Reisberg, L. 2000. “Campus Witches May Wear Black, But Don’t Look for Hats or Broomsticks.” Chronicle of Higher Education 47(8): A49-A50.
A new moon rises over the campus of the University of Georgia. A group of students gather to participate in the “Athena Ritual,” meant to cast a “protection spell” for the university’s hometown of Athens. Reisberg describes this ritual as part of a growing pagan movement on campuses across the United States. Their members embrace beliefs spanning a variety of traditions including Celtic, druid, and shamanistic. Many are influenced by the Wicca religion, commonly referred to as witchcraft, with roots in pre-Christian Europe. Paganism has supporters in both the environmental and feminist movements. While pagan students at the University of Georgia sometimes feel the need to defend themselves from their critics, they say that the campus generally tolerates them.
