FROM THE COVER
A-spectrum RELIGIOUS student DIRECTORY experiences on MSU’s campus Stay up to date at: www.statenews.com/religious
All Saints Episcopal Church 800 Abbot Rd. (517) 351-7160 Sun. Worship: 8am, 10am, & 5pm Sunday School: 10am www.allsaints-el.org
Hillel Jewish Student Center 360 Charles St. (517) 332-1916 Services: Friday night 6pm, dinner @ 7, September–April www.msuhillel.org
Ascension Lutheran Church 2780 Haslett Rd. (517) 337 9703 Sun. Worship: 10:00am Sun. Bible Study: 8:45am Thur. Bible Study: 2pm www.ascensioneastlansing.org Email: ascensionlutheran@att.net
The Islamic Society of Greater Lansing 920 S. Harrison Rd. (517) 351-4309 Friday Services: 12:15-12:45pm & 1:45-2:15pm For prayer times visit www.lansingislam.com/
Chabad House of MSU 540 Elizabeth St. (517) 214-0525 Prayer Services: Friday night services followed by traditional Shabbat dinner @ Chabad. www.chabadmsu.com Eastminster Presbyterian Church UKirk at MSU Presbyterian Campus Ministry 1315 Abbot Rd. (517) 337-0893 Sun. Worship: 10am www.eastminster church.org Greater Lansing Church of Christ 310 N. Hagadorn Rd. (Meet @ University Christian Church) (517) 898-3600 Sun: 8:45am Worship, 10am Bible Class Wed: 1pm, Small group bible study www.greaterlansing coc.org
Martin Luther Chapel 444 Abbot Rd. (517) 332-0778 Sun: 9:30am & 7pm Wed: 9pm Mini-bus pick-up on campus (Fall/Spring) www.martinluther chapel.org Pentecostals of East Lansing 16262 Chandler Road (517) 337-7635 Service Times: Sundays: Prayer 10:30am, Service 11am Wednesdays: Prayer 6:30pm, Bible Study 7pm pentecostalEL.org Denomination: Pentecostal The People’s Church multi-denominational 200 W Grand River Ave (517) 332-6074 Sun Service: 10:30am with free lunch for students following worship. The PeoplesChurch.com
Religious Organizations:
Riverview Church- MSU Venue MSU Union Ballroom, 2nd Floor 49 Abbot Rd. (517) 694-3400 Sun. Worship: 11:30am-ish www.rivchurch.com
BY ALEXIS STARK ASTARK@STATENEWS.COM
St. John Catholic Church and Student Center 327 M.A.C Ave. (517) 337-9778 Sun: 8am, 10am, Noon, 5pm, 7pm M,W,F: 12:15pm T & Th: 9:15pm www.stjohnmsu.org University Luthern Church (ULC) Lutheran Campus Ministry at MSU 1020 S. Harrison (517) 332-2559 Sun. Worship: 8:30am & 10:45am (Sept–May) Summer Worship: 9:30am www.ulcel.org University United Methodist Church 1120 S. Harrison Rd (517) 351-7030 Main Service: Sun: 11am in the Sanctuary Additional Services: TGiT (Thank God its Thursday): Thur: 8pm in the Chapel of Apostles universitychurchhome.org office@eluumc.org WELS Lutheran Campus Ministry 704 Abbot Rd. (517) 580-3744 Sat: 6:30pm msu.edu/~welsluth
Don’t be left out of the Religious Directory! Call (517)295-1680 to speak with an Account Executive today
Her dad would talk to her about which boys or girls she liked. He jokingly asked, “Well, what are you, asexual?” Genomics and molecular genetics junior Brenna Jeffs realized she might find some answers within that identity. She looked up what being asexual meant, and the definition stayed at the back of her mind for a long time. “I know, personally, I probably realized I was (asexual) when I was around 14,” Jeffs said. “I really only started the process of coming out and accepting it when I was 18.” Jeffs is now the president of A-Spectrum, an inclusive group for asexual and aromantic MSU students and their allies. A-Spectrum provides a space for students to explore the evolution of their identities. Psychology freshman Alex Meister enjoyed their transition into college life at MSU and the chance to explore their asexual, panromantic identity. “It’s been pretty positive. I think people are really accepting,” Meister said. “This is kind of my first time being out in a lot of different ways, so I feel like people are willing to learn even if they come from areas that don’t have that kind of representation.”
DEFINING ASEXUALITY, AROMANTICISM AND ATTRACTION
Research on asexuality is ever-growing. Current numbers indicate asexuals make up approximately 1 percent of people, according to the Asexual Visibilit y and Education Network. Within asexual and aromantic communities, common definitions encompass different forms of attraction. The concept of identity as a “spectrum” allows individual human beings to identify in varying ways, and thinking of attraction on a spectrum eliminates permanent labels. “A lot of people tend to see asexuality, or labels in general, as very permanent now and I don’t think it used to be that way,” Jeffs said. “Now it’s like you can’t dare to be wrong or be questioning. But it’s okay to question and it’s okay to come into a space and try to work out your feelings.” Attraction is a person’s desire or interest in someone, be it romantically or sexually. Asexuality and aromanticism exist on a 4
T H E STAT E NE WS
spectrum, much like sexuality. “Asexuality is a lack of sexual attraction or, because it’s a spectrum, experiencing it very rarely,” according to Jeffs. “Aromanticism is lack of romantic attraction and the spectrum that goes with that.” Gender also exists on a spectrum. Agender describes people who don’t identify within the binary of male or female. It’s sometimes known as being gender-neutral. Political science and economics freshman Ash Clarke identifies as agender. There are instances where others don’t always understand what that means. Clarke said they try to embrace the unknown and continue to live by their own rules. “I don’t fit in a box,” Clarke said. “I express my identity by just being me and not trying to conform to anything. I think it’s pretty simple.”
MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT THE A-SPECTRUM
Because they make up a smaller percentage of the population, asexual and aromantic people often find themselves being asked what their identity means. “A lot of the time I have to explain it, which I’m fine doing, but it’s kind of frustrating a little bit, where I’m like, ‘Okay, another vocab lesson.’ But again, I don’t mind,” Meister said. “A lot of people are willing to learn.” Some p eople have never hea rd t he terminolog y — so they ask for it to be explained, according to Meister. “Usually, ‘What the heck is that?’ is kind of the top thing,” Meister said. Asexual, or ace, and aromantic, or aro, people also receive questions about the legitimacy of their identity. “A lot of people, I think, just don’t think it ’s real. T hey conf use it with asexual reproduction,” said Lucy Angers, a linguistics senior who identif ies as bot h asexual and aromantic. Stemming from the lack of education on asexual and aromantic identities, other people sometimes feel discomfort asking ace and aro people questions. “Definitely people don’t think that it’s real and a lot of people ask really inappropriate sexual questions, like about your sex history, whether or not you masturbate, if they can ‘change you,’ that’s a big one,” Jeffs said. “It’s difficult sometimes because there’s a boundary between sharing overly personal information and still wanting to educate and help people understand.” Other FAQ revolve around sex. “I get asked, ‘What if your future partner wants to have sex?’ and for me personally, I’m not interested, but there’s another subset on the spectrum where people would be like, ‘Yeah, sure. Once I get to know the person I’ll be fine,’ or they do it for reproductive means,” one asexual student said.
“ I T ’ S R E A L LY BEING QUEER.”
VULNERABLE
Societal standards place an emphasis on a heteronormative model for relationships, according to Jeffs. Those who do not fit within TH U R S DAY, N OV E M B E R 2 9, 2 01 8