However, when it comes to the Duke University administration, I am at a total loss of what is going through their heads. It is as if they have something called Duke Derangement Disorder with their liberal, politically correct ideas.
The latest example was Duke's announcement early last week that it was going to allow the Muslim call to prayers to be piped out of the university's iconic chapel.
 |
| Duke University Chapel |
This is the same university which kicked Chick-fil-A out of its campus food court. I wonder why?
It is the same university that would not allow a pro-life group to hold a meeting in its women's center.
It is the same university that hosted a pro-Palestinian Solidarity Movement Conference on campus.
It is also the same university that threw its entire men's lacrosse team under the bus choosing to believe the claims of an African-American stripper over those of their own student athletes. Taking sides in the case against their own students (who were later totally exonerated), cost Duke what has been estimated to be over $100 million in legal settlements to the families of the three lacrosse players who were falsely charged and other members of the 2005-2006 team, legal and public relations fees.
By the end of the week, Duke's administration reversed its decision of the Muslim call to prayer citing, among other factors, safety concerns. My guess is that a bigger factor was that Duke found out quickly that alumni giving might suffer substantially if they proceeded with their political correctness plan gone mad.
All of this is even more difficult to fathom when you consider the original by-laws of Duke University in which the first paragraph reads as follows.
The aims of Duke University are to assert a faith in the eternal union of knowledge and religion set forth in the teachings and character of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; to advance learning in all lines of truth; to defend scholarship against all false notions and ideals; to develop a Christian love of freedom and truth; to promote a sincere spirit of tolerance; to discourage all partisan and sectarian strife; and to render the largest permanent service to the individual, the state, the nation, and the church. Unto these ends shall the affairs of this University always be administered. (emphasis added).
In fact, you can see these words inscribed on a plaque that is near the Duke Chapel by going here. They were still the first paragraph of Duke's by-laws until last May.
The Duke Board of Trustees amended these "aims of Duke University" on May 9, 2014 so that it no longer was centered on "the teachings and character of Jesus Christ, Son of God" and the aims of the university were no longer "to develop a Christian love of freedom and truth".
That was quite convenient don't you think?
It almost appears that someone within Duke's administration had the foresight to remove that little obstacle in the university's by-laws before they felt comfortable blasting the Muslim call to prayers all over the campus.
The new Duke University "aims" are as follows. Note that it takes a lot more words when you don't truly believe in anything and are trying not to offend anyone at the same time.
The aims of Duke University (the "University") were originally set forth in a statement that President John C. Kilgo wrote for Trinity College in 1903. Kilgo's statement, which grounded the University's purposes in the Christian tradition of intellectual inquiry and service to the world, was adapted for Duke University upon its establishment in 1924. Recognizing its origin in this tradition, its continuing relationship to The United Methodist Church, and the diverse constituency that has developed since its founding, the University is committed to creating a rigorous scholarly community characterized by generous hospitality towards diverse religious and cultural traditions. The University therefore pursues the following aims: to foster a lively relationship between knowledge and faith; to advance learning in all lines of truth; to defend scholarship against all false notions and ideals; to develop a love of freedom and truth; to promote a respectful spirit of dialogue and understanding; to discourage all partisan and sectarian strife; and to further the advancement of knowledge in service to society. The affairs of the university will always be guided by these ends.
Jesus Christ and the Christian love of freedom and truth have been replaced by the following .
... "the University is committed to creating a rigorous scholarly community characterized by generous hospitality towards diverse religious and cultural traditions"; (Of course they are!)
... "to foster a lively relationship between knowledge and faith"; (The eternal union of knowledge and religion set forth in the teachings and character of Jesus Christ has been replaced by a lively relationship between knowledge and faith? I especially like the fact that it is a "lively" relationship.)
..."to develop a love of freedom and truth"; (Forget that Christian love stuff. Love is all that matters.)
Of course, it concludes with "the affairs of the university will always be guided by these ends".
Didn't the original by-laws state the same thing?
We now know that at Duke "always" doesn't mean forever. It just means as long as it is politically correct. Or until rich alums quit writing checks. After all, dollar bills can quickly cure most anything on today's college campuses. Even Duke Derangement Disorder.
No comments:
Post a Comment