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Student Says Mention of 'Prayer' Enrages Professor
Agape Press ^ | October 17, 2006 | Jim Brown

Posted on 10/18/2006 4:29:18 AM PDT by bennyjakobowski

(AgapePress) - "For Christ and Humanity." That's the motto of Olivet College in Michigan, where a Christian student says he was punished by one of his professors for making a reference to God in the classroom.

Olivet College freshman Jeremiah Bannister, an aspiring journalist, claims he was recently the target of anti-Christian bigotry and grade retaliation in his "Writing and Rhetoric" class. Bannister says Professor Austin Jackson, a Sunni Muslim, took exception to an essay he and another student had written opposing affirmative action and slavery reparations.

The freshman shares that when he was asked by the professor to voice his personal opinion on what African-Americans can do to overcome historical prejudice, one of his suggestions was prayer -- a response that upset the educator.

"He was very, very angry about it," says Bannister, "[and] said that invoking God in class was unacceptable; that it was anti-intellectual, that it was belligerent, and [that] it was completely unacceptable in his classroom. And he actually docked us 10 points from our grade because I invoked God in my opinion of what could be done."

According to Bannister, he was instructed to never mention anything about God or Jesus in the classroom. He says he has talked to the school about the situation.

"I guess there were numerous standards of the school handbook policy that were broken by the professor in doing what he did, but they are going to be addressing the problem," says the student, who suspects he may be asked represent other Christian students before school officials.

"I may also have to speak before the administration of the school on the issue of the treatment of Christians and the Christian worldview on campus, and the general feeling amongst many Christian students that we are being marginalized and even oppressed in many areas and treated badly."

Jackson, who is a doctoral student in the African American and African Studies Program as well as a full-time professor at Michigan State University, is an open proponent of communism.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Extended News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: antichristian; christophobia; communistprofessor; diversity; islam; muslims; sunnimuslim; theophobia; tolerance
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To: Drawsing
I was referring to the 'open proponent of communism' part. BTW I'm still waiting for my caucasian American grant to come through. I might work my a$$ off in the meantime.
21 posted on 10/18/2006 4:58:01 AM PDT by kinoxi
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To: bennyjakobowski

<< invoking God in class was unacceptable; that it was anti-intellectual >>

God mustl be rolling with laughter. Anti-intellectual? God's intelligence makes this Muzzie's mind look like that of a turkey.


22 posted on 10/18/2006 5:00:00 AM PDT by RoadTest ( He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. -Rev. 3:6)
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To: BadAndy

Why would anyone need a PhD in order to teach African Culture?


23 posted on 10/18/2006 5:02:29 AM PDT by bennyjakobowski (Why in Hell should I have to Press 1 for English?)
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To: bennyjakobowski

A black Muslim Professor teaching a class on slavery. He just might be a wee bit prejudiced. Could I suggest hiring a white Skinhead Professor to teach the opposition view??

I know people woould laugh at that suggestion, but think about it. Isnt ones view pretty much as legitimate as the others?


24 posted on 10/18/2006 5:04:58 AM PDT by sgtbono2002 (The fourth estate is a fifth column.)
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To: bennyjakobowski
Jackson, who is a doctoral student in the African American and African Studies Program as well as a full-time professor at Michigan State University, is an open proponent of communism

Knock me over with a feather.
25 posted on 10/18/2006 5:06:04 AM PDT by reagan_fanatic (The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God." (Psalm 53:1))
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To: BadAndy
Can a doctoral STUDENT be a professor? I thought you first had to be a Ph.D. to be a professor.

But..but...he's SPECIAL.

Conversion to Islam should be grounds for committment, anyway.

Someone not born into it would have to be out of their mind to embrace it, unless...

I got it.

Prison.

Where he learned to "pray that way".

26 posted on 10/18/2006 5:06:26 AM PDT by Gorzaloon ("Illegal Immigrant": The Larval form of A Democrat.)
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To: bennyjakobowski

I'd guess the only solution for this professor is for the muslim in him to saw off his communist head.

"Allah akbar, you godless communist pig!" Saw...saw...saw...


27 posted on 10/18/2006 5:07:22 AM PDT by sergeantdave (Consider that nearly half the people you pass on the street meet Lenin's definition of useful idiot)
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To: bennyjakobowski

http://www.msu.edu/~jacks381/austin.html


28 posted on 10/18/2006 5:08:33 AM PDT by jnygrl
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To: bennyjakobowski

Jackson, who is a doctoral student in the African American and African Studies Program as well as a full-time professor at Michigan State University, is an open proponent of communism.

Then, why in the world is he teaching at a CHRISTIAN COLLEGE???? More imporantly, why did the college hire him in the first place???


29 posted on 10/18/2006 5:08:52 AM PDT by Polyxene (For where God built a church, there the Devil would also build a chapel - Martin Luther)
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To: jnygrl
His dissertation, “Maroon Literacy, Guerilla Rhetoric: A Black Cultural Studies Approach to College Composition,” is a critical ethnographic study exploring the pedagogical and political impact of using Rap/Hip Hop and Marxist literary theory to develop academic and critical literacy among college-level writers.

Check out the typo. Shouldn't that be Moron Literacy?/sarcasm

30 posted on 10/18/2006 5:13:33 AM PDT by bennyjakobowski (Why in Hell should I have to Press 1 for English?)
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To: Abathar

Tell your niece to contact that kid and let him know about FIRE -- http://thefire.org. (Foundation for Individual Rights in Education). He has a great law suit.

What a jackass that professor is. Talk about Bully Pulpit.


31 posted on 10/18/2006 5:15:42 AM PDT by bboop (Stealth Tutor)
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To: bennyjakobowski

The whole "Marxist literary theory to develop academic and critical literacy" reads to me as a nice way of saying "indoctrinating young minds."

My alma mater has never been known for less-than-liberal leanings, but it's gotten ridiculous.


32 posted on 10/18/2006 5:16:15 AM PDT by jnygrl
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To: BadAndy

Andy, he is probably ABD (all but disertation).....and I've been through this twice with grown kids....yes, they can get a slot while ABD if their area is hard to fill.


33 posted on 10/18/2006 5:16:53 AM PDT by chgomac
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To: brwnsuga

We were taking Italian at night at the local JC. The professor(a) used for an example, when we were doing 'good-better-best' -- "George Bush is the worst President in the world." We just rolled our eyes.

She already hated me because I had told her I would NOT work in a group and turn my work in under a group's name, for grades. "Will they also be on my transcript?" I asked her.

In Italian!! You'd think you'd be just a bit free of the propaganda in Italian.


34 posted on 10/18/2006 5:18:39 AM PDT by bboop (Stealth Tutor)
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To: BadAndy

They start teaching as they enter a doctoral program. Loosely called 'professor.'


35 posted on 10/18/2006 5:19:16 AM PDT by bboop (Stealth Tutor)
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To: brwnsuga
Last semester, my Sociology professor accused me of being a "cultural elitist"

He was probably using the "cultural elitist" phrase to control his immediate impulse to tell you, "You right wing, arch-fascist, imperialist, warmongering, racist, homophobic, tool of the Wall Street running dog capitalists! You stole the elections in 2000 and 2004! Gore won the popular vote, not Bush! And Kerry won, too, not Bush! We need to repeal all the tax cuts for the wealthy that Bush and his evil minions passed, which caused the current depression and epidemic of drug use among teenagers (women and minorities hit worst), an explosion of AIDS worldwide, and the tsunami in Indonesia. You oppose a uniform health care system like Canada's and Britain's which would usher in an era of good health for all people and instead support the corporate polluters and their evil lackeys! Paul wasn't the walrus! I was just saying that to be nice but I was really the walrus! Where are you, mother? They are trying to crucify me! AAAAAAhhhhhh!....".

Just thought you might like some clarification of that phrase. ;)

36 posted on 10/18/2006 5:19:27 AM PDT by 17th Miss Regt
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To: bennyjakobowski

Back when I was young and a student in college, a good deal nuttier than I am now, I probably would have had a prayer circle about two minutes before class started, in the class room.


37 posted on 10/18/2006 5:21:40 AM PDT by Little Bill (A 37%'r, a Red Spot on a Blue State, rats are evil.)
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To: 17th Miss Regt

lol.... I think I prefer "cultural elitist"


38 posted on 10/18/2006 5:22:06 AM PDT by brwnsuga
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To: jnygrl
Don't see any reason not to post the text from that link:

Austin Jackson is a third-year doctoral candidate in the African American and African Studies Program at Michigan State University. His research areas include African American Rhetoric, Composition, and Cultural Studies. Austin is a graduate of Norfolk State University (B.A., English) and Michigan State University (M.A., Critical Studies in the Teaching of English). He is a regular presenter at Conference on College Composition and Communication, American Educational Research Association, National Council of Teachers of English, and Michigan Council of Teachers of English. Austin has served as writing center coordinator for the Michigan State University athletic program, and is currently Graduate Student Coordinator of “My Brother’s Keeper” Program for at-risk Black males. He is co-author of several published articles on the use of Hip Hop and African American Rhetoric to enhance student literacy and stimulate transformative social action.

His dissertation, “Maroon Literacy, Guerilla Rhetoric: A Black Cultural Studies Approach to College Composition,” is a critical ethnographic study exploring the pedagogical and political impact of using Rap/Hip Hop and Marxist literary theory to develop academic and critical literacy among college-level writers.

Dissertation Committee: Dr. Geneva Smitherman (Chair), Dr. Ann Haas Dyson, Dr. Denise Troutman, Dr. Ernest Morrell

Austin is member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. (Episilon Pi Chapter), and served four years active duty (1990 - 1994) aboard the fast attack submarine U.S.S. Boise (SSN-761).

What a confused little fella.

39 posted on 10/18/2006 5:24:59 AM PDT by savedbygrace (SECURE THE BORDERS FIRST (I'M YELLING ON PURPOSE))
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To: bennyjakobowski

Intellectuals . . . they don't exist unless you want them to.


40 posted on 10/18/2006 5:25:04 AM PDT by NaughtiusMaximus (Bush Assassination Flick. Save your liberal friends a few bucks: the black guy in the tux dunnit.)
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