The Grand Rapids News reports that Calvin College faculty want a campus discussion on academic freedom after being told that it is “unacceptable” for them to advocate for homosexual issues and same-sex marriage. The main faculty concerns expressed in the article were for how the matter was handled:
About 130 of the campus’ 300 faculty attended a meeting this week to discuss the memo. Karin Maag, vice chairwoman of the Faculty Senate, said there are concerns about both the content of the letter and the process by which the policy was determined.
"We see this as an opportunity for a discussion on campus about these issues, for which there is a range of opinion," she said. "We’re really at the very start of that process."
Maag said professors are concerned about how the policy was created.
According to the Grand Rapids News report, the trustees’ statement in May reads, in part:
"The board commends the college for the work it is doing in an area many think nearly impossible to navigate," the statement reads.
"This is a difficult task, but we want to be clear as to the college position on this issue — a position perhaps not conservative enough to suit many on the right nor satisfactory to many on the left."
The board says there are cases where academic integrity will "require acquainting students with alternate views. However, the position of the church and the college should be clearly and sympathetically presented, and advocacy of homosexual practice and same-sex marriage is not permitted."
Religion on our Campuses 