religiousleaders.

“There is some level of general hostility because of worldevents,” Jewish Student Union President Amanda Glincher said.”But people seem positive in general.”

The Jewish Student Union offers students a chance to discusstopics at their weekly booth on Mondays in the library quad.Glincher said the increased presence of the group on campus hasincreased awareness and communication among students.

“We are a lot more active this year, so people actuallyknow we exist,” she said.

Glincher said she gets frequent questions and the occasionalopinion about Israel and Judaism but, she insists, that is not thefocus of the group.

“We try to stay non-political,” she said.”People may have opinions and that’s fine. That’swhy we live in this country.”

Another group, the Sikh Students Association, began on campus asa response to the confusion and ill will spawned by Sept. 11. Theorganization, founded upon the beliefs originating in the Punjabregion of India, formed only weeks after the terrorist attacks as away to inform students about the religion, as well as todistinguish it from others.

“We got the backlash of September 11 really hard,”SSA President Tajinder Singh said. “We thought we better dosomething.”

The fact that there had not previously been any Sikhorganization at the school came as a shock to Singh.

“There are 500,000 Sikhs in the United States,”Singh said. “We were surprised to learn when we got to SacState there was nothing.”

Singh and other founding members have since built the SSA uponsimilar organizations at other schools in order to create communityamong those Sikhs on campus as well as expose their religion toothers.

The group is attempting to get Sikhism added to the curriculumof the world religions class, HRS 140. In the meantime, they arespreading word via flyers and the occasional booth.

“A lot of people don’t know what Sikhism is, but 90percent of turban wearers are Sikhs,” Singh said.

Singh, as well as the other religious leaders, said that thestudents who stop to talk have been very supportive and eager tolearn.

“At Sac State we haven’t had any problems;nothing,” he said.

Still, apathy among students has prevented more of a campuspresence for many groups.

“It’s a very hard place to develop community,”Sacramento Christian Fellowship minister Tim Smith said.”It’s hard to be effective at a commuterschool.”

This difficulty has prompted the SCF to limit its activities oncampus.

While they have two or three booths set up per semester topromote philosophical and scientific debate among passing studentsand faculty, they have generally limited their booth use to thefirst three weeks of the semester.

The opportunities are there, however, for the interestedstudent. Most of the religious groups hold meetings and prayers oncampus, all of which are open to the public. Much like the Ramadanevent, non-member participation is welcomed and encouraged,according to Singh.

“We are here for people that really want to learnsomething,” he said.