Source: The Boston Globe
On October 28, 2000 The Boston Globe published an article entitled "Back to Nature: Paganism growing in popularity on nation's campuses." The article offers photographs of the ritual activities of MIT's Pagan group; they had to "point out that the dedication plaque in the chapel promised it stood for all students to worship God in their own way" before they were granted use of the space. A professor comments on the growth in Pagan groups as follows: "It's natural for college students to be attracted to things they haven't thought or experienced before," said Christine Thomas, a religion professor at the University of Californa at Santa Barbara. "But this movement is a reflection of a lot of things: fascination with the occult, the lack of one religion's hegemony, and the explosion of information and networking opportunities available on the Internet." While there is a "culture of tolerance at colleges" some Pagan students are afraid to reveal their interest, particularly to their parents. For a listing of college Pagan Groups, see the Rensselaer Pagan Association's list of Student Pagan Organizations.