:The Prepound

Drew -

Funny you should post this, too. I just finished reading the article and logged-in to post the same question.

I actually like the idea - Jay Barnes’ quote was good. From the discussions I observed on campus last time I was there, homosexuality seems to be something most people are opposed to but don’t really know why outside of “the bible says so”. What a fantastic way to bring the conversation to the front with people that are actually homos, giving a human face to the debate. Not sure what’s planned in terms of how the conversation will be structured, but hope that it can be done in a respectful and meaningful way. I wish I could be there. Drew - any plans to bring this up for discussion in your class?

Did you see that North Central may arrest these people if they come on their campus?  Sweet.

I might informally discuss the subject when we kick of class one evening.  The group will be on campus on April 18, the same night I have class.  I will probably get them to discuss what has been addressed on campus and get some thoughts and hear some student-sentiment.  But as far as working it into part of the class, I can’t see how.  We will likely study a Race and Gender chapter, but I don’t recall it being part of any chapter.

To your comment, I did not read that anyone in the group is a gay, so it may not have the “human face” you mentioned.

As long as we are on the topic, I vote that Matt is Prepound’s VIP Homo of 2006.

David Coleman, 23, is a member of the group and was kicked out of North Central for being gay.
How will you handle the topic yourself if you open if for discussion of student reactions?
I agree - Matt is 2006 VIP Homo. Congratulations, Matt!

Way to go, Matt!  Congratulations!

Here’s Bethel’s “official” pre-visit response:

Plans for Equality Ride visit and Media FAQ

How would I “handle” the topic?  As long as the discussion was appropriate and the students were respectful of each other as well as others, I would allow the conversation to lead where it may.   You should be the guest speaker that night if you can come a few weeks earlier.

In other news, recall the fall I took on the first day of skiing in Whistler, near the top of the mountain?  Well after two doc visits and a MRI, I found a have a torn tendon in my thumb.  Not completely detached but it looks all jagged and frayed. The surgeon said there would not me much to try to repair so for the next three months I have to have a thumb splint on except when taking a shower.  Hopefully it will heal itself.

Fucking opposable thumbs…

I tried to add this post into a new catagory besides General but it said I don’t have permission to create new ones.  What’s up wit dat, admin?

I was going to move this post and Matt’s one post to a new catagory called “Homos”

Ok, I gave everyone access to manage categories - go nuts.

Skier’s thumb - I remember hearing about that in our ortho block.  That sucks, h.  Hopefully it will heal quickly so you’ll be ready for some wicked phat Afton Alps action at the end of the month.

It would seem that Equality Ride might have the upper hand - if you speak out against them or refuse them access to the campus you’re labelled as an anti-homoist.  It sounds like Bethel is carefully planning their response and I think it could be a really interesting night of open, honest, rational discussion.  Hopefully no one on either side independently decides to turn it into a rally or sign-holding convention.

Here is the email I got from Georgeous George today regarding this:

>>>
Students, staff, and faculty:

As you know, Bethel University’s St. Paul campus will be visited
on Tuesday, April 18, by participants in the Equality Ride, a bus tour
organized by Soulforce, a Christian GLBT rights group. The Equality Ride
begins this week and is scheduled to visit 20 colleges and universities
including 14 schools that are members of the Council for Christian
Colleges and Universities (CCCU).

We have been working on plans to prepare students and employees
for this visit. A bethelnet site has been created to keep you
informed about the Equality Ride visit. The site contains a paper called
“A Biblical Position on Homosexuality” by the seminary’s Peter Vogt and
Mark Strauss. It also includes a link to the Focus magazine article
“Homosexuality: A Christian Response,” an FAQ, past communications about the Equality Ride visit, and some other resources. We will continue to
add information and resources to this site as appropriate.

In addition, we are planning other programming on Tuesday, March
28, to discuss this visit as a campus. There will be a community-wide
gathering from 10:20-11 a.m. on that day during which we will provide
details about the Equality Ride visit. We encourage all offices to close
so that as many as possible may participate.

In the evening of March 28, there will be a Q&A time at 8:30
p.m. in Benson Great Hall for students and employees. There will be
representatives from several areas of Bethel available to answer your
questions.

Also, in the week or so prior to the visit there will be
residence hall meetings focused on College of Arts & Sciences student
concerns.

It is my hope that these preparations will help us as a campus
to think about the issue of homosexuality and also how we should engage
those who disagree with us on this and other issues. Please watch the
bethelnet and E-Announcements for further information about these events
and other resources that may be of help to you as we prepare for this
visit.

Sincerely,

George Brushaber
President

>>>

Here is a link to the Focus article:

http://www.bethel.edu/alumni/Focus/vol56/2/homosexuality.html

I downloaded the paper “A Biblical Position on Homosexuality”. Let me know if you would like me to email it to you; it is a 14-page .pdf document.

And by the way, I am getting a cast on Friday for my thumb since the brace/splint is not effective enough.  I hope you will all sign it.

Only 26 more days until the freedom ride hits Bethel! Should we make t-shirts or something?

Drew, how’s the thumb? When does the cast come off?

Here is the follow up report from “Da Riderz” this week:

>>>>

Equality Ride Visit to Bethel Characterized by Respectful Dialog

More than 1,200 Bethel University students, staff, and faculty packed the Benson Great Hall on Tuesday evening, April 18, for a forum on homosexuality that marked the conclusion of a day-long visit by the Soulforce Equality Ride to the university campus. The panel discussion featuring three Bethel University participants and three equality riders was the highlight of a day filled with frank discussions in classrooms and around the campus. The evening panel offered students the opportunity to hear participants discuss the issue of homosexuality as it relates to the biblical interpretation, care for students, and academic freedom.

“People often say that we live in a bubble here at Bethel,” commented freshman Nicole Westlund. “The Equality Ride visit was a good way for Bethel students to be confronted with real-world situations and people who fervently disagree with them on an issue not often discussed. I was really impressed with Bethel’s response to the visit. We did a good job of being welcoming, yet firm in our beliefs. We were willing to listen but also stand confidently in what we believe the Bible teaches.”

Some of the Equality Riders visited a class taught by Professor William Johnson, who said the visit “stimulated students to think about an issue that most would rather avoid.”

“We want our students equipped to deal with this issue in a respectful and Christian manner,” Provost Jay Barnes told the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Every part of the Equality Ride stop at Bethel was structured in a way to help students learn from the visit and prepare them to think critically about this important issue.

Equality Riders dialogued with students, staff, and faculty during presentations and class visits, which were all moderated by Bethel faculty and structured to allow ample time for questions. Some riders met with administrators, faculty and student leaders during a luncheon, while others ate with Bethel students in the Dining Center. At the end of the day, Soulforce members commented that the visit to Bethel had been characterized by a Christ-like love that was demonstrated by all the individuals with whom they interacted.

“I was proud of our campus,” commented President Brushaber. “Throughout the day, Bethel students treated the visitors in a congenial manner, walking them to classes, eating with them, and stopping for discussions on the issues that were both vigorous and civil. The visit from Equality Ride, though not solicited, served well our purpose to better prepare our students to be faithful Christ-followers in our broken, diverse, and pluralistic world, and allowed us to model to our community how to sustain one’s convictions but engage in constructive and civil discourse with those advocating conflicting positions.”

>>>>