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Dear Friends,
I had an email exchange this week that I think you might find interesting. It highlights for us an increasing problem. On college campuses, students of a certain hue or certain ideological bent are often granted “safe spaces,” places where they can be undisturbed by any anxiety or discomfort resulting from hearing views with which they might disagree or by not being affirmed in their chosen identities. Other disfavored students, on the other hand, are put in extremely uncomfortable positions.
For example:
Hey Brian,
A young Christian friend of mine is wrapping up a degree in film at [ACME] University in [Anytown]. One of his final projects requires him to create a short documentary on a current topic related to critical race theory, trans, etc. The work has to demonstrate the principles of Critical Race Methodology that have been taught in class.
The prof is vocal in her disdain for white people and has made clear that anything submitted with Christian themes will be an automatic fail.
My friend is trying to figure out a way to create something that meets course requirements while also keeping a clear conscience as a follower of Christ.
Any brief thoughts or principles that might help him through this?
Thanks!
[Redacted]
This is a new version of “Bake the cake, bigot.” Pretend to be a critical race practitioner, or else. Or else you get a failing grade and do not graduate with this prestigious degree from ACME University. Now, professors who are bullies like this are not new. I suffered through one of those, too. The difference between then and now is that my professor didn’t dare give me a failing grade for my paper that trampled on his sacred cows (it was too-obviously outstanding and wouldn’t withstand scrutiny from higher-ups); he did stick to his C-minus, though. Today, such academics are probably emboldened enough to really, actually fail a student.
What is a Christian student to do when faced with this choice and the University has turned out to not be a very safe space? Here was my reply:
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