St Olaf students protesting commencement speaker

[mnphysicist]

Apparently we have the issues of politicians with values counter to the values of the school triggering protests as well.

The choice of Rep. Erik Paulsen as commencement speaker at St. Olaf College in Northfield has prompted students there to engage in a silent demonstration against the freshman House member. Paulsen, a St. Olaf alum and a Republican representing suburban Hennepin County, recently voted against the inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity in federal hate crimes law. Students say the vote doesn't reflect the values of the college.

Inclusiveness is a definitive value at our institution. It guides St. Olaf through divisiveness and keeps our community relevant, diverse and cohesive. This year the commencement speaker, Representative Erik Paulsen '87 (R-MN), is a member of our St. Olaf family, and brings his own unique voice to local and national politics. His beliefs are not singularly representative of St. Olaf, but rather constitute one part of the sum of our diverse family. While we welcome his voice, a group of St. Olaf students with their own voices do not share his views on many social issues.

Just as Erik Paulsen will share his viewpoint at commencement, those in the St. Olaf community who respectfully disagree with Representative Paulsen will also express themselves. A group of students from all different backgrounds have organized and is proposing the following, under the theme: "Celebrating the Class of 2009 as They Are - Created Equally.

 

[mnphysicist]

Shoot, this should have been in the ELCA forum, as St Olaf is an ELCA school. Sorry about that.

 

[D.W.Washburn]

It is in the ELCA forum.

 

[mnphysicist]

I hadnt done any thread moves in years... so it took me a bit LOL, but got it fixed now.

 

[doulos_tou_kuriou]

It's a commencement address...seriously! I doubt he came there to express his different views on hate crime definitions, thus it does not seem like their protest of his speaking on account of that is well-grounded. But free speech and protest is certainly their right.
No speaker will reflect everyone's views, particularly not someone who is politically affiliated (Repub./Democ) so protesting for one that is in no way tied to his/her purpose/speech should then be a regular thing for every commencement. And if they did not want someone with clear views on issues they shouldn't have asked a politician to speak.
First the Obama at Notre Dame protests, now this. I just think it is a little silly.
I'm glad the Unniversity/ELCA has not expressed dismay for his speaking, since that would suggest that Republicans can't be a part of the school/synod.
pax

 

[LutheranHawkeye]

It's a commencement address...seriously! I doubt he came there to express his different views on hate crime definitions, thus it does not seem like their protest of his speaking on account of that is well-grounded. But free speech and protest is certainly their right.
No speaker will reflect everyone's views, particularly not someone who is politically affiliated (Repub./Democ) so protesting for one that is in no way tied to his/her purpose/speech should then be a regular thing for every commencement. And if they did not want someone with clear views on issues they shouldn't have asked a politician to speak.
First the Obama at Notre Dame protests, now this. I just think it is a little silly.
I'm glad the Unniversity/ELCA has not expressed dismay for his speaking, since that would suggest that Republicans can't be a part of the school/synod.
pax

Well the folks at Notre Dame are furious because Obama's position on abortion is directly contrary to the doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church, the speaker at St. Olaf seems to be a fairly conservative man with views that are not contrary to ELCA doctrine; what scares me is the student protest against a conservative Lutheran coming to speak at an ELCA college. Doesn't exactly illustrate the ELCA as a friendly place for conservatives, which saddens me because I always thought that there was a strong conservative presence in the ELCA.

 

[IowaLutheran]

Well the folks at Notre Dame are furious because Obama's position on abortion is directly contrary to the doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church, the speaker at St. Olaf seems to be a fairly conservative man with views that are not contrary to ELCA doctrine; what scares me is the student protest against a conservative Lutheran coming to speak at an ELCA college. Doesn't exactly illustrate the ELCA as a friendly place for conservatives, which saddens me because I always thought that there was a strong conservative presence in the ELCA.

Unless I missed it, the article doesn't say how many are involved in the protest, so I wouldn't make any conclusions about St. Olaf, much less the ELCA, from this story.

 

[D.W.Washburn]

Unless I missed it, the article doesn't say how many are involved in the protest, so I wouldn't make any conclusions about St. Olaf, much less the ELCA, from this story.

Agreed. Nor does the article say how many of the students involved were members of the ELCA.

Also note that the protest was political, not theological.

And that it does not in any way involve a particular stance of the ELCA.

And finally, that the LC-MS is not exactly welcoming of theological or political liberals.




Perhaps the conclusion to draw is that a subset of students at an ELCA college are of a politically liberal bent and chose to protest a speaker on that basis...not on the basis of any doctrinal stance of the church body.