WtHQM:Holy Question Mark
Part of Welcome to Holy Question Mark, a campaign set in the Amberverse using modified Lords of Gossamer and Shadow rules.
Contents
The Socinian Institute of New York
Often called Holy Question Mark by students (and occasionally staff), the Socinian Institute of New York is a private Unitarian-Universalist boarding school in Manhattan. It has a reputation as an academic sweatshop, as well as having excellent fine and performing arts programs and a vigorous involvement in public service activities. It is also extremely secure against monsters (and kidnappers), which makes it a desirable place for the wealthy and anxious to deposit their offspring.
Dr. Nicholas Balthazar has been Headmaster of the Institute since 2002.
Student Body
The Institute is a high school, comprising grades 9–12, graduating an average of 150 students per year. Though many of the students come from wealthy and/or influential backgrounds, a majority of the student body receives some degree of need-based aid. Most such funds come from Holy Question Mark's general endowment, which is unusually large for a school of its size, though outside scholarships contribute as well.
Religion
Though named in reference to 16th Century Unitarian theologian Lelio Sozzini, the school's guiding ethos today is Unitarian-Universalism (UU), not specifically Socinianism.
The UU ideals of tolerance, equality, and the free and responsible search for truth and meaning guide the school's administration and policies. Most faculty and staff are UU, though their personal spiritualities vary widely. Students are not required to have any specific sectarian affiliation.
Weekly attendance at a school-approved spiritual service is compulsory. Most students attend the general UU service on Sunday, but there is a sizable minority of Muslim students who attend Jumu'ah on Fridays, and another sizable minority who check in individually at a convenient weekly time for an hour of meditation in the chapel. Various smaller groups (such as Jews, Buddhists, Wiccans and humanist atheists) also exist, each with a faculty sponsor, much like extracurricular clubs.
Individual or small-group off-campus worship is not permitted for safety reasons.
History
Founded in 1887, though only moved to its current site in 2008.
Advanced Spirituality
- Main article: Advanced Spirituality
"Advanced Spirituality" is a special curriculum outside the regular course load, offered privately to students who have exhibited magic or magic-like abilities. Mysterious!
Dress Code
Holy Question Mark does not require uniforms. The school dress code is, more or less, "Don't embarrass your grandmother." And no, if your actual grandmother is a hippie or something that is not an excuse. Don't embarrass the archetypal grandmother.
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