Black and white photograph of a fenced off field of arable land in Wheaton, Illinois, as shot by photographer, Douglas Gilbert, as a part of his master's thesis in photography. Gilbert graduated with an M.S. in photography from the Institute of…

Black and white photograph of a field of arable land in Wheaton, Illinois, as shot by photographer, Douglas Gilbert, as a part of his master's thesis in photography. Gilbert graduated with an M.S. in photography from the Institute of Design at the…

Black and white photograph of a rural railroad track in Wheaton, Illinois, as shot by photographer, Douglas Gilbert, as a part of his master's thesis in photography. Gilbert graduated with an M.S. in photography from the Institute of Design at the…

Black and white photograph of Owen Barfield, the British philosopher, author, poet, and critic, smoking a cigar while standing alongside author and professor, Clyde Samuel Kilby, on the campus of Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois. Barfield visited…

Black and white photograph of Owen Barfield, the British philosopher, author, poet, and critic, smoking a cigar while standing outside on the campus of Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois. Barfield visited Wheaton College as a visiting lecturer on…

Black and white photograph of Owen Barfield, the British philosopher, author, poet, and critic, smoking a cigar and smiling while having a conversation with author and professor, Clyde Samuel Kilby, on the campus of Wheaton College in Wheaton,…

Black and white photograph of Owen Barfield, the British philosopher, author, poet, and critic, smoking a cigar and smiling while standing outside on the campus of Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois. Barfield visited Wheaton College as a visiting…

Black and white photograph of a close-up view of Owen Barfield, the British philosopher, author, poet, and critic, while deep in thought and seated in a lounge chair at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois. Barfield visited Wheaton College as a…

Black and white photograph of Owen Barfield, the British philosopher, author, poet, and critic, reading a book while seated in a lounge chair at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois. Barfield visited Wheaton College as a visiting lecturer on April…

Black and white photograph of Owen Barfield, the British philosopher, author, poet, and critic, smoking a pipe while seated in a lounge chair at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois. Barfield visited Wheaton College as a visiting lecturer on April…

The Bhagavad Gita is a sacred book for Hindus. I remember participating in the Bhagavad Gita sloka recitation competitions in my childhood. The Bhagavad Gita offers profound insights into personal transformation. It is part of the larger epic, the…

The Holy Quran holds a special place in my life as a practicing Muslim. Revealed to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) by God, it serves as the center of my faith and a constant source of guidance. Each day, I strive to deepen my understanding of its teachings,…

Lord Ganesha welcoming customers at the entrance of an Indian restaurant in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is a beautiful representation of the cultural significance of this deity in Hinduism. Lord Ganesha, also known as Ganapati or Vinayaka, is the…

This picture captures a moment of profound personal significance as I pray to Lord Shiva during Mahashivaratri after fasting for the entire day. It symbolizes the essence of devotion and austerity that define this sacred occasion, resonating deeply…

Puja is a religious ritual practiced in many Indian homes, including mine as an Indian living in America. In this ritual, lamps are lit as an offering to the divine. The light from the lamp symbolizes knowledge and the power of the sacred, while the…

Through Interfaith Photovoice, I was part of many conversations about belonging. Where do I belong or have a home? Lenten bouquets are not an official tradition within the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Christian tradition that I practice, but the…

Mezuzahs are often found outside of doors in Jewish spaces. They are there as a reminder that you are entering a holy space and should act accordingly. When I am in my hometown, I see many of these. Being in a new environment here at GVSU with not as…

This photograph captures a moment of tranquility within one of the Interfaith Reflection Rooms at GVSU, where individuals from diverse backgrounds come together to pray. In Islam, prayer, being the second pillar of the faith, holds significant…

Growing up, I didn't have a lot of exposure to LGBT books, fiction or non-fiction. Every reference was treated with a great deal of sterility and distance if not complete dismissal. So to find out we had an entire little library on campus dedicated…

We can get in our own way of belonging. I judge myself harshly that I don’t fit into any one category and get in my own way of belonging to any one thing. I judge others (even though I am trying to break this habit) before I enable myself to open up…

Distortions and internal conflicts and challenges that disrupt my sense of belonging. A fractured identity struggling to connect the pieces to the larger puzzle. Rejection, judgment, exclusion not only from others but especially myself. A sense of…

This photo sums up, most artistically, my thoughts over the course of our Interfaith Photovoice. Coming out of high school, I felt accomplished but as if I missed out on knowing my class as well as I could have. If future Franklin pointed out all the…

At GVSU, I struggle finding suitable spaces to practice my religious rituals. The random room captured in the photo symbolizes the challenges I encounter in accessing dedicated areas for prayer on campus. As a student navigating these constraints, I…

Many of you will recognize GVSU's Laker store and the kiosk to pay for campus parking. For me, this photo represents why I've struggled to really feel like I belong to any sort of broader GVSU community and why campus has always felt slightly hostile…