Posted on 04/28/2017 9:30:13 AM PDT by Syncro
A Northern Arizona University student was recently asked to stop reading his Bible prior to the start of one of his classes, according to audio obtained by Campus Reform.
In a recording of the February incident, provided to Campus Reform by Kevin Cavanaugh for Congress, Mark Holden explains the situation to History Department Chair Derek Heng, who had been called in by the instructor, Dr. Heather Martel, after Holden had refused her request that he put his Bible away.
So, will you, will you, will you, put your Bible away? Tweet This
Holden tells Heng that he had arrived early to his U.S. history course and, as usual, used the spare time to read his Bible, but claims that Martel had objected to the routine because she didnt want to see a Bible in front of her.
So Prof. Martel says that she doesnt want you sitting in front of her because you put, you know, a Bible out, right? Heng can be heard explaining to Holden, adding that while he doesnt know what the dynamics [are] going on in the classroom, the real key is to make sure that, you know, the class is able to go on and that you are in the classroom.
So she doesnt want me in the front because I have my Bible out? Holden responded for clarification, to which Heng responded by inquiring as to why Holden had his Bible out in the first place.
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No, I think she, I mean, well why do you have your Bible out anyway? Heng asked, with Holden clarifying that he was just reading before class and that the class hadnt even started yet.
Nonetheless, and despite Holdens protestations that class wasnt going to begin for another five minutes, Heng concluded the conversation by again asking Holden if he would put his Bible away.
So, will you, will you, will you, put your Bible away? he asks, to which Holden replies that he always puts his Bible away once class begins, stating that he only reads the Bible before class and always makes sure to stow it away before class starts.
[RELATED: Clemson evicts man for praying outside free-speech zone]
Prior to the Bible altercation, Holden had been accused by Martel of violating the schools policy on disruptive classroom behavior for an encounter in which Holden challenged Martels views on cultural assimilation.
Holden told Campus Reform that he had cited news reports about two Muslim immigrants who erected a sign declaring that the Koran gives them the right to commit rape, saying he used it as an example of a case in which cultural assimilation might be desirable.
According to an email that Martel sent to Holden explaining the violation, Holden had allegedly interrupted the class multiple times and made a scene, only stopping after a classmate intervened.
Then you raised your hand for most of the rest of class. When I acknowledged that I saw your hand but stated we would be hearing from your classmates instead as you had already had your input, you said in a loud voice: You work for me. I pay your salary, Martel alleged in the email, though neither she nor Heng responded to Campus Reforms requests for elaboration on the matter.
Martel then sent out a second email about the altercation, not just to Holden but to the entire class, outlining steps to re-instate [sic] civility in the classroom and declaring emphatically that hate speech would not be tolerated.
[RELATED: Criticizing Sharia is hate speech, Georgetown students say]
A Northern Arizona University student was recently asked to stop reading his Bible prior to the start of one of his classes
The rest of the article:
Its a systemic problem, not just at this university, but across the United States in the restriction of free speech, Holden told Campus Reform, revealing that he eventually withdrew from Martels class.
As Holden sees it, most college professors are pushing an ideology on students and any opposition to this is refuted and slashed. While there may exist students who want to speak up, they dont feel that they can because of fear about their grades, he elaborated, noting that conservative-leaning professors face similar concerns in relation to keeping their jobs.
Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel Casey Mattox weighed in on the matter, telling Campus Reform that "public universities are supposed to serve as a marketplace of ideas, and Christian students are not second class citizens on their tax-funded campuses."
"By singling out a student's religious views for discriminatory treatment a professor not only violates the First Amendment, but also disserves the very purpose of a university," he added.
Campus Reform contacted both Martel and Heng, offering them the opportunity to address Holdens characterization of the events and offer their own perspectives, but neither responded in time for publication.
Follow the author of this article on Twitter: @AGockowski
Ping FYI
This rat hole is the home of transgenders and cross dressing in America. A real dump.
If it was me the next day I would be back with a Hustler magazine...
The instructor and chairman are bullies, IMHO.
It’s time for Christians to politely refuse such requests and let the school escalate the action.
Contact info for the “professor” the “ChairMAN” and the U Prez and Board of Trustees, et al?
Flake(1) and Flake(2), where are you on this? Guv?
I could have written this as a college freshman in 1977.
Sue the bastards
Seriously.
My first inclination was to look up a number to call the school and complain.
Although it’s still not clear what was going on. If a student uses a Bible to stir up trouble, that’s as unbiblical as you can get.
So the department chair Heng asks the student why he has his Bible out? The only acceptable answer is “it’s none of your effin’ business.”
We need to start playing smarter than this.
If you are going to go into class with a Bible because you know they will react negatively, you need to have a copy of a Koran with you (or a friend with one) and start reading that too. (or pretend to) and see what happens
Have video recording.
I earned my MBA FRom NAU in 1977. I was 36 years old at the time, and perhaps my age and life experiences (11 years USN active duty as a Naval Aviator) made a difference, but I seriously doubt it.
It was a different time, a different era. I do not recall any LIEberal indoctrination during my 2.5 years as a Grad student at NAU. As far as I was concerned, NAU was a good University and the MBA program was very highly rated.
Students & professors were serious and did not, to the best of my knowledge, as noted above, engage in LIEberal indoctrination.
I’m not pleased with this revolting development! Will definitely let NAU PooBahs know of my displeasure!
What I mean is, it’s always good to take a look at the surrounding scenery. And it’s not pretty.
Not only do we have non-Christians fighting against Christians, but there’s the devil himself right in the middle of things, doing whatever he can to trick Christians into doing his bidding.
The only problem here was on the part of the hateful professor.
It’s not always an easy question because we can’t read his mind.
To do it to show off in the face of unbelievers isn’t right. IF that is what is happening.
A better show of his faith would be for him to answer “God bless you, and this book shows me how” to those who are giving him grief. At the very least this will push his tormentors out on a limb with statements like “We don’t need God’s blessings.” The reply could be a meek “I disagree.” And then let the good Lord take it from there.
Hey Prof...will you, will you GTFO of my country?!
How is reading the bible on your own time “stirring up trouble”? It seems the objecters have a problem, but how is that the Bible-reader’s problem? Besides, 1 Corinthians 1:23 states But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; So we know others will be offended, but we still must preach. Reading the Bible seems a fairly non-troublesome method of doing so. Like I said, it’s their problem. They can deal with it by growing up.
To which he said, no thank you and kept reading.
Can you imagine the outrage if this had happened while he was reading the Koran?
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