In light of the Feb. 14 shootings, campus religious organizations have worked together to provide for students.

The Association of Campus Religious Organizations has worked with the university for more than 30 years. ACRO has a goal of being inclusive of every religious group on campus. However, to be included in the group, religious organizations must have a professional staff member, since the group often works with the university on sensitive events such as the finals week threat, said Rev. Marty Marks, president of ACRO.

ACRO is part of the university liaison program in the residence halls, and when the crisis occurred, Marks said ACRO sent people to their liaison places. Marks said he was unable to go to his assignment at Stevenson Towers because assistance was needed at Neptune Hall, the residence hall where many of the victims of the shooting were being treated.

ACRO assisted the Counseling Center the Friday following the shooting.

“They had emergency people coming in, and we all worked together to get through that day,” Marks said. “A lot of pastors have counseling training, some have degrees, or at least some background in counseling; every denomination trains differently.”

Leaders of the ACRO program were at the hospital helping provide emergency counseling for victims and their families.

“Four or five of the pastors from ACRO were up there and worked with the families of people that had passed away or were injured; a couple were up there until three or four in the morning,” Marks said. “Those pastors were real heroes in my book, caring for the families in distress. They’re just good people doing good stuff.”

ACRO and the university worked together to create the Peace Room in the Holmes Student Center, Room 231, Marks said.

“[It’s] a room where there’s peace and quiet, a non-religious chapel, where you can think, pray or whatever,” he said. “One of the members from the Orthodox Christian group said a quiet, chapel-like room was a good idea, and different ACRO members signed up for shifts.”

Michelle Emmett, assistant vice president of Student Affairs, who is assigned to work with ACRO, arranged for the room in the student center.

Marks said ACRO groups hosted meals for students in the week-long class hiatus. His organization, the Emmanuel Lutheran Church, had a dinner for international students Feb. 15.

Various ACRO groups worked together to form vigils. Marks said because of different ways that religious organizations practice, the groups worked to be aware of each other to build from and help each other.

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