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Trinity diplomas keep 'our Lord'
San Antonio Express-News ^ | 04/23/2010 | Melissa Ludwig

Posted on 04/23/2010 12:23:01 PM PDT by SwinneySwitch

Trinity University's board of trustees announced Thursday they will not grant a student group's request to drop the phrase “our Lord” from diplomas, saying that while Trinity welcomes all religions, it is right to honor its Christian roots.

“The board's decision reflects its desire to continue a Trinity tradition, and the words ‘in the year of our Lord' are appropriate for the diploma, given Trinity's history and heritage,” said Walter Huntley, vice chairman of the board and an Atlanta businessman.

The Trinity Diversity Connection, which requested the phrasing be dropped, issued this statement:

TDC “respects the decision the board of trustees made and appreciates their time and concern on this issue. While this was not the decision many of us were hoping for, we realize that this is a complicated issue. (TDC) will continue to represent, and advocate for, diversity on our campus.”

Trinity was founded in 1869 by Presbyterians; its name signfies joint efforts of three Presbyterian synods in the name of the Holy Trinity. Since 1969, the university has been governed by an independent board of directors, maintaining a “covenant relationship” with the church.

In the past decade, school officials have sought to diversify the student body, recruiting more international students and fostering a campus environment that's accepting of all backgrounds and faiths.

The TDC requested last year that officials drop the reference to “our Lord” from diplomas, arguing that a degree is a personal document and that not all students believe in Jesus Christ.

The student government and a commencement committee backed the TDC's request, but university and diversity group leaders encountered a national backlash after the San Antonio Express-News ran a story on the debate that was picked up by news outlets around the country.

School officials received a flood of calls and e-mails, most opposing changing the diploma. Because the two students who sparked the debate are Muslim, some readers framed it as a battle between Islam and Christianity and lobbed personal insults at the students.

“A lot of it was very vicious and very sad,” said Dennis Ahlburg, Trinity's president.

Internally, the debate on campus was civil and reasoned, and did not break evenly along religious lines, Ahlburg said. Some Muslims opposed removing the wording, and some Christians supported it, he said.

“We think or students have handled the pressure incredibly well. It has been a great learning experience for them,” Ahlburg said. “It has made us at Trinity examine who we are as individuals and what this institution stands for.”


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: islam; muslims; ourlord; trinity

1 posted on 04/23/2010 12:23:01 PM PDT by SwinneySwitch
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To: SwinneySwitch

Fighting back Islam takeover of America ... at least it’s a start ....


2 posted on 04/23/2010 12:24:57 PM PDT by SkyDancer (Those That Turn Their Swords into Plows Will Plow For Those That Don't.)
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To: SwinneySwitch

I hate political correctness


3 posted on 04/23/2010 12:27:49 PM PDT by Bitsy
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To: SwinneySwitch

Thank you Lord, that Trinity stood up for you and our American heritage.


4 posted on 04/23/2010 12:27:55 PM PDT by Freddd (CNN is down to Three Hundred Thousand viewers. But they worked for it.)
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To: SkyDancer

Fighting back Islam takeover of America ... at least it’s a start ....
It’s going to be an uphill battle with the big mooslem president in charge.


5 posted on 04/23/2010 12:28:54 PM PDT by Bitsy
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To: SwinneySwitch
School officials received a flood of calls and e-mails, most opposing changing the diploma. Because the two students who sparked the debate are Muslim, some readers framed it as a battle between Islam and Christianity and lobbed personal insults at the students. “A lot of it was very vicious and very sad,” said Dennis Ahlburg, Trinity's president.

Not nearly as vicious and sad as the jihad against Jews and Christians that has been taking place for 1,500 years, with a major recent spike in casualties.

6 posted on 04/23/2010 12:29:45 PM PDT by Albion Wilde (Liberals love the poor so much they came up w/ a plan to create millions more of them. - Ann Coulter)
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To: SwinneySwitch

If you don’t want a diploma with Christian words on it, don’t attend a college associated with/founded by Christians.

I bet the “diversity” students are getting scholarship/loan money. Money that says “In God We Trust”...


7 posted on 04/23/2010 12:29:55 PM PDT by LibFreeOrDie (Obama promised a gold mine, but will give us the shaft.)
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To: SkyDancer

I’m so glad they refused to cave on this isue.


8 posted on 04/23/2010 12:30:29 PM PDT by chaos_5
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To: LibFreeOrDie
If you don’t want a diploma with Christian words on it, don’t attend a college associated with/founded by Christians.<

That was my response when I heard about this. One would think the word "Trinity" would have given a college-level student a clue about what kind of school they were attending.

9 posted on 04/23/2010 12:35:05 PM PDT by ravingnutter
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To: SwinneySwitch

What kind of moron would attend a school named “Trinity” and not think there’s going to be an association with the Christian faith? The word “Trinity” is basically synomymous with Christianity.

If someone attended Jihad College or the University of Mohammad, wouldn’t we all expect they’d be a member of the muslim faith?


10 posted on 04/23/2010 12:35:31 PM PDT by Joann37
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To: SwinneySwitch

Note to the Trinity “TDC”:

Respect for all cultures, i.e. “diversity” means respecting ALL, including Christianity!

When are people going to get it?


11 posted on 04/23/2010 12:39:25 PM PDT by GatorGirl (Eschew Socialism!)
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To: Joann37

That was just a trial balloon. Changing the name to No Other God but Allah and Mohammed is His Prophet University was next.


12 posted on 04/23/2010 12:45:18 PM PDT by Augustinian monk ("Too many freaks and not enough circus tents")
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To: Joann37
The schools ought to be satisfied with all the students of Christian faith who apply ,and stop stupid outreach programs to diversify,i.e. dilute the (or pollute) the student body and teachimg.

Just how many non-Muslim students attend Muslim schools?How many non-Muslim students in those Muslim schools have their religions honored by Muslims?

This one-way street needs to be closed.

13 posted on 04/23/2010 12:46:40 PM PDT by hoosierham (Waddaya mean Freedom isn't free ?;will you take a credit card?)
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To: chaos_5

Me too! A prayer ANSWERED!


14 posted on 04/23/2010 12:49:25 PM PDT by YouGoTexasGirl
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To: SwinneySwitch

Wouldn’t any Muslims attending a Christian college be considered apostate and killed anyhow?


15 posted on 04/23/2010 12:54:18 PM PDT by VeniVidiVici (We will secure the borders ..and . never again bring forward another amnesty bill - Ted Kennedy '86)
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To: SwinneySwitch
arguing that a degree is a personal document

This is retarded. If it is a personal document, then make your own diploma that says whatever you want it to say.

16 posted on 04/23/2010 12:54:57 PM PDT by Onelifetogive (Flame away...)
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To: Bitsy; chaos_5

It’s a start anyway. We can’t let happen here what has happened in England where they’re taking over just about everything. Those people there can’t even fly their flag because it’s an incitement for the Moosies to riot.


17 posted on 04/23/2010 1:04:47 PM PDT by SkyDancer (Those That Turn Their Swords into Plows Will Plow For Those That Don't.)
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To: SwinneySwitch

Wonderful news, thanks for posting.


18 posted on 04/23/2010 1:07:32 PM PDT by Persevero (Ask yourself: "What does the Left want me to do?" Then go do the opposite.)
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To: SkyDancer

Those people there can’t even fly their flag because it’s an incitement for the Moosies to riot.

In the last days, good shall be called evil and evil good. The bending backward or forward for mooslems whose main objective is to destroy the infidel (me and you)is weak and pathetic. Do caucasians have a death wish or something? I don’t for one. November - take our country back and start to have a spine again.


19 posted on 04/25/2010 7:56:52 AM PDT by Bitsy
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To: Bitsy

It is interesting how things are falling into place ...


20 posted on 04/25/2010 8:05:00 AM PDT by SkyDancer (Those That Turn Their Swords into Plows Will Plow For Those That Don't.)
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