Christians, Due Process, and the Davis Debacle
Since Victoria briefly mentioned the strife that has engulfed our friend, I feel like it's okay for me to post a thought about it now.
Adam recently informed me that in a conversation with the Academic Dean [and we all know who that is], he was told that since HC/U is a private institution they are not obligated to give students due process in matters of discipline or dismissal. In other words, it is okay for the Education Department to hold closed meetings concerning a student's dismissal. The student need not be given a chance to explain the situation to anyone, including the people who get to vote on whether or not that student is disciplined or dismissed. How these people are able to vote impartially on the matter without having heard a complete account of the situation is beyond me.
When our friend approached the Dean of Student Development about his predicament, that person felt that although HC/U did not have to give him due process, it seemed like something that they ought to do. Props to this person for that realization.
It is mind-boggling to me that Christians should have to think about whether or not a person deserves due process, regardless of the laws that may regulate them as an institution. To deny people the chance to defend themselves is hardly civilized, much less Christian.
Adam recently informed me that in a conversation with the Academic Dean [and we all know who that is], he was told that since HC/U is a private institution they are not obligated to give students due process in matters of discipline or dismissal. In other words, it is okay for the Education Department to hold closed meetings concerning a student's dismissal. The student need not be given a chance to explain the situation to anyone, including the people who get to vote on whether or not that student is disciplined or dismissed. How these people are able to vote impartially on the matter without having heard a complete account of the situation is beyond me.
When our friend approached the Dean of Student Development about his predicament, that person felt that although HC/U did not have to give him due process, it seemed like something that they ought to do. Props to this person for that realization.
It is mind-boggling to me that Christians should have to think about whether or not a person deserves due process, regardless of the laws that may regulate them as an institution. To deny people the chance to defend themselves is hardly civilized, much less Christian.
posted by Heather at 3:06 PM
10 Comments:
Aside from agreeing with everything you just said, I'm horrified at myself. I'm outraged and angered by this situation, but I'm not surprised by it. That scares me. It's come to the point where injustice no longer surprises me, it was expected. That's not how it's supposed to be.
So, after my rant, do you think there's anything we could do? Letters of outrage? Anyone we could contact?
Do you really think that letters would work? I don't. I mean what has worked in the past? Not much. Maybe if we burn down the science building...(j/k).
Ok, so I really just wanted to tell you guys that I think it's totally wicked that you all have "Archives". hehe
I am sorry I can't leave more "sophisticated" posts like you guys. I can't really leave good comments when it's almost midnight. You guys know what I look and act like at times like these. Need I say more?
Yes, I need to say more.
And it was on fire--but it was cold fire!
And then it was on--HARDCORE!
drDearest Victoria informed me of this outlandish action that has taken place. I agree with what has been said by the contributors of this column. As a graduate of that "blessed" department, it comes as no surprise. How many times were we told to do one thing while a faculty member did another? Or maybe that was that they never told us at all?!?!?! Maybe they should start leading by example???? What better time to model God's mercy than when someone does something that has offended another. God gave his chosen people many chances in the Bible. Did not the Education Department choose to accept Adam into their Department? If they are going to continue to call themselves a Christian institution (which I do believe they generally strive to be), they need to start acting like it instead of finding secular legalistic ways of getting themselves out of the thick. They should help their students to build a solid foundation while helping them learn from mistakes. Then again, if they keep trying to play God with students' lives, we would have to assume they believe they have never made a mistake themselves.......(appologies...i should go to bed and stop writing....I hope I made at least a bit of sense.)
~Le grand fromage
No, I really don't think that letters, or pretty much anything we could do would help. I'm grasping at strews here. We've all seen plenty of evidence that they really don't give a rip what we think.
.....and it's rather frusterating that they don't care...
~Le grand fromage
So I just talked to Adam this evening. There sure are some interesting developments. Like a meeting with the academic concerns committee. And it looks like he's not going to be kicked out of the department at least. Although, honestly, I don't know why he'd want to stay.
Yes -- the results of the ACC meeting are quite interesting. They found that since Adam was kicked out of Snider, he can't finish student teaching there.
Duh.
However, I think that at least one certain someone in the Education department is in deep water for providing more student information than necessary and there's been talk of a free semester next fall.
Not quite the dramatic reversal of fortune that I know we were all hoping for, but at least Adam got to make his case. We can always hope that the Education department will improve as a result.
Actually, it turns out that this whole situation could be even more damaging to Huntington's Education department than I had previously thought. One of the main points that gets discussed every time the department gets accredited is the lack of cultural diversity in Huntington. The college has been able to jump this hurdle previously because of the multi-cultural practicum in Ft. Wayne. Adam's principal has said that he would prefer not to work with Huntington ever again because of this mess, which he believes was handled poorly on their part. This principal has also been talking to the area administrator.
If Ft. Wayne schools decide to close their doors to HU completely, the Education department will be in serious trouble.
Oi, that's a bit more than what I heard. They could be in quite a bit deeper than they thought.
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