Jason Johnson Expelled for Being Out on His MySpace Page
Jason Johnson, a 20-year-old University of the Cumberlands student, has been expelled from the Williamsburg, KY, school for being out on his MySpace page, a violation of this university policy:
“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.”
University of the Cumberlands President Jim Taylor released the following 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.
“University of the Cumberlands isn’t for everyone. We tell prospective students about our high standards before they come.
“We are different by design, and are non-apologetic about our Christian beliefs.”
I think what he meant to say is that the university tells prospective students about their discrimination policy before they come.
Heel click: Mincing Words
Despite my strong belief that the University is wrong-headed on this issue, I actually don’t dispute their right to do what they did. What I really hate, however, is their characterization of homosexuality as being the opposite of “high standards”. Homophobic bigot.
I agree with the previous commenter.
If we want to truly be as open-minded and tolerant as we tell other people to be, we have to understand that some Christain beliefs condemn homosexuality and they have the right to not have acceptance be forced upon them.
However, the way the University expressed their beliefs is just plain rude and I hope they don’t get any public funding.
This is where I ask about boundaries between private and public – does the school policy make any such distinction whatsoever, or does the school consider whatever it comes to know about a person as within its rights?
Also, who else has been asked to leave? If someone writes on LJ about having an “impure thought,” is that a violation of the higher standard? Are some sexual sins worse than others? What about getting piss drunk and screaming obscenities out the car window – would this person be asked to leave because of violating the school’s principles, or do they only expel for sexual violations?
Okay, I overstepped a bit. I got angry when I read this, which I rarely do. So I sent an email to the theater arts dept director saying “Shame on him”.
Lame, I know. Won’t fix anything I know.
Does this “university” really have the right to do such things even if they get state funding? Just curious.
This policy against homosexuality specifically WAS NOT explicitly in place when Jason Johnson began studying at the University of the Cumberlands. Therefore, I cannot endorse the opinion that the school “had a right” to do what they did. Furthermore, they could have behaved much more compassionately (much more Christian?) than they did. They ordered Jason off school property the VERY DAY they confronted him. They could have at least let him finish the semester, finish his work on the school play, etc. This school is disgusting.
http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/news/14313621.htm
Also, boiwondr76, I actually think you did the right thing. The school should know that this is the 21st century, and people disapprove of bigoted behavior. If you’d like to share your feelings with the university, you can search for all kinds of e-mail addresses here:
http://www.cumberlandcollege.edu/directory/
One more thing. Check out this quote attributed to the University president by MSNBC. How dare he?!
“There are places students with predispositions can go such as San Francisco or the left coast or other state schools.”
SHRIEK! http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12209561
Thanks Drew for the directory listing. I did some reasearch of my own, and found somd dirty laundry on the university.
I WAS A STUDENT AT UNIVERSITY OF THE CUMBERLANDS BEFORE IT WAS RENAMED FROM CUMBERLAND COLLEGE. I WAS A MEMBER OF THE VARSITY WRESTLING TEAM WHILE I ATTENDED THE COLLEGE. I MYSELF AM A BI-SEXUAL MALE AND WHEN MY SECRECT GOT OUT AT THIS SCHOOL MY REPUTATION, ACEDMIC AND ATHLETIC CARREER WAS RUINED. I REMEMBER WHEN I FIRST WAS ASKED ABOUT A RUMOR FROM OTHER STUDENTS ABOUT MY SEXUALITY. I WAS OUTRAGED AND SCARED FOR MY LIFE. I WAS GIVEN THREANING PHONE CALLS LATE AT NIGHT HERRASSSED AND INTIMIDATED BY OTHER MEN IN MY DORM. I WAS FORCED TO MOVE TO TWO DIFFERENT DORMS AND THREE DIFFERENT ROOMS. THE HIRRASMENTS AND THREATS CUASED ME TO FALE A CLASS AND WREAKED MY GPA FROM A 3.0 TO A 1.95. I NO LONGER ATTEND CUMBERLAND COLLEGE AKA UNIVERSITY OF THE CUMBERLANDS IN WILLIAMSBURG, KY.
I have to admit, Jason has more guts than I do. I’ve been following his story on MSNBC.com for the past few days and my heart goes out to him. After struggling for several years, I’ve come to accept my sexuality, but I’m forced to stay in the closet since I still live at home and I’m also a preacher’s kid. I attended a private Christian university for year, so I can understand what he’s going through. I wish him the best of luck.
oh my gosh that is way stupid i just read your story in cosmo girl think that’s rediculous!
i read your story in cosmogirl and im using it for my health artical about modern society health (i choose homosexuality). i cut the artical out of the magazine and i have to write an opinionated paper on it. if i get an A on it, i owe it to you jason. you did the right thing and i hope your happy with your decision.
boiwondr76, first of all, the head of the theatre department is female so I doubt you actually sent anything and second this is not the department’s fault, don’t go making their life a living hell for something that they did not do.