Sathyamoorthy Anandan, an industrial engineering graduate student, changed countries – but not his faith – when he came to NIU.

Anandan, who was born Hindu, has time to study, but also makes time to practice his religion.

Religion is very important for Indians, Anandan said.

“Eating cow meat is not one of the things I will ever do because in India, cows are holy animals,” he said.

Anandan adores Shiva and Vishnu, major gods adored in southern India, and takes time every week to go to a temple in Aurora, he said.

Hinduism is just one of the religions present at NIU.

Junior education major Shane Adriatico, a Catholic, also finds time to practice his faith.

“I go to church every week, I pray every night,” he said. “I believe that God is always there for me.”

Adriatico, who goes to the Newman Catholic Center, said religion plays an important role in his life.

“Every time I am going through tough times here, I pray and it does give me something to look for,” Adriatico said.

While some students make time to practice religion, for others, college does not leave too much time for faith.

Junior psychology major Stephanie Downey goes to church once in a while, when she visits her hometown.

Attending church helps Downey feel better, but college life does not allow her time to go very often, she said.

Besides attending religious services, there are twenty SA-funded religious organizations where students can get involved.

These organizations all vary in religious affiliation. Catholicism, Muslim, Judaism and different Protestant denominations are among those represented.

For some students, religion is not a part of their lives.

Speech-Language Pathology graduate student Mylinh Hau, who is Agnostic, said she does not have time to think about anything religious, but she does enjoy all Christian holidays where school is closed.

Faith is a part of everyday life, beyond just attending holiday services, according to one local religious figure.

The Rev. Marilyn Hanson, a senior pastor at the DeKalb First Lutheran Church, said religion and faith are what gives people focus for their lives; it is a reason for living, guidance and a firm foundation on which people can stand.

A time of need can be the moment that most people seek out religion, Hanson said, but people do come to church for variety of reasons.