Discuss: lesbian student expelled from Christian school

[lurknomore]

Full article at
www.cnn.com/2014/07/11/us/oklahoma-lesbian-student-expelled/index.html?c=us

The first page:

(CNN) - First there was friendship. Then there was romance. After that there was marriage.

And now, at what would have been a few weeks from her senior year in college, Christian Minard finds herself expelled from school -- because the person she married is another woman.

In a letter from earlier this month that Minard shared with CNN, an administrator at Southwestern Christian University noted that he'd been told of Minard's same-sex marriage and saw pictures of it posted to Facebook.

Such a union is in apparent conflict with the "lifestyle covenant" of the university "that all students must agree and sign," he added.

"As an American and a Christian, I do respect your choice," the administrator wrote. "(But) I have to uphold the Lifestyle Covenant at SCU and confront you with our position.

"Due to this recent event, you will not be able to attend SCU in the future."

When asked to confirm that the school -- which describes itself as part of the "International Pentecostal Holiness" denomination -- sent the letter and to elaborate on the decision, the school's provost, Connie Sjoberg, said only that federal law "prohibits us from confirming if an individual is or has been a student at our institution."

Sjoberg added, "We therefore cannot comment on your specific request."

Did Minard sign the school's morality covenant? Yes, she concedes. But she still thinks her expulsion is unfair. Plenty of other students violate the contract in one way or another without being expelled, she says. Minard thinks she is singled out because she's a lesbian.

In addition to the emotional sting, the 22-year-old says she is now stuck personally -- not knowing what to do, or where to go next.

[Deleted]

I would expect no less of a school like that. She also probably could have gotten kicked out for getting drunk (legally), having sex before marriage, or watching an R-rated movie.

Their code of conduct:

The University reserves the right to interpret conduct that is in violation of these r egulations.
One of the unique qualities of Christian higher education is a community that strives to follow the example of Jesus Christ and the teachings of the Bible. Therefore, practices that are wrong according to Biblical standards provide a framework for student behavior and are not acceptable for students enrolled at SCU.
Specific acts include, but are not limited to:
• Drunkenness, stealing, slander, profane language, all forms of dishonesty,
lying, cheating, sexual sins such as premarital sex and homosexual behavior. In addition, attitudes such as greed, jealousy, pride, lust, bitterness, selfishness, anger, un-forgiveness, discrimination and prejudice based on race, sex, or socioeconomic status, are not acceptable.
* Members of the university community are expected to practice discretion and restraint in the choice of television programs, music, video games, movies, videos, or drama. Video games with the rating of T (Teen) are permitted. The University reserves the right to not allow video games with the rating of M (Mature) to be played or movies with the rating of R to be viewed. These decisions will be made by Resident Assistants, Resident Chaplains, Director of Residential and Student Life, or Vice President of Student Life (VPSL).
• Any programming in TV, CD, computer on-line services or telephone services, etc., of pornographic/obscene and immoral content is prohibited. Abuse of these privileges will result in disciplinary action.
While these attitudes are sometimes difficult to detect, they are just as damaging to the community as the more flagrant acts of contempt. The SCU community consequently repudiates these actions and attitudes and expects its students to do likewise.
By providing an example for others in word and deed, each student should encourage others’ adherence to the Lifestyle Covenant. Students should be
sure not to incite another’s violation of the covenant and should seek to strengthen the bond of trust at every opportunity.
The students and leadership at Southwestern Christian University affirm that, regardless of faith, creed or race, all students admitted to the university must agree to uphold the Lifestyle Covenant and the rules governing SCU. No time, place or circumstance gives release from the individual’s initial promise. The Lifestyle Covenant is a way of life, measured by the heart and commitment of each member of the SCU family, and students should regard it as essential to development, not as an imposition or restriction.
The registration process is incomplete until students have formally signed the Lifestyle Covenant.

[VillainV]

Unfair? Yes. Illegal? Probably not.

I get wanting to finish a degree program that she started, but if it were me, I would want nothing to do with an institution that held that kind of stance about homosexuality. I'd take my credits and run as fast as I could to a school that shared my belief and would transfer me in. I'm sure there are many schools (even Christian schools) that will allow her to be who she is.

[lurknomore]

As a very strong supporter of LGBT rights, I still feel this woman is in the wrong for crying foul at her expulsion. She chose to attend a Christian university and knowingly signed a lifestyles covenant. And now feels she shouldn't be expelled because lots of students break the covenant in various ways. That feels so wrong to me...wait until graduation to get married. Keep your pics off FB or your profile more private. Idk. I think it comes back to the idea of personal responsibility. Own your actions. Don't attend a Christian school and then get mad you're in trouble there.

I personally would never ever choose a school like that.

[mbcdefg]

I don't think it's very Christian of the school to kick her out ... but she signed their contract. It makes me wonder if she read it in full, or why she'd even want to attend such a bigoted school.

[lime]

Jul 12, 2014 11:07:27 GMT -5 VillainV said:

Unfair? Yes. Illegal? Probably not. 

This is where I'm at. 

It sucks that this sort of discrimination still exists, but this is the sort of thing you'd expect from a christian school. 

[Deleted]

Do we know if her parents forced her to go to this school? (Yes, I know legally they can't make her do so, but they certainly could have threatened to disown her if she didn't go there.)

[hopenotlost]

I would be upset, but I certainly am not shocked that it happened.

[awick14]

Jul 12, 2014 11:17:24 GMT -5 lime said:

Jul 12, 2014 11:07:27 GMT -5 VillainV said:

Unfair? Yes. Illegal? Probably not. 

This is where I'm at. 

It sucks that this sort of discrimination still exists, but this is the sort of thing you'd expect from a christian school. 

I also agree with this. It may not be fair but of she signed a legal document stating she understood the rules of the school she can't be mad at the school because SHE signed the form.

[imojoebunny]

I can't get all up in arms about this. I send my daughter to a school that is religious. It has a code of conduct, one that prohibits discrimination, ill treatment of others, racism, sexism, and lack of respect for diversity of skills, backgrounds, and choices., so very different in its philosophy, but if someone was kicked out for bringing their religious philosophy that lesbians are wrong to school, I would support it. I know people who were kicked out of a religious university for engaging in premarital sex in their early 20's. Ridiculous in my view, but they chose to go there, when there were thousands of other options.

[pamela]

Jul 12, 2014 13:05:34 GMT -5 @37butterknives said:

Do we know if her parents forced her to go to this school? (Yes, I know legally they can't make her do so, but they certainly could have threatened to disown her if she didn't go there.)

I'm sure if that was the case, they'd disown her for getting married to another woman too, so I don't think that holds much weight.

[Deleted]

This is true, and I almost mentioned it in my PP. And if this was indeed the case, it could explain why she got married when she did instead of waiting until after graduation ... Now that she's hitched, she doesn't need her pesky parents.

But maybe she should have worked on transferring to another school while she was planning to get married...

[Miss Phryne Fisher]

BYU does this all the time. If you are LDS when you start and you leave the church or don't get an ecclesiastical recommendation from your bishop, you are out. They have even been known to withhold records and graduation. All part of their honor code. (You don't have to be LDS to go there but you can't be ex-LDS and you still have to follow the honor code)

I don't like it, but she had to know this would happen.

[wise_rita]

Jul 12, 2014 20:21:12 GMT -5 Miss Phryne Fisher said:

BYU does this all the time. If you are LDS when you start and you leave the church or don't get an ecclesiastical recommendation from your bishop, you are out. They have even been known to withhold records and graduation. All part of their honor code. (You don't have to be LDS to go there but you can't be ex-LDS and you still have to follow the honor code)

What the ever loving fuck.

I'm just disgusted that places like this still exist.  But damn, girl, keep your head down until you've got your diploma in hand first.

[Deleted]

No productive comments other than, holy shit....I would have been kicked out about 2 weeks into my freshman year

[krystee]

I would be very curious to see the list of expelled students from the last few years and what their "infractions" were, to see if they are kicking out people who break any item in the code or only this one.