OCU celebrates Better Together Week

What began as a singular response to an act of intolerance has grown into an annual celebration of diversity and inclusion on the campus of Oklahoma City University.

In 2008, the students of OCU rallied together to promote “Love, Not Hate” in response to a protest being conducted near campus by Westboro Baptist Church. Every year since, the Wesley Center has memorialized the outpouring of love that day with a celebration entitled Love, Not Hate Day. Last year, the event grew to include a celebration of the interfaith diversity, dialogue, and partnership that is exemplified at OCU, and is now known as Better Together Week.

This year’s Better Together Week started April 7 with the World Religions Expo, a student-led event that highlights various religious traditions. Students studying world religions this semester partnered to create displays that showcased either a religious tradition from around the world or a Christian denomination. They were aided in their work by a clergy member from that tradition, who was also on hand to answer questions during the Expo. The free event was attended by several churches from around the area who brought their youth groups and confirmation classes.

The week also included the Better Together Banquet, which celebrated religious diversity. The event was underwritten by five campus groups and the Oklahoma Council of Churches. During the week, the Wesley Center distributed 450 Love, Not Hate t-shirts and participants concluded the week by volunteering at the Regional Foodbank of Oklahoma.