St. Paul’s Newman Center wins exemptions for freshmen students

Fargo – Freshman students attending North Dakota State University have been granted an exemption to live in faith-based housing at St. Paul’s Newman Center, after an appeal to the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education.

Six freshman students had applied for the exemption to live in the Newman Living faith-based housing, adjacent to campus. North Dakota State University (NDSU) denied the exemptions.

We had high hopes of working with NDSU for the good of the students to include Newman Living, a 501(c) house of religious formation, a process that began last summer when we presented a win-win to NDSU administrators. After months of communicating, NDSU officials indicated they would do the same thing the University of North Dakota (UND) in Grand Forks does and allow freshmen to live in faith-based housing. However, NDSU then denied all of Newman Living’s applicants. Every effort was made to work with the NDSU administration. In spite of our best efforts, including student and parent appeals, NDSU officials made it clear that trying to reach a simple and understandable agreement was futile.

As a result, parents, students, and the Director of the NDSU Newman Center appealed to the NDUS Board of Higher Education for resolution. We are delighted at the board’s conclusion to allow freshmen to live at Newman Living.

State universities across the country have worked with Newman Centers to accomplish a win-win for university culture: when students thrive, our universities thrive. Peer-reviewed scientific data demonstrates one of the most important keys to success for any young adult during the college experience is religiosity, i.e. the practice of religion. Students that demonstrate religiosity have higher GPAs, higher graduation rates, and struggle significantly less with depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, addictions, and a myriad of social ills.

St. Paul Newman Center's 93 years of service to the spiritual needs of NDSU students have been built into one of the top campus ministry programs in the country: focused on leadership generation through faith-based programs. An open-door culture saw fit to invest $32 million into the lives of young adults with a new Chapel, student commons, Newman Center, and Faith-Based Housing.

Thousands of NDSU alumni and supporters from across the region have made tremendous sacrifices to build a future in favor of the Christian faith for our young adults. On the Solemnity of Sts Peter and Paul, Apostles, we offer thanksgiving to God for the decision of the NDUS Board favoring religious liberty and the best interests of our students we are privileged to serve: vibrant leaders, strong communities, healthy society.