University Adminstrator declares Christmas "forbidden"

CNSnews.com ^ | 12-16-05 | Nathan Burchfiel

[FeeinTennessee]

University Administrator Declares Christmas 'Forbidden' By Nathan Burchfiel CNSNews.com Correspondent December 16, 2005

(CNSNews.com) - An administrator at California State University, Sacramento has banned decorations pertaining to Christmas and the 4th of July, among other holidays, from her office because they represent "religious discrimination" and "ethnic insensitivity."

"Time has come to recognize that religious discrimination, as well as ethnic insensitivity to certain holidays, is forbidden," Patricia Sonntag, director of the Office of Services to Students with Disabilities, stated in the directive she e-mailed to members of her staff on Dec. 9.

Cybercast News Service obtained the directive from the non-profit Catholic League, which "defends the right of Catholics ... to participate in American public life without defamation or discrimination," according to its website. The content of the e-mail was confirmed by the university.

The memo specifically names Christmas, Thanksgiving, Halloween, Valentine's Day, the 4th of July, St. Patrick's Day and Easter as the most offensive holidays, but Sonntag adds that they are "off the top of the list," implying that there may be others.

She wrote that the ban was being implemented "in order to avoid offending someone else" because Sacramento State is "a secular university and we are a public service area that has a diverse employee and student populations [sic] even in our private offices."

Sonntag noted that she is "the worst offender and celebrant," and apologized "if this offends anyone, but it is time to start the new year differently."

A Nov. 28 profile of Sonntag in the university's faculty and staff newsletter stated that she and her office "Have been the cornerstone of equality and progress here on campus."

But the university associate vice president for public affairs, Frank Whitlatch, distanced the university from Sonntag's policy, saying in a prepared statement that it "was well-intentioned but strays from the established practice."

He stated that the university "has no guidelines prohibiting holiday decorations," aside from the responsibility of supervisors, "to ensure that employees do not spend an unreasonable amount of work time decorating."

Whitlatch echoed Sonntag's sentiments that Sacramento State "is a public entity ... and employees do not endorse specific religious beliefs while on the job."

Catholic League president Bill Donohue called the policy a violation of free speech rights. "It never occurs to these secular supremacists that it is their aversion to anything religious - or patriotic - that accounts for their desire to muzzle free speech."

A receptionist in Sonntag's office told Cybercast News Service that Sonntage was on vacation. The office's assistant director, Teresa Mendick, did not return calls requesting comment for this article.

[FeeinTennessee]

One thing after another. This surprised me considering that this administrator attacked the 4th of July also!

[BenLurkin]

Banned decorations pertaining to the 4th of July???????

This has got to be a joke!!!!

[John Will]

All signs pointing to her being a Social "Science" or HUmanties Professor.

[neodad]

St. Patrick's Day and Easter as the most offensive holidays

She doesn't like green beer?

[Prost1]

Time to ban her pay.

Let her get an honest job.

[FeeinTennessee]

No joke. I got an alert in an email from a friend with a message to email this "administrator"...I will have to find it. Anyway, I was shocked too. Who could be this anti-American?!

[msf92497]

"Patricia Sonntag, director of the Office of Services to Students with Disabilities,"

Her disability is obvious.

I'd say more, except it would get me banned (again).

[Chewbacca]

So don't celebrate Christmas.
Bring a cake to work with "Happy Birthday Jesus" on it and have a birthday party.

Sing Happy Birth Jesus and if anyone complains say it is the hispanic janitors birthday and you though it would be nice to through him a little appreciation party.

[FeeinTennessee]

LOL

[Chinito]

Tell you what, "Earth Day" or whatever the he!! they call it better be on that list. What a maroon....

[FeeinTennessee]

I'm really getting tired of this whole nonsense though.

[Rembrandt]

Of course, Fraulein Sonntag is banning the Mexican "Day of Death" and Kwanzaa also and all the Muslim holidays; I'm certain she'll do those things to be equitable. Heil Hitler!!

[formercalifornian]

It's Sac State. It's real.

[Talking_Mouse]

So, what if an employee normally keeps an American flag on her desk? Will she have to take it down on the 4th of July?

Or if an employee has a red and white rose sent by his wife each Monday? Will he have to throw them out on Valentines day?

" This woman has not thought her "policy" through.

[LostInBayport]

"Time has come to recognize that religious discrimination, as well as ethnic insensitivity to certain holidays, is forbidden," Patricia Sonntag, director of the Office of Services to Students with Disabilities, stated in the directive she e-mailed to members of her staff on Dec. 9.

Yet another low level bureaucratic nobody who would rather force her opinion in everyone's face instead of simply doing her job. If the University ever has a budget-cutting spree, I hope this example of somebody with too much time on her hands is remembered.

Oh, wait. This is California. This will probably win her some multicultural hero award, like it would up here in looney Massachusetts.

[FeeinTennessee]

That's the problem, they don't think ...period!

[RichInOC]

Sacramento is a hellgate anyway, isn't it?

[formercalifornian]

Now I will have a great excuse to turn them down when their alumni fundraising calls come, besides the general liberal bias, that is.

[ncountylee]

Patricia Sonntag is the heartbeat of the Services to Students with Disabilities center at Sacramento State. As the program director, Sonntag is responsible for breaking down the barriers that disabled students encounter on campus. Although Sonntag deals mainly with policy, it’s the effects that they have on students that really make the job meaningful. “I absolutely love it. It’s so rewarding and you couldn’t give me any other job on campus,” she says.

I want to puke.

[Theresawithanh]

Lemme just guess here, Pat. Santa always put coal in your stocking when you were a kid. That'd make me hate Christmas, too.

Now about that 4th of July thing, you're a bona-fide nutcase.