Pre-Easter Inquiry for Sarah Huang, president of the Catholic Student Assocation

Q:How do you feel the Lenten season influences student social behavior on campus?

A:In reality, I will never know its full effects, but I am optimistic that it helps better our student body. The key teachings of Lent stress that this is a season of self-reflection and sacrifices based on personal promises between the person and God. We are taught to fast in a way that avoids publicizing our sacrifices in hopes of receiving praise for our actions. Therefore, I will never completely know the full impact of Lent on the students here, but I know that it has helped transform us to be better.

From what I have observed, the Lenten season tends to influence students who attend Mass on a regular basis. For those who do not, there is not a compelling draw for them to continue with their religion and follow Catholic practices and traditions.

To be honest, I cannot pinpoint the many ways the Lenten season has affected our student body. The types of Lenten promises range from fasting, making more time in one's day to pray or trying to attend Mass on a regular basis. For some, Lenten promises include fasting from alcohol, meat on Fridays, sweets or other tempting foods.

For others, it can include fasting one's time -- so that instead of spending an hour watching the Real Housewives of Orange County and being lazy in bed, you would use that hour to go to the gym or volunteer and work toward bettering you own live.

I would like to think that the Lenten season has a positive influence on the University of Richmond's student body and their actions, but I will never really know. Because for both Christians and Catholics, Lent symbolizes a different personal promise made between that person and God.

Lent should not be a competition of how many things one can sacrifice. Nor should it be about who is doing more good for themselves and their community. Instead, Lent is a time for people to make small sacrifices to better themselves in hopes that they can continue these practices after Easter.

For practicing Richmond students, I hope that this Lent and those to come will continue to strengthen your religious and spiritual connection with God.