It's time to wake up and get back into action. Last April, University administrators said that changes may be made to the Bethlehem, Berlin and Harlan chapels, which currently form a happy trio on the edge of campus. The proposals under consideration include moving the Protestant and Catholic communities into one chapel, installing a nondenominational prayer space in the Harlan chapel and renovating all three buildings.

While administrators have said these proposals have not changed since last semester, the issue is still relevant. Since no final decision has been made, it is vital that any opinions about the issue be voiced now. But don't get your yarmulkes, turbans or whatever else in a knot; this article is not meant to stress you out, but to raise your spirits. Space is highly treasured, almost worshiped, on this campus, so it is essential that the eventual solution is one the Brandeis community doesn't regret.

At a time when religion seems to be reigning in many people's minds, the Brandeis community should offer a neutral zone for its students, as many other universities have successfully done. A nondenominational prayer area would serve not only those who belong to various faiths, but also those who are spiritual but do not align themselves with any religion.

This is exactly what our campus needs. If the University chose to build a mosque for Muslims, for example, it would be a good start, but at least one religious community would feel left out or rejected. What about the numerous Hindus and Sikhs on campus? Would there also be plans to build a Hindu temple or a Sikh gurudwara in the future? What then about the Buddhists? It seems almost impossible to serve the needs of everyone. Moreover, it is not feasible to build several places of worship. Therefore, a nondenominational building serving everyone would be ideal.

A good model is the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Chapel. Neither its shape or the architectural style resembles any particular religious sect's place of worship. From the inside, however, it still evokes a great deal of spirituality and brings a sense of peace to people who visit it. The MIT Chapel was designed by Eero Saarinen in the mid-1950s; incidentally, Saarinen designed several buildings here at Brandeis. He hoped to create a "seat of learning" at the heart of campus encircled by the residential quads designed in a more modern style. His original plans also included a nondenominational place of worship at Brandeis. Although his original design was rejected here, he brought the idea to MIT.

Our University is at the forefront of academia and we are always striving to outdo ourselves and others. So, if MIT can create such a wonder that works to unite everyone on its campus, why can't Brandeis do the same? While MIT's chapel serves mostly as a venue for spiritual rejuvenation, ours could also host services for specific faiths or guest lectures from religious leaders from different groups. By creating such a place of worship, Brandeis would gain a force to enrich students' lives. Perhaps we would even see more religious festivals on campus from various cultures. The Brandeis chapels' current layout prevents the shadows of each religion's structure from falling on another's. With the creation of a new nondenominational temple, we can extend the message to others that we will not shy away from another's shadow simply because they are of another faith or from another community.

Can I get an "amen?