Posted on 03/21/2018 8:15:03 AM PDT by servo1969
Nearly a month after a student was barred from attending a religious studies class, Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) has reversed course, suspending normal policies and procedures.
Lake Ingle, a student enrolled in "RLST 481 - Special Topic - Self, Sin, and Salvation," a course taught by IUP Professor Alison Downie that he needs in order to graduate, objected to his instructor's claims regarding the "reality of white male privilege," on February 28.
Ingle also rebutted claims made in a video shown in class that featured a transgender woman, stating that there are only two genders and arguing that the "gender wage gap" is a myth.
As originally reported by Campus Reform, Ingle was subsequently barred from attending class on March 2 via a letter from IUP Provost Dr. Timothy Moerland.
The incident appeared in national headlines, stoking public outcry, and Ingle reported in a Facebook status that a ruling on his case would be released on March 19.
President Eugene Delgaudio of Public Advocate, an organization that describes itself as "a dedicated group of young conservatives in Washington, D.C.," filed a Letter of Complaint the morning of March 19 addressed to various federal authorities in response to IUP's handling of the case.
"The student Lake Ingle must be be re-instated without anti-Science or anti-Christian biases being used as a criteria for his suspension or any punishment of sanction," Delgaudio's letter reads, adding that "An apology is warranted to Lake Ingle and all Christians and a policy of respect and non-harassment of Christian students must be adopted."
Following the outcry, IUP President Michael Driscoll sent an email to students addressing the matter on March 19.
"If you have been paying attention to the news or certain social media sites, you might get the impression that IUP is in some sort of crisis of identity or of quality or of failure to adhere to the basic principles of our society. This is just not true," Driscoll proclaimed.
"More recently, as reported in some national and regional news, a student was temporarily removed from a class for behavior that the faculty member (and at least some classmates) viewed as disruptive to the learning environment," he continued, adding, "the student chose to take his version of events to the media."
After opining that a "more thoughtful" approach "would probably have resulted in a reasonable resolution of the matter, with significantly less anger and anxiety," Driscoll acknowledged that a "thoughtful, dispassionate review of the matter" is now impossible, and announced that Ingle has been allowed back into the class.
"Based on a review of governing policies, last week the student was informed that he is allowed to attend class," Driscoll reported, stipulating that "I have asked a senior faculty member with significant experience in the First Amendment and a long career as a successful classroom teacher to join the class as a monitor and a mentor for all."
Driscoll also made clear his decision to "indefinitely pause the formal university process without resolution" in Ingle's case, though he noted that he reserves "the option to restart the university's formal processes."
In regards to the case's outcome, Ingle is chalking up the result as a victory.
"Though I am curious how the Academic Integrity Board would have ruled, I am thankful I can continue the course and graduate on time," Ingle wrote in a Facebook status, concluding that "I am considering this a victory."
a "more thoughtful" approach "would probably have resulted in a reasonable resolution of the matter, with significantly less anger and anxiety,"
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Translation - He should have kept his mouth shut and known his place. We won't make this mistake with the next lippy student.
They allowed him to take the course? That’s mighty white of them.
So sad what “college” has become - took and advanced History course and pointed out that, contrary to the lesson plan, McCarthy was proven right and Rachel Carson was proven wrong....the female professor took it in stride and I got an “A”...of course, this is in S. MS where one male professor would respond to a sneeze with “God Bless You”....
I wonder if he will pass the course after missing weeks of it.
If they thought they could get away with it they probably would have charged him with a “hate crime”
FU Michael Driscoll, you act as if what you proposed should have been the avenue to resolve this is a possibility, however, the reality is that it is not. Also, anti-science my arse. Try rejection of pseudo-science.
I met him when he was active in the Young Americans for Freedom (YAF).
Oh, yes. Turning the other cheek certainly impresses the Left. After running out of cheeks, conservatives should feel free to speak up in defense of the Right. This is supposed to be a nation in which God-given freedom of speech and religion are not infringed upon by the government.
Bravo for the young warriors who are much more courageous than the wimpy generations preceding them that have lost the culture war by being AWOL.
Interesting. The best prof I had at Fordham in the late 60s was a young Poli Sci instructor who was also faculty adviser to the SDS. The course was the US in the Third World. The prof advanced some radical ideas to which I and a few others responded with contrary facts. He responded to us also with facts and we went back and forth through the semester. Interesting the lowest grade any of our group received was a B+ while many of the SDS types who simply regurgitated radical ideas left the class with Cs. Met with him once in the following semester for a few brews. Though a true radical he was one of the most honorable guys I met in school.
My apologies to conservative IUP alumni.Indiana University of Pennsylvania, 1011 South Drive Indiana, Pa. 15705 California University of Pennsylvania, 250 University Ave., California, PA 15419
I know one, very well.
As a recipient of federal “gubmint money” the university probably shouldn’t be screwing with his First Amendment rights....twice.
Freedom of speech, freedom of religion.
My thoughts exactly.
Ahh, thanks for the education. I guess since there is an Athens in Georgia, and a Miami in Ohio, I shouldn’t have been too surprised. I didn’t consider that there were towns named California and Indiana.
Alison Downie earned her PhD in Systematic Theology at Duquesne University (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) with a concentration in Christian Feminist Theology. Her academic interests include ecofeminist theologies, disability theologies, religious understandings of self and memoir, religious themes in literature and film, and interfaith dialogues. She is also active in the scholarship of teaching and learning.
That’s “Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit” to be exact.
Where is that blasted animated “Unsee” button when you need it!!
yep....all this creep is saying is that they got caught and now will graciously accept this horrible, bad, evil student back into class, which he has paid for, and he better not say anything but “please” or “thankyou” from now on, or else...
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