<p>As an atheist student, I relished opportunities to go inside the chapel, just as I did the Rotunda or various pavilions along the Lawn. I’m hoping you’ll be able to see these buildings as I did- representative of the long history of the school. The historical aspect of UVA is an intrinsic part of the experience students have. You walk the same paths students have walked for nearly 200 years. You study or attend functions in the same buildings (I used to go to chorus concerts in the chapel- the holiday ones were particularly beautiful in that setting). Traditions, like dressing up for football games, referring to students as “first year” rather than “freshman”, etc remain firmly in place and are, to most students and alumni, vitally important in terms of the school’s “character”. Obviously, UVA is not for everyone, but I truly hope that you and your daughter won’t make your decision based on where the information session was held but rather on what you heard and saw elsewhere. I can assure you, if she does not want to ever enter the chapel again, she will not have to do so. For many, its a beautiful building regardless of religious beliefs, and I’m sure that nobody at the school expected anyone would be offended by being there. Best of luck to your daughter!</p>