This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/10/opinion/at-a-christian-college-student-journalism-gets-religious.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
At a Christian College, Student Journalism Gets Religious At a Christian College, Student Journalism Gets Religious
(35 minutes later)
If you choose to enroll at my small evangelical liberal arts college in Illinois, you’ll learn quickly that the Wheaton community is very much into prayer.If you choose to enroll at my small evangelical liberal arts college in Illinois, you’ll learn quickly that the Wheaton community is very much into prayer.
Sometimes, it’s great. Imagine, before a midterm, your professor leads the class in a prayer that goes: “God, thank you for the opportunity we have to take this test. Help the students remember what they have studied. Help them know they are not defined by their test results.”Sometimes, it’s great. Imagine, before a midterm, your professor leads the class in a prayer that goes: “God, thank you for the opportunity we have to take this test. Help the students remember what they have studied. Help them know they are not defined by their test results.”
If you can’t imagine that, let me tell you: It is powerful to hear that your professor cares about your sanity right before you take a high-stakes test.If you can’t imagine that, let me tell you: It is powerful to hear that your professor cares about your sanity right before you take a high-stakes test.
But the religiosity that permeates campus life can start to ring hollow for student journalists covering the college. That’s because the institutional shortcomings of a Christian college aren’t divorced from questions of spirituality and religion. As an editor of the campus newspaper, I have frequently been in the uncomfortable position of covering the school’s leaders when they have not seemed to live up to the evangelical values they espouse.But the religiosity that permeates campus life can start to ring hollow for student journalists covering the college. That’s because the institutional shortcomings of a Christian college aren’t divorced from questions of spirituality and religion. As an editor of the campus newspaper, I have frequently been in the uncomfortable position of covering the school’s leaders when they have not seemed to live up to the evangelical values they espouse.
Some stories that do not have an immediately religious angle are too quick to adopt one. And some criticism may be casual cynicism — students have a tendency to sensationalize a bit anywhere. But we are also holding our college accountable for both its spiritual and its secular values.Some stories that do not have an immediately religious angle are too quick to adopt one. And some criticism may be casual cynicism — students have a tendency to sensationalize a bit anywhere. But we are also holding our college accountable for both its spiritual and its secular values.
Reports from students who were left in housing limbo — in some cases, denied cheaper off-campus housing, only to find themselves without a dorm-room option — inspired accusations that the Housing Committee had an uncaring attitude toward students.Reports from students who were left in housing limbo — in some cases, denied cheaper off-campus housing, only to find themselves without a dorm-room option — inspired accusations that the Housing Committee had an uncaring attitude toward students.
Stories on Wheaton’s battle against the United Stated Department of Health and Human Services over health coverage that includes contraception became investigations into whether the college was appropriately protecting students and staff. Stories on Wheaton’s battle against the United States Department of Health and Human Services over health coverage that includes contraception became investigations into whether the college was appropriately protecting students and staff.
Often, controversies are imbued with a theological weight when the college maintains they are handled according to Wheaton’s doctrinal convictions, even if it is at odds with students’ interpretations.Often, controversies are imbued with a theological weight when the college maintains they are handled according to Wheaton’s doctrinal convictions, even if it is at odds with students’ interpretations.
Wheaton made national headlines earlier this year for placing a political science professor on administrative leave after she wrote, on Facebook, that Muslims and Christians worshiped the same God — an apparent nod to Pope Francis’ statement that Muslims and Christians are children of the same God. The professor had also donned a head scarf in solidarity with Muslim women, though the school said that had nothing to do with the move to suspend her. The previous year, an openly gay chaplain’s office staffer who had been hired to counsel and support L.G.B.T. students on campus left during summer break, citing pressure from alumni and donors to fire her. Though Wheaton maintained that “she was not asked, encouraged, or pressured to resign,” the move was met with indignation by many Wheaton students, who thought the administration showed a lack of commitment to the campus’s L.G.B.T. community.Wheaton made national headlines earlier this year for placing a political science professor on administrative leave after she wrote, on Facebook, that Muslims and Christians worshiped the same God — an apparent nod to Pope Francis’ statement that Muslims and Christians are children of the same God. The professor had also donned a head scarf in solidarity with Muslim women, though the school said that had nothing to do with the move to suspend her. The previous year, an openly gay chaplain’s office staffer who had been hired to counsel and support L.G.B.T. students on campus left during summer break, citing pressure from alumni and donors to fire her. Though Wheaton maintained that “she was not asked, encouraged, or pressured to resign,” the move was met with indignation by many Wheaton students, who thought the administration showed a lack of commitment to the campus’s L.G.B.T. community.
A more recent scandal — the college’s failure to denounce Dennis Hastert, the former Republican House speaker and a prominent Wheaton alum, after it was revealed that he had sexually molested young men while a high school wrestling coach — seemed a much simpler matter of morality. Students were shocked that officials affiliated with the college had written to the judge to vouch for Mr. Hastert’s integrity and service without mentioning his serial abusive behavior. One Wheaton, an L.G.B.T. organization on campus, called on the school to unequivocally condemn Mr. Hastert’s behavior and, as “a powerful role model to the evangelical Christian world,” have the “moral courage to be a voice for the victims.”A more recent scandal — the college’s failure to denounce Dennis Hastert, the former Republican House speaker and a prominent Wheaton alum, after it was revealed that he had sexually molested young men while a high school wrestling coach — seemed a much simpler matter of morality. Students were shocked that officials affiliated with the college had written to the judge to vouch for Mr. Hastert’s integrity and service without mentioning his serial abusive behavior. One Wheaton, an L.G.B.T. organization on campus, called on the school to unequivocally condemn Mr. Hastert’s behavior and, as “a powerful role model to the evangelical Christian world,” have the “moral courage to be a voice for the victims.”
In response, the college eventually issued a statement that acknowledged, “Sexual abuse is clearly and fundamentally incompatible with Christian ethics.”In response, the college eventually issued a statement that acknowledged, “Sexual abuse is clearly and fundamentally incompatible with Christian ethics.”
Just as a judge is expected to follow the law, and politicians are supposed to vote according to the values they were elected on, administrators at Christian colleges are held to the highest spiritual standards, especially because they urge us to live righteously from an academic pulpit.Just as a judge is expected to follow the law, and politicians are supposed to vote according to the values they were elected on, administrators at Christian colleges are held to the highest spiritual standards, especially because they urge us to live righteously from an academic pulpit.
And yet if we balance our cynicism with empathy and common sense, it’s easy to see that a blunder on the part of the faithful doesn’t mean the faith isn’t worth following. Our administrators are only human.And yet if we balance our cynicism with empathy and common sense, it’s easy to see that a blunder on the part of the faithful doesn’t mean the faith isn’t worth following. Our administrators are only human.
After all, Wheaton is still a place where students are genuinely moved to evangelism, charity and ministry. These are real reminders that the campus is still a place for nurturing humble, kingdom-minded Christians.After all, Wheaton is still a place where students are genuinely moved to evangelism, charity and ministry. These are real reminders that the campus is still a place for nurturing humble, kingdom-minded Christians.