Monday, 24 September 2012
Tonight, just before I went to bed, I decided to check my email once more. This message was waiting for me in my Hamline email account:
Dear Hamline Community,
In recent weeks, a number of you have urged the University to take a stand in opposition to the proposed amendment to the Minnesota Constitution which would limit marriage in the state to a union of one man and one woman. These activities are all within the spirit and foundational ethos of a university—we think about societal issues, debate them, and then as citizens, act upon our convictions.
Significant and careful consideration of this matter has been given by me, the Board of Trustees and many of you in the community. Such consideration has led to the conclusion that Hamline will not take a position in opposition to or in favor of the amendment.
Those who have urged public opposition by the University have passionately and eloquently cited Hamline’s core values and history of inclusivity. The University’s position should not be viewed as supportive of the amendment or as a rejection of these values.
Rather, the intent is to allow for civil discourse and civic engagement by all members of our community. As a diverse university made up of students, faculty, staff, alumni, the Methodist church, and our neighbors, each individual and group should have the freedom to express their approval of or opposition to the amendment. It is extremely important that Hamline remain a place where, in the words of John Wesley, “the very act of intellectual inquiry is sacred.”
I know that we each individually have a personal view—I certainly do as a citizen and voter. And we will not all agree. But Hamline is best served as a university to allow for intellectual discourse and the unfettered exposition of ideas and opinions in regard to this amendment.
President Hanson
I was going to write back immediately. In fact, I hit reply, and wrote: “Professor Hanson – I’ve been contemplating dropping out of Hamline after this semester. Thanks to your message, my decision is now clear.”
I laughed at how clever my ambiguity was, then I figured, “Meh, whatever,” cancelled my message, and went to bed.
Tuesday, 25 September 2012
Today, when I arrived on campus, there were students gathering on the grass speaking about the President’s deplorable lack of position. Some were writing big demands on the sidewalk with sidewalk chalk, saying things like “We will not be ignored,” and someone put a t-shirt on the bronze statue of Mr. Hamline himself that said “We will be heard.”
When I went into the building my class is in, some students were marching down the hallways, and the guy in front had a bullhorn saying something like: “What do we want?” and then everytone else shouted, “A meeting with the president.” Then he asked “When do we want it?” And I think the answer to that was 4:00. They were so loud that at least one class ended ten minutes early.
When our class began, the professor decided to kick off the day by asking us how we felt about our President”s lack of a spine. Pretty much everyone thought she was wrong for not taking a stance, especially since Hamline claims to be a force for social justice. Our professor told us that, in the 1950s, when racial integration at college’s was being met with resistance in third-world nations like Arkansas and Mississippi, Hamline took a stand saying that they were pro-integration.
Evidently they don’t care as much about gay people’s right.
One student raised a good point, though. She said that the racial integration of colleges directly affected Hamline, whereas gay marriage does not. But then another rather vocal student said that’s beside the point – a college that believes in social justice should be in the forefront of advancing their students’ rights and should show that they are a safe place for everyone. Then the first girl asked: “If gay marriage becomes legal, will churches be forced to perform gay marriages?”
Man, the misinformation being tossed about is shocking. I was a bit disgusted that a student at Hamline did not know better, but the other students quickly informed her that voting No will not make gay marriage legal and, even when it does become legal one day, churches are still free to forbid gay marriages in their churches, just as they are now free to forbid interracial marriages, or (in the case of my former religion), weddings that don’t use Kingdom Melodies or have a limosine.