1. Welcome to Baptist Board, a friendly forum to discuss the Baptist Faith in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to all the features that our community has to offer.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

Baptist school ousts gay student

Discussion in '2006 Archive' started by Ben W, Apr 8, 2006.

  1. Ben W

    Ben W Active Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2002
    Messages:
    8,883
    Likes Received:
    6
    - LAFAYETTE GRAD'S WEB PAGE UPSETS UNIVERSITY OF THE CUMBERLANDS
    By Art Jester
    HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER

    A Lafayette High School graduate has been kicked out of the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg because he wrote on a personal Web page that he is gay.

    The student, Jason Johnson, 20, was officially dismissed either Thursday or yesterday, according to Larry Cockrum, director of media relations at the 1,700-student Baptist institution, formerly called Cumberland College.

    Johnson, a sophomore majoring in theater arts, was at home in Lexington last night. The dean's list student said he could not comment under instructions from his lawyer, Don Waggoner.

    Johnson was apparently thrown out of school, three weeks before the end of the school year, because his declaration that he is gay on MySpace.com violated a university policy that says:

    "Any student who engages in or promotes sexual behavior not consistent with Christian principles (including sex outside marriage and homosexuality) may be suspended or asked to withdraw from the University of the Cumberlands."

    Jim Taylor, the university's longtime president, was attending a funeral in Atlanta and was unavailable for comment. However, he released this statement:

    "At the University of the Cumberlands, we hold students to a higher standard. Students know the rules before they come to this institution. We've followed our policies and procedures in keeping with our traditional denominational beliefs.

    Continued -

    http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/news/state/14294381.htm
     
  2. Joseph M. Smith

    Joseph M. Smith New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2006
    Messages:
    1,041
    Likes Received:
    0
    I expect there is more to the story than what the newspaper is able or willing to report. But one question that comes to me is -- does posting one's orientation on a blog constitute engaging in or promoting a particular sexual behavior? It could be merely a statement of fact. And the college could have responded to that in a less draconian way.

    By the way .. the attorney, Don Waggener (correct spelling) was a student in the BSU at UK when I was campus minister there a lifetime ago!
     
  3. Joseph_Botwinick

    Joseph_Botwinick <img src=/532.jpg>Banned

    Joined:
    Nov 12, 2000
    Messages:
    17,527
    Likes Received:
    0
    He broke the rules and got kicked out. Big deal.

    Joseph Botwinick
     
  4. Aaron

    Aaron Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Sep 4, 2000
    Messages:
    20,253
    Likes Received:
    1,381
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Baptist school ousts gay student? Good.
     
  5. StefanM

    StefanM Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2004
    Messages:
    7,333
    Likes Received:
    210
    Faith:
    Baptist
    I'm not worried. It probably could have been handled it more delicately, but I'm not going to say that it should have been.

    Theater arts, though? A gay theater arts major...if that's not stereotypical, I don't know what is! [​IMG] **

    **Disclaimer: I am not implying that all theater arts majors are gay. I am stating only that a cultural stereotype exists.
     
  6. tragic_pizza

    tragic_pizza New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 30, 2001
    Messages:
    3,395
    Likes Received:
    0
    I'd say "no."

    I'm not Baptist, though, and I'm not afraid that gay people will infect straight people.
     
  7. mcdirector

    mcdirector Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2005
    Messages:
    8,292
    Likes Received:
    11
    My school is only a secondary school, but we have a 24-7 rule and posting something on a website in violation to school rules/policy etc would be grounds for expulsion and was in at least one instance I know of.
     
  8. bapmom

    bapmom New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 3, 2005
    Messages:
    3,091
    Likes Received:
    0
    tragic,

    we aren't afraid of that either, but there are some things that the Bible clearly condemns and this is one of them.

    If what he wrote about himself is true, and the article goes further and says that he is OPENLY gay, than yes, he ought to have been kicked out.

    I do get the impression though that this school is probably Baptist more in name only if it has so many within its student body who are supporting this young man against the administration.
     
  9. SeekingTruth

    SeekingTruth Member

    Joined:
    May 25, 2005
    Messages:
    514
    Likes Received:
    1
    This guy supposedly knew the rules and the position of the school before he enrolled, and I suspect he knew them even better after being there. He broke the rules. He received the appropriate punishment. Now I suppose the homosexual activist crowd will fund a series of law suits to force the college to change its policy toward homosexual students and homosexual activity.

    What is really sad is that they may succeed.

    Bapmom, just because many students "support" him does not mean the school isn't Baptist. Being Baptist, as a college, does not preclude non-Baptists from attending. Being a Baptist does not render one immune from the error of not following the teachings in God's Bible.
     
  10. bapmom

    bapmom New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 3, 2005
    Messages:
    3,091
    Likes Received:
    0
    SeekingTruth,

    I based my comments on "Baptist in name only" on the comments made further in the article by a fellow student of his. She said that he was "openly gay" and that we'd be surprised at how many other students in their college were also gay. For it to be such a prevalent occurrence it is beyond me how no one in the administration could know it, and thus not do anything about it.

    Otherwise, I understand what you are saying.

    I do admit that I know absolutely nothing about this college/university other than this article.
     
  11. shannonL

    shannonL New Member

    Joined:
    May 27, 2005
    Messages:
    686
    Likes Received:
    0
    If the student knew the rules before going to school there then he might as well look for another college.
    Who knows some gay people are activists. The student may have enrolled there simply to cause trouble for the school.
    It does happen you know it just doesn't get reported. There is such a thing as militant,gay activists.
    It is a private school with the guidelines clearly outlined.
    I would say hit the road jack. Plenty of schools out there that would love to have some more gay dudes in them.
     
  12. go2church

    go2church Active Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Jun 21, 2002
    Messages:
    4,304
    Likes Received:
    6
    Faith:
    Baptist
    About the worst rule I have ever heard of in my life! I hope someone challenges nonsense like this 24-7 rule in court and the school has to sell every pickn' pencil to "defend" themselves, then goes out of business FOREVER!
     
  13. Joseph_Botwinick

    Joseph_Botwinick <img src=/532.jpg>Banned

    Joined:
    Nov 12, 2000
    Messages:
    17,527
    Likes Received:
    0
    You moderates can be so extreme in your hatred of those you don't agree with. What a shame.

    BTW, since it is a private school, they can just about implement any policy they wish. If the students do not wish to follow that policy, they certainly do not have to pay their money to attend.

    Joseph Botwinick
     
  14. The Galatian

    The Galatian New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 18, 2001
    Messages:
    9,687
    Likes Received:
    1
    The Bible clearly condemns sins of all kinds. I've always found it odd that some people think other people's sins are automatically worse than theirs.

    That being said, the rules were clear enough, and the school has the right to make them. If the kiddo wanted tolerance and the American way, he could always enroll in a public school.
     
  15. mcdirector

    mcdirector Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2005
    Messages:
    8,292
    Likes Received:
    11
    About the worst rule I have ever heard of in my life! I hope someone challenges nonsense like this 24-7 rule in court and the school has to sell every pickn' pencil to "defend" themselves, then goes out of business FOREVER! </font>[/QUOTE]Ahhh, Thank you for your thoughts -- especially as they were expressed so lovingly.

    I do believe that private institutions have the right to set whatever policies they see fit, and those who join private institutions are obligated to follow the rules.
     
  16. Joseph_Botwinick

    Joseph_Botwinick <img src=/532.jpg>Banned

    Joined:
    Nov 12, 2000
    Messages:
    17,527
    Likes Received:
    0
    NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! :eek:

    Say it isn't so! [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG]

    Joseph Botwinick
     
  17. PatsFan

    PatsFan New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 3, 2004
    Messages:
    454
    Likes Received:
    0
    I think the school should have mandated counseling for the young man instead of giving him the boot. It's not unusual for adolescents to have gender confusion and to need help sorting these issues out. Maybe there is more to this story that we don't know though.
     
  18. Joseph_Botwinick

    Joseph_Botwinick <img src=/532.jpg>Banned

    Joined:
    Nov 12, 2000
    Messages:
    17,527
    Likes Received:
    0
    It is really simple...the school had a rule...the young man knew about the rule, he broke it, he got the boot.

    Joseph Botwinick
     
  19. saturneptune

    saturneptune New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 16, 2006
    Messages:
    13,977
    Likes Received:
    2
    The idea of people joining or attending organizations that have standards exactly the opposite of ones life style has always puzzled me.

    Why would a gay or lesbian go to a Baptist school?

    Why would I go to a Catholic school or join the KKK?

    Would Joseph join the 700 club?

    I suppose people just have got to be the center of attention. Well, if you join a group that is an anathema to your beliefs, you suffer the consequences.
     
  20. Joseph_Botwinick

    Joseph_Botwinick <img src=/532.jpg>Banned

    Joined:
    Nov 12, 2000
    Messages:
    17,527
    Likes Received:
    0
    [​IMG]

    Joseph Botwinick
     
Loading...