When someone blocks the world out, uninterested, they are only blocking themselves from a space where growth and learning occurs. Cathia Soughe, Phi Theta Kappa Alpha Delta Tau chapter president at Woodbridge campus, can definitely agree with that sentiment.

“My experience as president has been very overwhelming. I work full time, school full time, and being involved in clubs; it’s really hard to manage and do well in all activities.” Soughe thought to herself, “How am I going to make it? This will be too overwhelming.”

It’s been fought long and hard by students at many institutions of learning. The issue of religion and education has been very controversial – striking up heated discussions between students and faculty to allow students the right to practice their religious duties in school.

The new meditation/meeting room “is for everyone” said Haroon Ismail, former Muslim Student Association president and president of the student body at the Alexandria campus. “[Since] it’s a state institution, we can’t have a room designated only for faith-based activities. So, we got this room on the condition that it would be a meeting room/meditation room. Whenever there isn’t a meeting here, students can come and pray and prayers are meetings. It can also be an open space for students to come and have a bit of quiet time.”

Five! Six! Five, six, seven, eight! When I walked into the dance studio, at the Alexandria campus, I felt a surge of intensity come over me. There stood Kathy Harty Gray, wearing all black, hair pulled back in a low ponytail, clapping with vigorous rhythm. Every move, bend, kick and flex came so naturally to her — she had been dancing since childhood. The girls seemed to mirror her unconsciously.

Gray’s love for dance shows in the lightness in her footwork. Her graceful movements are illustrated the moment she steps foot in a dance studio.