No doubt many of you have heard about Wheaton provost's attempt to fire Dr. Larycia Hawkins, their only African American faculty member for stating that Muslims worship the same God as do Christians. She did this after donning a hijab to express her solidarity with Muslims after Jerry Falwell Jr. told students at Liberty University to carry handguns to protect themselves from Muslims. Wheaton's administration placed her on leave and demanded to know how her statements could be reconciled with the statement of faith she agreed to when she joined the Wheaton faculty. Her reiteration of that statement did not satisfy the administration so they agreed to let her teach on a probationary status if she gave up tenure. Naturally she refused that outrageous demand so they began proceedings to have her terminated. The first step in that process was to present the matter to the Faculty Personnel Committee. However, before they got that far it seems that the Faculty Council met and unanimously voiced their support for Dr. Hawkins saying they were quite satisfied that her beliefs aligned with the Wheaton Statement of Faith. Furthermore Wheaton's Faculty Diversity Committee sent a memo to the Faculty Personnel Committee stating its concern that Wheaton's only African-American professor was being constantly scrutinized over her views on race, gender and martial status. They held this raised the specter of discrimination. That memo was apparently leaked.
Two days later the provost of Wheaton college apologized to Dr. Hawkins, asked her forgiveness and stated that Wheaton would no longer seek her termination. Hours after that a joint announcement was made stating that the College and Dr. Hawkins have reached a confidential agreement under which they will part ways. In other words, she got a nice settlement and is now on to bigger and better things.
Two days later the provost of Wheaton college apologized to Dr. Hawkins, asked her forgiveness and stated that Wheaton would no longer seek her termination. Hours after that a joint announcement was made stating that the College and Dr. Hawkins have reached a confidential agreement under which they will part ways. In other words, she got a nice settlement and is now on to bigger and better things.