College Bans Dormitory Bible Studies

NewsMax ^ | 2 Nov 05 | NewsMax

[NavVet]

In a shameful attack on freedom of religion, the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire (UWEC) has banned resident assistants (RAs) from leading Bible studies in their own dormitories.

The university claims the ban is necessary because some students might not feel RAs who lead Bible studies are "approachable.”

[ReignOfError]

If you are going to restrict what the RA's do behind closed doors in their own rooms by calling them employees, then they had better not be working on political campaigns, discussing religion on the phone with family members etc.

I would have to assume that a Bible study group doesn't spontaneously form in the RA's dorm room one evening. There would have to be some discussion, planning, inviting people to join. So that stretches the definition of "behind closed doors." If the RA recruited students in his dorm to join a political campaign or held political events in the dorm he supervises, and the university chose to prohibit that, I'd have no problem with that, either.

If I were in charge of such things, I would strongly discourage my RAs from doing anything that muddies the relationship with the students under their supervision -- dating, recruiting for any club or cause, asking for donations for charity, anything. I would also discourage them from putting any political signs or bumper stickers on the doors of their rooms. RAs are supposed to be a buddy and not a house mom, so that line is blurry, and it's more of a guideline than a rule.

If he's discussing religion on the phone with family members behind, as you say, closed doors, no one would know or care unless he's really, really yelling. And if he's loud enough on the phone to bother his neighbors through a closed door, he probably has other issues that would prevent him from being a good RA.

[frogjerk]

For instance, I really would have thought it inappropriate to hang a crucifix there.

Your office or your room?

[MineralMan]

I suspect you're peeing into the wind here. The universities are all terrible. They hate Christians. You should never send your child there. /sarc

[little jeremiah]

Ah well, so much is FUBAR that this is but a drop in the tsunami.

And having never attended an institution of higher learning, what an RA's duties, responsibilities and functions may be is known to many on this thread, but not to me.

That said, to have porn viewing by an RA legal, and probably he can invite friends to watch with him, but no voluntary Bible study, smacks of impingement of personal freedom that should not be subject to "he's an employee" rules. I mean, what employee can watch porn legitimately on the job?

[Kokojmudd]

The bible study groups will have to go underground like the Christians in Red China and N. Korea.

[Steve_Seattle]

Blatant viewpoint discrimination. Being a Christian is singled out as the ONLY identity that might make someone "unapproachable." If someone expressed fear of approaching someone because they were gay or a feminist, the administration would criticize the student for his bigotry, not ban gays or feminists from being RAs.

[HostileTerritory]

Yes, but one has to try. I wish people wouldn't live in such fear.

[Palisades]

Well, in the CA university system, since it's okay for students to make porn and show it on the university TV station, I would assume it's okay to view it in the dorms.

I went to college some time ago (and not in the CAL system)and there was never any rule preventing students from watching porn, privately, in their dorm rooms. And rightfully so, assuming everyone involved was a consenting adult over the age of 18.

That being said, I'm troubled by a college passing a rule like the one in this article. If an RA's religious beliefs make him unable to do the job (such as if a Muslim RA is unwilling to talk to female residents), that's one thing. But I don't see a problem with RA's leading (voluntary) bible studies in the dorm.

[Palisades]

The bible study groups will have to go underground like the Christians in Red China and N. Korea.

It seems that Bible study groups are in no way banned by this rule.

[MooseMan]

If you let them go to church or attend mass in public, or carry a bible in public, it makes them unapproachable.
It's a kin to holding Bible studies in their room (which by the way is not in public.)


Aaaah, the RA is in there talking about the Bible. Quick! Give me the number of the closest ACLU Ass Clown!

[KC_Conspirator]

This is a lawsuit waiting to happen. What bigots!

[Jimmy Valentine's brother]

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;

We always forget the free exercise part.

[MineralMan]

"That said, to have porn viewing by an RA legal, and probably he can invite friends to watch with him, but no voluntary Bible study, smacks of impingement of personal freedom that should not be subject to "he's an employee" rules. I mean, what employee can watch porn legitimately on the job?"

---

Well, I was talking about porn in general in dorms, not in the RAs room. The school may have rules about that for RAs. I don't know.

It's interesting that you use the word "legal" with reference to this. An RA must follow the rules set by the organization that he works for. It really has nothing to do with laws. They're just rules of the organization.

Resident Assistants, generally, have some basic duties. They get free room in the dorms and, sometimes, free meals at the dining hall. In exchange, they perform a loosely-defined set of functions for a small number of students...typically one floor or one wing of one floor of a dorm. There are no set hours, generally.

Duties usually include getting to know all the residents in their area of responsibility. RAs help students understand the rules of the dorm, answer questions about dorm life, and generally spend a lot of time mediating disputes between students and roommates. They also serve as first-level contacts with the university's social services, such as counseling, health care, etcetera.

When they're in their rooms, they're on call for students who have some issue that falls under the RA's purview. That's the problem, I guess, here. No regular hours, and their room is essentially their office.

On a given day, they might mediate an argument between roommates, maybe even about porn. They might talk to a student who they feel is under a lot of stress or showing signs of depression, and suggest a trip to the counselor. They might spot a girl suffering from anorexia and help guide that person to the appropriate help. Another kid may just be homesick and need a pat on the back. And so the RA's job goes.

They have to be accessible to everyone under their sphere of responsibility and everyone in that group needs to feel OK about contacting the RA.

That's why there are rules for the RA. The Bible Study thing? Seems a little silly to ban that, but you never know. Maybe the Bible study is of the "God hates fags" variety. That might well interfere with the RAs job, since it's likely that homosexuality is an issue for some students.

[MineralMan]

"If you let them go to church or attend mass in public, or carry a bible in public, it makes them unapproachable.
It's a kin to holding Bible studies in their room (which by the way is not in public.)


Aaaah, the RA is in there talking about the Bible. Quick! Give me the number of the closest ACLU Ass Clown!"

---

Don't be silly!

[FroedrickVonFreepenstein]

Actually, it appears they are forbidding their employees from leading Bible Study in their homes when they are off the clock.

[MineralMan]

"Actually, it appears they are forbidding their employees from leading Bible Study in their homes when they are off the clock."

Well, perhaps not. Since their place of work is also their dorm room, in most cases, the question's not so clear, really. And RAs are typically not off the clock. If they're there, they're available. At least that's how it was when I was in the dorm. 3AM and a resident stumbles in drunk....the RA's on duty.

It's just not so simple, really. I suppose an RA could find some other job to pay for room and board if he/she didn't like the rules.

[FroedrickVonFreepenstein]

RAs are typically not off the clock. If they're there, they're available. At least that's how it was when I was in the dorm. 3AM and a resident stumbles in drunk....the RA's on duty So they are on duty 24/7 with no breaks and no time off? How in the world do they attend class, do homework, relax, recharge, sleep, eat, etc?

[jude24]

Newsmax is probably the worst pseudo-journalistic rag out there, though WND gives it a run for its money.

[so_real]

Hard to say, but I suspect this is the result of the "Tunnel of Oppression" initiative worming its way through the UWEC Office of Housing & Residence Life organized by the MOSAIC (Making Our School an Intercultural Community) task force. If so, there's even more unconscionable acts on the horizon. Do your diligence and research. I'm curious if anyone else finds the dots connected in the same way.

[little jeremiah]

The "God hates fags" is not legitimate Christianity. Phelps is a lawyer, every member of his "church" - who also happen to be his family members - are all lawyers. He's either a regular nutcase or a closet leftist nutcase. But actual Christian who represents a lof of actual Christians? No way.

I wonder what other kinds of groups are allowed or disallowed for RAs at either this school or other schools. Are they allowed meetings of other kinds in their rooms?