The election of President Obama marked many changes for U.S. politics, but also the relations between government and religion.

But, despite all of the emphasis on religious freedom and tolerance, America is, and always will be, one nation under (the Judeo-Christian) God.

Eboo Patel, a member of President Obama’s Faith Advisory Council, has taken it upon himself to help transform America into a nation that can remain religious, while still respecting the many images and interpretations of God.

As a young man, Patel, now only 34 years old, attended an interfaith conference and noticed something strange. Nearly everyone was in their 60s or 70s. Yet, the terrorists’ using violence in the name of religion were primarily his age.

Patel is a Muslim, born in India and raised in Chicago. His interviews are laced with harrowing childhood stories of torment and bullying, almost entirely because of his religion and race.

This childhood torment is one of the reasons Patel said he started the Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC). Since its inception in 1998, the IFYC has greatly expanded with a presence at 140 universities worldwide. The main goal of the IFYC is to provide students with the training and tools needed to create and live in a world of pluralism, both religious and otherwise. For our generation of college-educated adults, this is increasingly important since many of us will be working within a globalized market. Yet, the University of Kansas has not stepped up to become a part of the program.

As young people at a university as freethinking as KU, why aren’t we asking ourselves, what am I doing to enhance religious pluralism and tolerance in Lawrence? The University has a large exchange student population from all over the world. Almost any culture, religion or lifestyle can be found in this strange, jumbled town we call home.

To its credit, the University has created programs and student groups for almost every religious practice, as well as an official Office of Diversity and Equity. There is however, a lot of hostility and prejudice among the student body. In my experience this is especially true in regards to the Muslim population.

Our generation has every reason to hate violence and the ideals people latch onto that perpetuate this violence. Hundreds of thousands of people, including KU students and faculty, have lost friends or family because of extremist violence. Still, personal loss doesn’t give anyone the right to hate any religion, race or gender we think they might be associated with.

Religion is about being fulfilled, loving and compassionate. Hatred stemming from your religion or toward another religion would make your God, no matter which God, cringe.

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