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Puck
The Texan
Joined: 05 Jan 2004
Posts: 5596
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 Tue Apr 11, 2006 8:02 pm Student Expelled From University for Being Gay |
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| Quote: |
Reaction grows to gay student's expulsion
OTHER CUMBERLANDS STUDENTS EXPRESS HURT, CONFUSION
By Jamie Gumbrecht
HERALD-LEADER CULTURE WRITER
The news that his boyfriend, Jason Johnson, was expelled from University of the Cumberlands was still sinking in when Zac Dreyer sat at a computer to spread the news.
"He is being asked to leave the university because he is gay," Dreyer wrote Thursday on the Web site MySpace.com, the same site school officials used to confront Johnson. "Help get the story out there so that all the gays and lesbians at the university will no longer have to live in secrecy, in fear of having their dreams crushed in front of them."
Within a few hours, friends and students at the small Baptist college in Williamsburg were commenting in blogs about Johnson's expulsion. The buzz grew over the weekend, and by yesterday the issue drew reaction from legislators in Frankfort and on gay advocacy organizations' Web sites nationwide.
Johnson, a sophomore majoring in theater arts, was expelled from the university Thursday because he declared online that he is gay. In a statement released last week, the university's president, Jim Taylor said students are held to a "higher standard" and that "students know the rules before they come to this institution."
But a copy of the student handbook provided by the university confirmed the policy was not spelled out in 2003-04, when Johnson chose to attend. The school did not provide a copy of the policy for the 2004-05 school year. The 2005-06 student handbook says: "Any student who engages in or promotes sexual behavior not consistent with Christian principles (including sex outside marriage and homosexuality) may be suspended or asked to withdraw."
School officials said that although the 2003-04 policy did not explicitly mention homosexuality, it did say that students must "conduct themselves, on and off the campus, in a manner which is consistent with the objectives of the College and with its standards of conduct."
After Dreyer's Web post on Thursday, students' blogs showed mixed reactions. Some said they don't like homosexual behavior, but they didn't think the school should expel people just a few weeks before the end of the term. Others wrote that rules must be followed, but they would miss their friend, who was supposed to stage-manage a production of As You Like It last week. Some were furious, cursing at the university. Some were hurt, praying for God to guide them through a complicated time. The expulsion, some wrote, is tearing the campus apart.
Renee Kuder, a University of the Cumberlands senior and a friend of Johnson, says many students worry they'll be punished if they discuss the case online or in the media. Some students declined to comment for this story, or did not return messages.
The school did not comment on the issue yesterday.
But some students are publicly questioning the school's values, Kuder said. Many wore shirts yesterday with "God loves my gay friends" printed on them and are waiting for Johnson to let them know the best response to the university.
"They're being hypocritical, by Christian standards," Kuder said. "If we love each other, accept each other for who we are, why are they kicking him out? I almost feel like they're trying to mold us, me, into a person that I wouldn't want to be.
"There's a letter in the student handbook that says everyone is a unique creation of God, you're special, we care about you. They didn't care if he didn't have a place to go. They could have pretty much ruined his life."
Johnson was confronted by two school officials Thursday. They showed Johnson his profile on MySpace.com, where he wrote about his boyfriend, then showed him the 2005-06 student handbook policy.
Johnson left the meeting with a letter that required him to leave the university that night. His parents, who helped him choose the Baptist school two years earlier, were "outraged," he said. Along with Dreyer, who attends Eastern Kentucky University, they helped him move out of the dorm within hours.
"I was upset to the point that I couldn't speak. I didn't even want to ask about it," said Johnson, a Lafayette High School graduate, who is considering attending the University of Kentucky or Eastern Kentucky University next fall. "I wanted to be out of there."
Johnson, who is considering legal action against the university, said students shouldn't question their faith, but they should question their personal beliefs.
"What I would hope is that their faith is renewed because people are standing up for what they believe in," Johnson said. "It has strengthened my resolve, my beliefs, my faith, seeing the love and support."
Staff writers Art Jester and Frank Lockwood contributed to this report. Reach Herald-Leader culture writer Jamie Gumbrecht at (859) 231-3238 or 1-800-950-6397, Ext. 3238, or [email protected].
� 2006 Lexington Herald-Leader and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved.
http://www.kentucky.com
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Lord Borg
Fleet Admiral
Joined: 27 May 2003
Posts: 11214
Location: Vulcan Capital City, Vulcan
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| Tue Apr 11, 2006 8:20 pm |
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How the hell is that even legal? isnt this a violiation of his civil rights?
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webtaz99
Commodore
Joined: 13 Nov 2003
Posts: 1229
Location: The Other Side
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| Wed Apr 12, 2006 8:23 am |
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IF (and I have no evidence on this either way) the school in question is completely private and accepts no government-supplied funding, it has the right to exclude anyone it desires. It may not be "right", but it's the law.
I feel that the school should have a vote (by the students - who PAY to go there) on whether to accept homosexuals.
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"History is made at night! Character is who you are in the dark." (Lord John Whorfin)
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Brightstar82
Rear Admiral
Joined: 08 Apr 2005
Posts: 4394
Location: A Borg Cube....Where Else?
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Lord Borg
Fleet Admiral
Joined: 27 May 2003
Posts: 11214
Location: Vulcan Capital City, Vulcan
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| Wed Apr 12, 2006 1:19 pm |
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| webtaz99 wrote: | IF (and I have no evidence on this either way) the school in question is completely private and accepts no government-supplied funding, it has the right to exclude anyone it desires. It may not be "right", but it's the law.
I feel that the school should have a vote (by the students - who PAY to go there) on whether to accept homosexuals. |
Private or not its wrong to exlude someone of sexual prefernce. And a Vote? thats just shows more bigotry, simple truth: If you pay to go then your gender, religion, or sexual prefernce should not matter
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Captain Dappet
Forum Revolutionist
Joined: 06 Feb 2002
Posts: 16756
Location: On my supersonic rocket ship.
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| Wed Apr 12, 2006 4:26 pm |
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| Quote: | | The 2005-06 student handbook says: "Any student who engages in or promotes sexual behavior not consistent with Christian principles (including sex outside marriage and homosexuality) may be suspended or asked to withdraw." |
What...the *beep*...is this? I respect that people have their beliefs, and religion is important to some, I can get that, sure. But expelling people because of things like THAT? That is outrageous, and a prime example of utter close-mindedness, and if I do say so myself, stupidity.
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madlilnerd
Duchess of Dancemat
Joined: 03 Aug 2004
Posts: 5885
Location: Slough, England
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| Thu Apr 13, 2006 3:28 am |
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There's only like one paragraph in the Bible that actually says homosexuality is wrong. Do they follow everything else the bible says?
It's not like he was running round campus starting up gay pride rallies, legalising gay marraige or really doing anything wrong at all.
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webtaz99
Commodore
Joined: 13 Nov 2003
Posts: 1229
Location: The Other Side
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| Thu Apr 13, 2006 11:15 am |
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| Lord Borg wrote: |
Private or not its wrong to exlude someone of sexual prefernce. And a Vote? thats just shows more bigotry, simple truth: If you pay to go then your gender, religion, or sexual prefernce should not matter |
Why is it wrong for a private organization to exclude homosexuals?
-------signature-------
"History is made at night! Character is who you are in the dark." (Lord John Whorfin)
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Lord Borg
Fleet Admiral
Joined: 27 May 2003
Posts: 11214
Location: Vulcan Capital City, Vulcan
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| Thu Apr 13, 2006 5:16 pm |
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| webtaz99 wrote: | | Lord Borg wrote: |
Private or not its wrong to exlude someone of sexual prefernce. And a Vote? thats just shows more bigotry, simple truth: If you pay to go then your gender, religion, or sexual prefernce should not matter |
Why is it wrong for a private organization to exclude homosexuals? |
It's a form of racisim and that is wrong. To throw someone out of anything due to race, creed, religion, color, or sexual prefernce is wrong, weather your a private place or not
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Puck
The Texan
Joined: 05 Jan 2004
Posts: 5596
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| Thu Apr 13, 2006 6:10 pm |
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Well, if it is a private school, then they really do have the right to exclude whomever they please. I really think that this student should have read the student handbook, and am not sure why he would even choose to go to a school like this. It's not like the school is making it a secret that it doesn't allow sex outside of marriage/homosexuality. At the same time, I wonder how the school feels about the fact that Jesus supposedly welcomed the sinners as well as the righteous to follow him and was very accepting of sinners when others were not. Hopefully they can settle this though without too much trouble.
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Captain Patrick
Commodore
Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 2421
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| Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:38 pm |
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In my opinion this is just sad.
I mean look around you people, you are living in the dawn of the greatest age for humans, its 2006 for god sakes, and people still segrate and show racism for each others and its just sad.
More on topic if its a private school they do have the right to kick him out.
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TrekkieMage
Office Junkie
Joined: 17 Oct 2004
Posts: 5335
Location: Hiding
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| Thu Apr 13, 2006 9:12 pm |
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I find this beyond offensive. If the student had good grades, was a positive or neutral influence on campus, and was a productive member of the community (the article says he was stage managing their show) I find it utterly rediculus that they'd expel him.
I would not be surprised to see the number of applicants take a slight drop over this. I don't predict it will, but I woudn't be surprised.
It certainly doesn't sound like a welcoming campus that is intended to be a home for these students.
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borgslayer
Rear Admiral
Joined: 27 Aug 2003
Posts: 2646
Location: Las Vegas
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| Fri Apr 14, 2006 4:04 pm |
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Gay isn't race so please stop labeling as that people. No offense
Now if a school say we will not tolerate anyone who is a homosexual by our rule book. Then the school have that right to discriminate anyone who is a homesexual person.
The school can make any law they want that is within government standards in their campus because you are attending there facility and its their rules and not yours to make.
Not everyone is allowed to be who they are in school or otherwise this would be a Liberally Controlled Nation.
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Admiral Dani�l
Dutch Admiral
Joined: 06 Sep 2005
Posts: 2177
Location: Borg Cube 31572 - Join us now!
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| Sat Apr 15, 2006 8:57 am |
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Disgusting, why does a school do that? What's next, people who use a bath instead of a shower are expelled?
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Theresa
Lux Mihi Deus
Joined: 17 Jun 2001
Posts: 27256
Location: United States of America
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| Sat Apr 15, 2006 5:04 pm |
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Are people even actually reading the article anymore, or just responding to other people's posts?
Whether or not one agrees with the schools standards/rules, they have every right to make them.
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And some of us soar to the stars
And some of us sail through our troubles
And some have to live with our scars
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madlilnerd
Duchess of Dancemat
Joined: 03 Aug 2004
Posts: 5885
Location: Slough, England
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| Sun Apr 16, 2006 10:01 am |
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| Puck wrote: | | I really think that this student should have read the student handbook, and am not sure why he would even choose to go to a school like this. It's not like the school is making it a secret that it doesn't allow sex outside of marriage/homosexuality. |
However:
| Quote: | | But a copy of the student handbook provided by the university confirmed the policy was not spelled out in 2003-04, when Johnson chose to attend. |
So, he didn't really know. Unless the school was constantly portraying anti-homosexual traits.
| Quote: | | Johnson left the meeting with a letter that required him to leave the university that night. |
It is rather sad that they kicked him out so quickly. They just kinda erased him from the school.
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Puck
The Texan
Joined: 05 Jan 2004
Posts: 5596
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| Sun Apr 16, 2006 10:07 am |
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| Quote: | Johnson, 20, said he had planned to leave the school, in Williamsburg, Ky., anyway because his beliefs on sexual orientation were at odds with the values promoted by the university. He also said he wants to study theater at a larger school.
In an essay on his page, he wrote: "I am so ready to be out of here. When you get to the point where you almost wish that your school will kick you out, then you know you've got it bad." |
http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060411/NEWS0104/604110369/1008/NEWS01
I suppose that this is a nonissue now.
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WeAz
Commodore
Joined: 03 Apr 2004
Posts: 1519
Location: Where you aren't
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| Sun Apr 16, 2006 6:49 pm |
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| Lord Borg wrote: | | How the hell is that even legal? isnt this a violiation of his civil rights? |
Boy scouts does stuff like this too. Their a private organization, so they have the right...unfortunately...
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Captain Dappet
Forum Revolutionist
Joined: 06 Feb 2002
Posts: 16756
Location: On my supersonic rocket ship.
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| Mon Apr 24, 2006 2:15 pm |
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| Theresa wrote: | Are people even actually reading the article anymore, or just responding to other people's posts?
Whether or not one agrees with the schools standards/rules, they have every right to make them. |
They have the legal rights to do so, but that doesn't make it morally right.
| webtaz99 wrote: | | Why is it wrong for a private organization to exclude homosexuals? |
Because privatization is wrong.
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webtaz99
Commodore
Joined: 13 Nov 2003
Posts: 1229
Location: The Other Side
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| Tue Apr 25, 2006 9:18 am |
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| Captain Dappet wrote: | | webtaz99 wrote: | | Why is it wrong for a private organization to exclude homosexuals? |
Because privatization is wrong. |
Please explain:
1) what is your definition of "privatization"
2) what is your definition of "wrong"
3) what makes "privatization" "wrong"
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"History is made at night! Character is who you are in the dark." (Lord John Whorfin)
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Captain Dappet
Forum Revolutionist
Joined: 06 Feb 2002
Posts: 16756
Location: On my supersonic rocket ship.
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| Tue Apr 25, 2006 2:42 pm |
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1. Privatization = Private ownership. Schools, hospitals, large companies, owned by private individuals.
2. My definition of "wrong" is something I do not agree with. Hence, it is wrong, in my eyes.
3. Privatization, or private ownership, is wrong because it is unfair. It makes the gap between classes even bigger than neccesary. A few, the directors and owners, get huge amounts of money, while the employees get, sometimes, next to nothing. I have a theory on how enterprises should work, if I could have it my way, but I'm not going to take that here, because it is way off topic. Let's just say I'm a fan of state property.
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Republican_Man
STV's Premier Conservative
Joined: 26 Mar 2004
Posts: 14823
Location: Classified
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| Wed Apr 26, 2006 11:29 am |
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My position on this is the following:
I disagree with the school on this decision, though the point is moot (as he was already planning on leaving anyways). However, despite my disagreement, I not only acknowledge their right to do so, but consider the fact that it is a Baptist college. It is a religious institution, and if homosexuality goes against that faith and they have rules against it, then so be it. Doesn't make it right, but it is understandable.
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Cathexis
The Angel of Avalon
Joined: 26 Dec 2001
Posts: 5901
Location: ~~ Where Dreams Have No End�
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| Fri Apr 28, 2006 7:46 pm |
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Alright.
While I consider racists to be completely appalling and obsolete, as well as ridiculously narrow-minded, this College is a private institution. Not only that but it is a Baptist one, which says quite a lot. Private schools are in no way obligated to be open-minded, or equal opportunity institutions. It is their perogative, and theirs alone, to request the withdrawal of any student who is in violation of the school's code of conduct.
Again, I am not supporting the actions of the school. I am simply saying that, as sad at as it is, there is nothing that says that this institution is obligated to accept into its campus environment a homosexual student. It is a private school.
Sadly enough, there are still plenty of racists left in this world and, unless they decide to go to work for equal opportunity employers, they have the option of continuing to discriminate against anyone they like. That's also part of their rights as human beings. There are no laws against racists, as much as racism and discriminatory behavior are frowned upon in CIVILIZED society, mainly due to past aggressions against races (go figure).
The school is well within its grounds to expell any student who does not exemplify the principles and goals upon which the institution was founded.
Personally, I just don't see what the problem is with having homosexuals on campus. Christians, in my opinion, shouldn't be shunning anyone away...and they sure as heck shouldn't be condemning others for the way they live. Not exactly Christ-like behavior, if ya know what I mean.
Anyway, to get back on topic, the school would seem to have the upper hand, as unfortunate as that is for Mr. Dreyer and Mr. Johnson.
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