Posted on 11/02/2005 11:47:38 AM PST by 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.”
(Excerpt) Read more at newsmax.com ...
I'm sure the university would rush to set up a private prayer room in the dorm for them. Just so long as no Christians ask for one...
Koran?
Or Wiccan.
"Who would want to aproach an RA anyway?
They're just high school hall monitors writ large.
Losers, every last one of them."
Be careful, buddy. I was an RA and a dang good one. Something about just getting out of the Army sorta made me approachable to the Freshmen on the floor....
I can't imagine why not.
But if someone who lives in the dorm sees them, they may not be "approachable"...
Actually, the RA's are residents of the dorm who also get paid to advise the students.
However, the bible study was in the RA's residence behind closed doors. I seriously doubt they want to defend the position that the RA is always on the clock 24 hours a day, and therefore any speech or conduct on the part of the RA is subject to government control.
But RA's and RM's are students. And their rooms are their homes during the school year. The dorm room is the student's home away from home. They are banning Bible study in student's homes/rooms, by asserting that they are 'employees'. Wow.
So what? Does being an government employee prohibit one's First Amendment right to freedom of religion on one's own time?
"I believe that most RAs receive free room and board as compensation for services, but they are students who ultimately pay the schools to attend classes."
You're right. They are compensated for their work. That makes them employees.
My only comment was that the headline was misleading. There is no ban on Bible study in the dorms. There is a ban on RAs leading such Bible studies in the dorm they supervise. Makes some sense, I guess. I don't really care, frankly, but the headline was inaccurate.
"They are banning Bible study in student's homes/rooms, by asserting that they are 'employees'. Wow."
Whatever it takes.
So some students are prejudiced against Christians and the school wants to support them in their bias? That's real open minded of them!
Moral Absolutes Ping.
I've got take some time off from FR. I just cannot believe this. I mean, it's not that I doubt the veracity of the above article (what I've read of it).
It's just that the aggressive, fiendish assault on God is like a tsunami as it approaches a harbor. People who see this evil for what it is have got to stand up and take action.
Not APPROACHABLE? What do they mean? Won't go in for pansexual orgies?
Freepmail me if you want on/off this pinglist.
This will be overturned.
It's overt religious discrimination.
"So what? Does being an government employee prohibit one's First Amendment right to freedom of religion on one's own time?"
It shouldn't. I don't care if RAs lead Bible Studies. I care that the headline appeared to say that no Bible Studies were allowed in the dorms. That was my post.
Whether the University can do what they did is another matter, but New Smacks got the headline wrong...my only point.
Christian discrimination ping
This isn't an assault on 'Christianity'. Its an assault on Bible studies led by state employees on state property.
RAs are employees? Man, things sure have changed in the 30+ years since I went to college.
Are you sure about this?
"... banned resident assistants (RAs) from leading Bible studies ..."
So let someone else lead it then. However, there's still no reason anyone should be barred from doing this on his own time. I'm assuming the R.A. that prompted this was not leading the Bible study as an official representative of the University.
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