"If [Protestant chaplain] Andrea Ayvazian could make me cry with just a prelude of what the discussion would be like, I knew I had to attend and have the whole experience," said Kate Flewelling '97. She and about twenty-five other students and staff attended the first "Soup, Salad, and Social Change" lunch at Eliot House on February 18. Organized through the Office of the College Chaplains by Ayvazian and Lyla Brown '97, this series of three meetings provides an opportunity for discussion of progressive social change from a theological perspective. Participants gather for a simple lunch and presentations by guest speakers.
Brown and Ayvazian conceived the program by "spontaneous combustion" during many talks. Brown, a critical social thought major, comes from a family active in advocating social change and has a deep interest in religious justification for political action. She hopes the program "will provide a forum where ideas can be exchanged and others may be inspired to act upon their beliefs. The college atmosphere is terrific for generating ideas, but few take action." Brown also hopes that the series will continue next year and become a fixture at MHC.
Frances Crowe, this month's speaker, is a Quaker and a long-time local activist for peace and social justice. She spoke about the religious underpinnings of her principles and experiences. "Crowe talked very movingly about the preparation she goes through before acts of civil disobedience, including prayer and reflection based on her years of organizing," said Ayvazian.
"She described the correct way to do civil disobedience, with support from her religion and community," observed Carrie Field '97. "It was very inspiring. It's not easy to be an activist, but look at the opposition she's faced, how she's persevered and is still going strong." Field found it valuable to see social activism arising from a religious perspective actually modeled by a person rather than presented only as a concept.
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