Page 14, Kudos to cult committee

Opinions: Daily Illini Editorial, 02/18/94

They might have had to spend a great deal of time and money to do it, but
after two public hearings about cult activities on Illinois college
campuses, the Senate Education Committee finally came to the correct
conclusion that problems with cults can best be solved through public
awareness.

The Education Committee undertook an investigation of cult activites on
campuses in response to complaints from parents and public university
representatives. During hearings, the committee heard testimony from
parents, former cult members, college officials and representatives from
"questionable" organizations.

Even though the committee learned that many students did not know about
cults and were unprepared to deal with their methods, it wisely realized
the religious aspect to many organizations. One person's religion is
another's cult, and the committee recognized that the government has no
place in legislating the beliefs of any group. Instead the committee urged
universities to distribute information about cults to their students.

In addition, the committee recommended that each public college and the
University develop training and education programs for administrtion,
faculty members, residence hall directors and advisers, and
students--including informational material to be distributed to incoming
freshman.

The committee should be commended for recognizing its role in this
situation and not turning an attempt to raise public awareness about cults
into a condemnation of certain organizations or a listing of possible
cults.

The University also deserves praise for identifying the problem early and
creating its own informational process. Even though we've never seen one,
the University does distribute an educational brochure titled "Cults:
Advice to College Students," that is given to incoming students.

The best way for students to avoid becoming unwitting members of a cult
organization is to know the facts and make their own decisions about
what's best for them. Hopefully the actions of the Education Committee and
the University will help to keep students from being taken advantage of.