Gordon College Faces Review - Discrimination

[pixy0stix]

FUCK THIS HORSESHIT!

www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/14/gordon-college-discriminate-gay_n_5584199.html

A regional accrediting agency has placed Gordon College, a Christian school in Boston, under review as the institution seeks the legal ability to discriminate in hiring against members of the LGBT community, the Boston Business Journal reported.



D. Michael Lindsay made Gordon the lone higher education institution to sign onto a letter from roughly a dozen faith-based organizations petitioning the Obama administration for exemptions on the basis of religion from an executive order banning discrimination in hiring on the basis of sexual orientation. The order would apply to Gordon as an institution taking federal funding.



The New England Association of Schools and Colleges’ Commission on Institutions of Higher Education will review whether the college is violating a policy requiring its members to adhere to "non-discriminatory policies and practices in recruitment, admissions, employment, evaluation, disciplinary action, and advancement," and whether it has an atmosphere respecting and supporting "people of diverse characteristics and backgrounds."



"There's considerable publicity about the whole issue, and it’s been getting a lot of attention," commission director Barbara E. Brittingham told the Boston Globe. "It's a matter of looking at the information we have and deciding if the institution is meeting our standards."



The ultimate punishment -- though rare -- would be for the commission to revoke Gordon's accreditation, which would set off challenges with the school's access to federal funding and potential downgrades by credit rating agencies.



The move by Gordon's administration sparked a backlash among its own students and alumni, with some 3,500 people signing an online petition calling on Lindsay to rescind his request.



Lindsay responded earlier this month in a letter to the community stating that although it wants the legal freedom on the basis of religion to not hire someone because they are gay or lesbian, "We have never barred categories of individuals from our campus and have no intention to do so now."

[mominatrix]

Jul 14, 2014 16:12:34 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Lindsay responded earlier this month in a letter to the community stating that although it wants the legal freedom on the basis of religion to not hire someone because they are gay or lesbian, "We have never barred categories of individuals from our campus and have no intention to do so now."

um, we've never done this, and have no intention of doing so... but we want to be able to do it just in case.




time for some Jennifer Lawrence GIF's!















and, the one you know is necessary now...

[NewOrleans]

[pandorica]

*lurker from ML*

You guys, I went to this college. I'm so sad and ashamed

[NewOrleans]

Jul 14, 2014 16:55:45 GMT -5 pandorica said:

*lurker from ML*

You guys, I went to this college. I'm so sad and ashamed

Well, it sounds as though the student body is upset.  The article mentions an alumni petition.  Maybe you can find and sign it.

[bugandbibs]

I'm so pissed at the Supreme Court and this Hobby Lobby crap.

When will people understand that marginalizing any group of people as an "other" always ends up on the wrong side of history?

[pandorica]

Jul 14, 2014 17:26:19 GMT -5 NewOrleans said:

Jul 14, 2014 16:55:45 GMT -5 pandorica said:

*lurker from ML*

You guys, I went to this college. I'm so sad and ashamed

Well, it sounds as though the student body is upset.  The article mentions an alumni petition.  Maybe you can find and sign it.

I have already signed it, and am following the story closely. I know many people who also went there who are just as upset. The president doesn't even come close to representing the current students and alumni. I just feel like my degree is tarnished now! 

[LoveTrains]

Gordon college also recently had their contract to operate old town hall in Salem (mass) cancelled because they are in violation of a city non discrimination policy.

I know some alumni and it's somewhat local to my area so it's been on all over my FB feed (mostly alumni speaking out in horror).

[LoveTrains]

Jul 14, 2014 17:34:10 GMT -5 pandorica said:

Jul 14, 2014 17:26:19 GMT -5 NewOrleans said:

Well, it sounds as though the student body is upset.  The article mentions an alumni petition.  Maybe you can find and sign it.

I have already signed it, and am following the story closely. I know many people who also went there who are just as upset. The president doesn't even come close to representing the current students and alumni. I just feel like my degree is tarnished now! 

What morons on the board of trustees approved the hiring of this guy? Alumni should start petitioning the board to fire the president.

[pandorica]

Jul 14, 2014 18:37:32 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

Jul 14, 2014 17:34:10 GMT -5 pandorica said:

I have already signed it, and am following the story closely. I know many people who also went there who are just as upset. The president doesn't even come close to representing the current students and alumni. I just feel like my degree is tarnished now! 

What morons on the board of trustees approved the hiring of this guy? Alumni should start petitioning the board to fire the president.

Unfortunately the board of trustees just put out a letter that backs him up... And put in a little dig at the people opposing it.


"Let me close by asking you to join me in praying for Gordon. Pray that a spirit of unity will prevail. The good news is that ours is a God who redeems even the toughest of circumstances. Please pray that God would do that now, even as so many are watching to see how we treat one another. Let us not miss this moment to honor Christ in all things."
development.cmail2.com/t/ViewEmail/r/225F333C7D054D272540EF23F30FEDED/C0BA15EF61E0E1D66707B176AE29F890

[WOT?*]

A "liberal" arts college. How ironic. Seems pretty Christian Conservative to me. (and I'm sure I'll get a "that doesn't mean what you think it means" but take it in an Alanis ironic way tyvm.)

[PinkSquirrel]

Jul 14, 2014 18:36:00 GMT -5 LoveTrains said:

Gordon college also recently had their contract to operate old town hall in Salem (mass) cancelled because they are in violation of a city non discrimination policy.

I know some alumni and it's somewhat local to my area so it's been on all over my FB feed (mostly alumni speaking out in horror).

Yep.  I was delighted Salem gave them the axe.   I've also seen a bunch of PO'd alumni in my feed.

[pandorica]

Jul 14, 2014 18:53:46 GMT -5 WOT?* said:

A "liberal" arts college. How ironic. Seems pretty Christian Conservative to me. (and I'm sure I'll get a "that doesn't mean what you think it means" but take it in an Alanis ironic way tyvm.)

I always thought Gordon was on the liberal side of the Christian college spectrum. I'm not sure if I'm way wrong, or if things have changed.

[secretlyevil]

SCOTUS really slid us back decades and decades with their ruling.

[LoveTrains]

Jul 14, 2014 19:05:29 GMT -5 pandorica said:

Jul 14, 2014 18:53:46 GMT -5 WOT?* said:

A "liberal" arts college. How ironic. Seems pretty Christian Conservative to me. (and I'm sure I'll get a "that doesn't mean what you think it means" but take it in an Alanis ironic way tyvm.)

I always thought Gordon was on the liberal side of the Christian college spectrum. I'm not sure if I'm way wrong, or if things have changed.

That sucks that the board is backing him. You went there so I'm sure you have a better understanding than any if us. I always knew it was a Christian college but I had no idea it was this conservative.