Elon University’s motto, Numen Lumen, meaning “spiritual light” and “intellectual light,” brilliantly reflects the union at the heart of universities. What began as monks writing and copying books by candlelight in monasteries eventually transformed into sprawling nuclei of learning, what we know as universities. Intellectual communities were born from spiritual communities, seeking to sustain, build and proliferate knowledge for the betterment of humanity. In balance, these two spheres, the spiritual and the intellectual, create the singular community of scholars and students.
Elon has made tremendous strides in its history to bring its motto to fruition. Recently, religious and spiritual life has grown with spectacular pace, most notably with the opening of the Numen Lumen Pavilion.
Elon has also taken steps to develop academic life, from Fellows programs to the Academic Village. My Elon experience, now reaching its fourth and final year, has benefited greatly from a multitude of Elon’s academic opportunities. Still, I have not been entirely fulfilled by my academic experience, and throughout the course of three years, I’ve met other students who feel the same way.
Minimally engaged classes and poorly-attended speakers were common grievances. Co-curricular intellectual life at Elon, or lack thereof, was mentioned more than once. A desire for more spaces for intellectual discussion and collaboration was overwhelming. So we got to work. This past spring, 20 or so students and faculty began meeting to discuss the intellectual community at Elon. We created a faculty-facilitated book group and an open “coffee klatch” discussion following lectures. We met with administrators, and found unwavering support and passion. We found an enthusiastic collaborator in the Student Government Association.
We talked about what we meant by “intellectual community.” Coffee shops with students and faculty discussing their passions; gatherings of all disciplines, debating politics, science, or communications; 2 a.m. conversations about Plato, Shakespeare, and da Vinci. A campus hub in which those conversations can take place. Literal and metaphorical places for students to share their intellectual fervor and curiosity with other students. A vibrant and engaged classroom life that overflows into study abroad, campus organizations, residence buildings and dining halls. I believe this Elon is possible.