With more students getting involved in religious activities at the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center, some are wondering if the influx is due to new students on campus.

A lot of religious organizations are attributing the increase in student activity to new students on campus, as well as the opening of the Spiritual Center.

Hillel, an on-campus Jewish organization, used to worship in West Halls, but now services are held on Friday nights in the worship hall of the Spiritual Center.

Hillel President Deena Sadiky (senior-human development and family studies) said the group has seen an increase in attendance at services.

Other groups have noticed similar increases since the center's opening.

"We're experiencing a lot of growth especially for new students, both freshman and transfer students," said Carl Derk, a representative from Christians in Action.

Derk said the positive turnout is because the chapel is better known and easier to get to.

Derk attributes these numbers to the interest from new students on campus.

"At the beginning of the year the numbers fluctuate so much because students are testing out a lot of different clubs to see what they like and where they fit in," said Thomas Park, president of the Asian-American Christian Fellowship. "But I would say as a fellowship we are using the Spiritual Center more now, and there has definitely been an increase in usage."

The fellowship is still holding meetings in the Thomas Building which are attended by about 100 people, but the group uses the center for Sunday night prayers.

Attendance for Lutheran Campus Ministry services has increased as well.

"We as an organization are almost all students, and I would say our Sunday morning services are staying steady," Alicia Anderson, Lutheran Campus minister, said. "We also have a new Thursday evening service that we have close to 20 people which is pretty great considering the number of Lutherans there are in State College."

Representatives of the Penn State Catholic Campus Ministry, which holds four Masses each weekend at the center, were unavailable for comment by press time.

Davin Carr-Chellman, assistant director for the Center for Ethics and Religious Affairs, said counting the number of students is not the only way to evaluate groups.

"My sense is that most of our groups are experiencing better attendance and more interest in their activities and I hope to see that continue," Carr-Chellman said.

"I think that the interest in the things that happen in this building are going to continue to increase, and I think the presence of things religious and spiritual on Penn State campus are going to be more prominent."