Source: Press Release
Reno (Nevada, USA), May 16:
The Second Annual Interfaith Baccalaureate Service of University of Nevada-Reno (UNR), held here today, celebrated academic achievement with prayers from major world religions.
Starting with Bhagavad-Gita shlokas (verses) of Hinduism in Sanskrit, dated around 300 BCE, the Service included hymns, readings from scriptures, blessings, teachings, music, prayers, etc., from various religious traditions including Protestant, Catholic, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, and Bahai.
According to Rajan Zed, Director of Interfaith Relations of Hindu Temple of Northern Nevada and one of the coordinators for this Service, it mirrored the world citizenship of UNR community. In the atmosphere of growing faith pluralism, the interfaith baccalaureate provided the students and others involved with an environment for divine contemplation that met the requirements of the society, he added.
Many 2007 graduates, family and friends of the 2007 Class, and others, attended the Service, where local Imam, Abdul Barghouti, was the keynote speaker and Most Reverend Randolph R. Calvo, Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Reno, blessed the students. Besides Zed, other members of the Service Coordination Committee included Rev. Chuck Durante, Pastor of Our Lady of Wisdom University Catholic Community; and Rev. Ruth Hanusa of Campus Christian Association Special interfaith certificates carrying symbols of world religions were presented to the graduates on the occasion by Zed and Hanusa.
In recent years, there has been an increased attention to diversity and consciousness of the world's faith traditions. There is revived interest in baccalaureate services in number of educational institutions across the country like Yale, Brown, Cornell, Emory, Howard, Occidental, etc. In use since at least eighth century, origins of the baccalaureate service point to an Oxford University statute of 1432, which required each bachelor to deliver a sermon in Latin as part of the academic exercise.
Rajan Zed stated that although UNR faculty, students, and staff belonged to various backgrounds, came from various places, and observed different faith traditions, yet they worked in amity and shared respect, tied together with a pursuit for scholarship and intellect. They established and maintained a sense of fellowship, kindliness and responsibility, and all religions were instilled with acceptance, mercy, love, and kindheartedness.
Baccalaureate service basically means service where a sermon is delivered to the graduating class. The first documented baccalaureate service at UNR was said to be in 1917, with six others organized randomly over the last century. The last chronicled service was in 1960 and last May, first interfaith baccalaureate service was held.
In addition to the degree awarded at commencement, baccalaureate refers to spiritual observance that celebrates achievement besides being an occasion of thanksgiving.