Posted on 03/26/2013 9:20:08 AM PDT by Kaslin
Florida Atlantic University has issued a formal apology to a student that was facing academic charges after he complained about a professor who ordered the class to write the name “Jesus” and then stomp on the pieces of paper.
Ryan Rotela, a student at FAU, was accused of violating the student code of conduct after he reported his instructor to university administrators. He was removed from the class, ordered not to contact fellow students, and was facing possible suspension or expulsion – pending the outcome of a student hearing.
But after a massive national outcry, the university reversed course Monday afternoon and cleared the devout Mormon student of all accusations.
“There will be no punishment,” said Hiram Sasser, Rotela’s attorney. “They are wiping the record clean for Ryan. They are reinstating him for a plan to complete the course without that professor.”
Sasser, the director of litigation for the Liberty Institute, told Fox News that the university was deeply apologetic.
“The university apologized profusely,” Sasser said. “One of the university officials told us lots of people were offended by the assignment and they were very sorry about that.”
Corey King, the university’s dean of students, told Fox News they could not comment on the specifics of the Rotela incident – but reiterated their remorse for the offensive class assignment.
“First and foremost, we are deeply sorry for any hurt regarding this incident, any insensitivity that may have been seen by the community and the greater community at large,” King said. “We are deeply sorry.”
While King could not speak directly to Rotela’s standing at the university he did say that “upon reflection, the university has decided not to move forward with any disciplinary action against any student regarding this matter.”
The class in question was taught by Deandre Poole, who also happens to be vice chair of the Palm Beach County Democratic Party.
“Have the students write the name JESUS in big letters on a piece of paper,” the lesson reads. “Ask the students to stand up and put the paper on the floor in front of them with the name facing up. Ask the students to think about it for a moment. After a brief period of silence instruct them to step on the paper. Most will hesitate. Ask why they can’t step on the paper. Discuss the importance of symbols in culture.”
King said it was obvious the lesson caused “hurt and pain” within the community and within the university’s population.
“As a result, we feel it’s necessary to no longer offer this assignment or activity,” he said. “We did not anticipate the hurt and pain it would cause in the community.
As for Poole’s future at the university – King said he could not comment on employment matters.
“We embrace academic freedom – but that comes with responsibility and we recognize that the activity at that time was insensitive,” he said.
Sasser said university officials emphasized that Poole is an untenured professor.
“Someone at Florida Atlantic University was able to look at the issues and realize the professor had done a great offense – not only to Ryan – but to many people across the country,” Sasser said.
Rotela told Fox News he was satisfied with the university’s handling of the incident.
“It was good that they apologized and realized what they did was wrong,” he said.
He was also thankful for the outpouring of support from the nations’ Christian community.
“I have two words – thank you,” he said. “If it wasn’t for all the Christians and the open-minded people who decided to call the university – I would be sitting in a room getting punished, getting sanctioned from the school and getting expelled from the university.”
Sasser said the outcome of Rotela’s case should serve as a lesson for other Americans facing religious persecution.
“It just takes one person to stand up against this type of aggressive nonsense,” he told Fox News. “It also takes like-minded people standing together to say we are not going to tolerate this type of religious bigotry.”
“When we all stand together – we win,” Sasser added.
I don't think the complaint was gratuitous. The student was deeply offended by the instructor's choice of using the name of Jesus as the symbol to be desecrated.
I don't think that the lesson plan called for that specific word to be written; it was the instructor's choice to do so. He could have been more culturally sensitive in picking a symbol than using a religious hot-button that has been traditionally off-limits in the schools by Democrats for decades.
As I wrote earlier, the instructor could have chosen a copy of the American flag, which the Supreme Court has already ruled as being a legitimate form of speech to desecrate, to make his lesson point.
It was the professor's poor judgment that was being questioned by the student, and validly so.
-PJ
I should have known.
My guess is he would have stomped or spit on whatever as it was part of his little exercise. What’s cool about having it involve mohammad is that muslims would have taken care of him.
We should have picked our own cotton!
I always thought the best way to respond to offensive remarks was either a right cross to the chin, or a left hook to the jaw or a kick in the nads but I’m ‘’old school’’.
I have always felt the same way. Why go to the trouble of trying to defuse a situation when a backhand will leave a more lasting impression.
Good. Now let’s hope he files a massive, massive lawsuit for putting him through all the bullsh*t in utter violation of the First Amendment and even the most basic standards of ethical behavior by the college administrators.
Modifying my earlier post on this, I would have written "MOHAMMED" on it and then show all the Muslim students the sheet and tell them that the prof ordered said student to stomp on it but he refused, but thought his Muslim classmates should know about it - and let nature take its course. (They fight dirty, we fight dirtier.)
A milder diversion would be to show the prof the Mohammed sheet and ask him if it was OK to stomp on that - then watch as the prof - literally - go white.
You see, they feel safe in doing this to Christians because they will do nothing but complain, while the Muslims will just kill you. Along this thought, I always wanted to go to one of those art exhibitions where the artist was present and say, LOUDLY, "I thought your (crucifix in urine, dung on the Virgin Mary) was daring - I understand you are going to do the same to an image of Mohammed" - and watch him soil himself in public.
I'd like to see some kind of counter-attack along those lines become widespread. I suspect this kind of propaganda would cesase fairly quickly.
BTW, I'm not a Christian nor a Muslim.
Your comment reminded me very much of an experience many years ago when I was in my first semester of college. I was taking an elective course titled something like ‘contemporary literature and notable writers’. The prof had a subtle reputation of being a socialist/communist. Among assigned reading we read from writings by world known politicians including Hitler, Lenin and the likes of ‘right wing’ editorial writers. On the final exam there was question/topic to “define propaganda’. I felt this was a better be right gotcha situation. My written answer/response was that propaganda was what we had been experiencing in that class. I got an A on the final and for the course. To this day I think that whatever the prof was politically he had to be fair minded.
If he leans Left he certainly was one of the exceptions and not the rule at least by today’s measuring stick.
LOL! I would be surprised if the prof took the challenge.
BTW, I don’t fall into either of those two camps myself!
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I can kinda understand why folks aren't Muslim; but not being a Christian baffles me.
When I came to admit that I was a poor example of a human being; and to realize that there was an end looming in my future, and that I was not able to do anything about it under my own power; I listened to the claims made by - and about - Jesus and then I made a judgement call to believe and accept what I'd heard and read.
I would suggest they write Martin Luther King on a piece of paper
and stomp on it.
Just don't write Joseph Smith, or Brigham Young, or ANY of the other leaders of MORMONism!
This is the audio clip of Dallin H. Oaks, current Mormon Apostle leader, from the PBS documentary, "The Mormons", declaring unequivocally:
"IT'S WRONG TO CRITICIZE LEADERS OF THE (MORMON) CHURCH, EVEN IF THE CRITICISM IS TRUE."Don't criticize?
1 Do you have faith in and a testimony of God the Eternal Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost?
2 Do you have a testimony of the Atonement of Christ and of His role as Savior and Redeemer?
3 Do you have a testimony of the restoration of the gospel in these the latter days?
4 Do you sustain the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the Prophet, Seer, and Revelator and as the only person on the earth who possesses and is authorized to exercise all priesthood keys? Do you sustain members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as prophets, seers, and revelators? Do you sustain the other General Authorities and local authorities of the Church?
5 Do you live the law of chastity?
6 Is there anything in your conduct relating to members of your family that is not in harmony with the teachings of the Church?
7 Do you support, affiliate with, or agree with any group or individual whose teachings or practices are contrary to or oppose those accepted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?
8 Do you strive to keep the covenants you have made, to attend your sacrament and other meetings, and to keep your life in harmony with the laws and commandments of the gospel?
9 Are you honest in your dealings with your fellowmen?
10 Are you a full-tithe payer?
11 Do your keep the Word of Wisdom?
12 Do you have financial or other oblgations to a former spouse or children? If yes, are you current in meeting those obligations?
13 If you have previously received your temple endowment:
Do you keep the covenants that you made in the temple?
Do you wear the garment both night and day as instructed in the endowment and in accordance with the covenant you made in the temple?
14 Have there been any sins or misdeeds in your life that should have been resolved with priesthood authorities but have not been?
15 Do you consider yourself worthy to enter the Lord's house and participate in temple ordinances?
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