Members of the Christian group Gideons International visited campus this morning to hand out copies of the New Testament.

Participants in local Gideons groups stop by the University once a year on a visit they plan in advance, said Craig Berger of Peoria, a Gideon since 1997.

“We like to distribute the word hand to hand whenever possible,” said Berger, 56.

Berger was one of about 70 Gideons who lined the Quad, as well as Gregory Drive, Matthews Ave., and Wright St., from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Reaction to the New Testament giveaway was mixed, Berger said.

Some students walked by the Gideons while listening to music, or rode by on their bikes without pausing. Others declined the offer, saying “no thank you” or “I already have one.”

Megan McGovern, sophomore in LAS, declined to take one of the small green booklets from Berger because she already had one. She said she remembered seeing the Gideons on campus last year, and that she took a copy of the New Testament and went on with her day.

Moon-Whan Park, senior in Business, said he took a New Testament because he is a Christian. The Gideons presence on campus did not make him uncomfortable, he said.

“They were not screaming any line from the Bible and they were not forcing people,” Park said. “They were just standing there. I had to ask him for it.”