Student expelled from (Baptist) University of Cumberlands for being gay

[deadparrot]

When Jason Johnson enrolled at the University of the Cumberlands in 2004, he says he didn't worry about being kicked out for being gay.

After all, the school's code of conduct only barred "lewd and indecent conduct."

But Johnson, now a sophomore, said yesterday he has been expelled from the Baptist-affiliated college under a new sexual conduct policy that forbids engaging in or promoting homosexuality.

Administrators confronted him last week about his page on MySpace.com, on which he discussed his sexual orientation and boyfriend, he said.

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060411/NEWS0104/604110369/1008/rss01

[Turbineguy]

1. Oh Oh!

If he's on financial aid he'll lose it on account of becoming extremely weathly!

SUE THE SHIT OUT OF THOSE CREEPS!

[Maat]

2. And the article says that Kentucky taxpayers subsidize that looney bin!

They should threaten to vote out their fine Rethuglican representatives if they don't stop the aid to that discriminatory institution!

[trogdor]

3. Um, and why would an out homosexual enroll at a Baptist college?

Surely not for sincere reasons. Makes me wanna say hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

[DrunkenMaster]

4. interesting response

People enroll in schools for all sorts of reasons. I have known queers that attend Baptist and Lutheran schools as well as Christians that attend courses at a Buddhist University.

It seems to me that your post is a subtle way of blaming the victim.

[noonwitch]

9. I don't think the poster is blaming the victim

This guy isn't really a victim, by my standard.

There are thousands of colleges and universities in this country that don't discriminate against gays. He chose to go to one of the few that does. When I was looking at colleges, I chose not to go to Bob Jones because I like to listen to rock music, date black guys (and any other guy I like), and be friends with gay people.

I do think that the school should give him the chance to finish out his semester so he can transfer his credits to another school (because he paid for his credit hours), but he knew the rules and could have gone elsewhere.

I have a coworker who enrolled her elementary school-aged daughter in a private, chrisian school. She is now worried that she may be pregnant and unmarried-the school will give her daughter (who was also born out of wedlock) the boot. I have little sympathy for her. She knew going in what their rules were and she still decided to have an affair with a guy she hardly knew. She's not a victim, either, although her kid is if she gets booted out of the school and has to start over again somewhere else.

[MadHound]

13. Have you ever considered that this man is just as pious

As any of his classmates, and this is why he chose to go to a Baptist school? The gay population in this country are just as diverse as the population as a whole, which means that yes Virginia, there are gay, RW fundies out there, who feel the need to attend Baptist colleges. And there are gay people out there who aren't so defined by their sexuality that it is how they select the college of their choice, they actually use other criteria than their sexuality.

In addition, if you look at the article, you will see that when he was accepted for his freshman year, there was no prohibition on a person's sexuality, that change was made during his sophmore year.

[fshrink]

27. Well then, he's got to live with his own contradictions.

Because following a belief system that rejects who you are is a contradiction for the believer, not for the system.

[baby_mouse]

5. And why WOULD a queer want to get married?

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[BattyDem]

6. Maybe all the homosexual universities were full.

:sarcasm:


He could have enrolled for any number of reasons: maybe he's a Bapist or the school offered something he was interested in or the location was convenient or the tuition was affordable or maybe he just wanted an education and thought it was a good school.

On edit: I wonder ... do they expell all sexually active students or just the gay ones? If it's just the homosexuals, then this is yet another case of "selective morality" - certain sins are unforgivable, yet they'll look the other way on other sins.

[RubyDuby in GA]

7. I know a wonderful gay man that went to Liberty University and he's

a religious person.

Plus, on the bright side, we have all this opposition research from him. :)

[Misunderestimator]

28. Gee, maybe he's .... I dunno... a Christian?

:eyes: Why are you humming?

[alfredo]

8. Here's more from the Lexington paper

http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/14313621.htm There's a poll too.


Johnson, a sophomore majoring in theater arts, was expelled from the university Thursday because he declared online that he is gay. In a statement released last week, the university's president, Jim Taylor said students are held to a "higher standard" and that "students know the rules before they come to this institution."

But a copy of the student handbook provided by the university confirmed the policy was not spelled out in 2003-04, when Johnson chose to attend. The school did not provide a copy of the policy for the 2004-05 school year. The 2005-06 student handbook says: "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."

[H3Dakota]

10. The poll results are surprising

Not what I expected at all. SO disappointing, too.

[alfredo]

12. This is Kentucky

Earlier today the results were a lot better. I guess the freeps got hold of it.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

11. "Christian principles" or "Baptist principles"?

Jesus never denounced homosexuality.
I get so tired of saying it...

[Teresa4ChrisCarney]

19. "different standard" is what I think

Jim Taylor means. There is nothing higher about being a heterosexual.

[alfredo]

14. Cumberland could lose accreditation.

Here's the link

http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/14321980.htm

Gay policy could hurt pharmacy school plan
National standards prohibit discrimination
By Art Jester And John Stamper
HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITERS

Jason Johnson was expelled from the University of the Cumberlands after he said that he is gay on MySpace.Com, where he also posted his picture.
Accrediting agency bans anti-gay discrimination

The University of the Cumberlands' rule against gay students appears to put the school's hopes for a pharmacy school on a collision course with national accreditation standards that prohibit discrimination against gays.

Last week, the Southern Baptist university dismissed Jason Johnson, 20, a sophomore theater arts major from Lexington, after he disclosed on a Web site that he is gay. That action put the spotlight on the University of the Cumberlands' rule against homosexuality and extramarital sex. A school policy says both are "not consistent with Christian principles."

[Lance_Boyle]

16. Fundy Pharmacy School???

So *this* is where they train those "I'm too holy to dispense that medication" pharmacists...

That institution should never even have been granted delusions of accreditation.

[alfredo]

17. Bingo, Viagra for men, judgement for women.

[leesa]

15. Well...has the Clue Train pulled into the station?

Baptists think YOU are lewd and indecent.

[alfredo]

18. Never in Kentucky.

[Dulcinea]

20. Is this school a private institution or a state school?

If it's private, it has the right to keep anyone out they don't like or get rid of them. I'm not saying it was good that this kid got kicked out; I'm saying that they have the right to do so, right or wrong.

However, if the University of the Cumberlands is a state school, funded by the taxpayers, he has grounds for a discrimination lawsuit.

[Megahurtz]

21. Good God.

:o What age do we really live in anyway???

[cyr330]

22. For Christ's Sake!

What in the hell was he doing at that shit hole for halfwits anyway?

[alfredo]

23. Joel Pett on this issue

[0007]

24. Argh!

[Post]

25. Is Ann Coulter a MAN?

Voter fraud, transgender...say what? http://postanapology.blogspot.com/2006/04/transgender-ann-coulter-voter-fraud.html#links

[alarcojon]

26. They found out through his myspace.com page?

That's fucked up. Are they looking at everyone's myspace.com page, or just the ones who they suspect are gay?