Student Expelled For Coming Out

[Jamie McDaniel]

Originally Posted by themattperry

In addition to what has been pointed out, his claim that he will recieve accredation from the Parmiceutical accreditors is dubious at best. The assocation aparently has criteria forbidding discrimination based on sexual orientation ... how is Cumberlands going to get around this, and how is Jackson able to make a statement like the one in his press release?

Unfortunately, the Accreditation Council appears to be backing down.

From the April 20th issue of the Lexington Herald-Leader:

While Gov. Ernie Fletcher continued to weigh whether he will approve $11 million in state money for a pharmacy school at the University of the Cumberlands, national accreditation officials yesterday offered assurances that the school's controversial policy on homosexual conduct would not prevent it from winning approval for the program.

Peter Vlasses, executive director of the Acceditation Council for Pharmacy Education, said it requires members to obey state and federal anti-discrimination laws. He said the organization does not impose a blanket policy prohibiting discrimination against gays and lesbians.

"Kentucky law, federal law, if it doesn't specifically say anything about sexual orientation discrimination, it's not our purpose to impose that on the program," he said.

University officials said they are pleased with the organization's policy, which they said had been misinterpreted in the wake of the school's decision to expel honors sophomore Jason Johnson. Johnson, who is gay, wrote about his relationship with his boyfriend on MySpace.com. School policy prohibits promoting or engaging in "sexual behavior not consistent with Christian principles."

State lawmakers earmarked $10 million in the 2006-2008 budget to help pay for a pharmacy building and another $1 million to fund pharmacy scholarships. Several legislators had called for Fletcher to veto the funding in part because of questions about whether the pharmacy school would be accredited.

At issue was interpretation of the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education guideline, which states:

"The college or school must establish and implement a policy on student services, including admissions and progression, that ensures non-discrimination as defined by state and federal laws and regulations, such as on the basis of race, religion, gender, lifestyle, sexual orientation, national origin or disability."

The phrase "as defined by state and federal laws" and the term "sexual orientation" were added to the policy in a recent revision to be effective July 1, 2007.

Vlasses said an April 12 page-one story in the Herald-Leader, which said that the school's stance on sexuality was apparently "on a collision course with national accreditation standards," had misstated his organization's policies.

Vlasses said he has spoken to school officials to clear up the matter. In his seven years with the organization, Vlasses said, it has never rejected a school's application because of its sexual orientation policies.

If Cumberlands applies for accreditation, Vlasses said his agency could examine Johnson's case to see if the school followed its own policies and procedures and applicable state and federal laws.

For now, such questions are premature.

"We don't know the school. We don't know their policies. We have no application. We have no history. We have no complaint because we have no jurisdiction," Vlasses said.

Cumberlands officials said yesterday they will apply for accreditation "at the appropriate time" and predicted they will meet the accrediting agency's standards.

You can read the full article at www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/14383798.htm

[keltic63]

Originally Posted by themattperry

#2 -- The president of Cumberlands is oblivious to reality in several respects. In addition to what has been pointed out, his claim that he will recieve accredation from the Parmiceutical accreditors is dubious at best. The assocation aparently has criteria forbidding discrimination based on sexual orientation ... how is Cumberlands going to get around this, and how is Jackson able to make a statement like the one in his press release?

I've searched the ACPE site and have found the following statement:

Originally Posted by ACPE guidelines

Guideline 16.5
The college or school must establish and implement a policy on student services,
including admissions and progression, that ensures nondiscrimination as defined by state
and federal laws and regulations, such as on the basis of race, religion, gender, lifestyle,

sexual orientation, national origin, or disability.

This may be their way of getting around it. If kentucky has no sexual orientation anti-discrimination laws on the books, the University won't have to amend their policy.

[Jamie McDaniel]

This, by the way, illustrates why nonviolent direct action is needed in our struggle. Notice how the buck gets passed. Here the Acceditation Council says they can't do anything because federal and state laws don't protect gays. But then politicians (the moderate ones) say they can't do anything to change laws because of their constituents. Likewise, pastors say they can't push for inclusion because the congregation "isn't there yet." At the same time, sympathetic folks at the church shrug and suggest we go discuss the issue with the pastor.

[themattperry]

I totally agree.

I'm also disappointed about the policy of the accrediting body ... it toally passes the buck. The facts about this agency's policies were misrepresented in the press, which is too bad ....

Just another reason to demand local and state nondiscrimination laws.

[dewdrop_world]

Here's a heartwarming opinion piece about the incident:

http://www.kentucky.com/mld/heraldle...n/14383871.htm

hjh

[Jamie McDaniel]

Originally Posted by Jamie McDaniel

It was discussed that the issue is not just that the University expelled a gay student, but that the school is also receiving $11,000,000 from the state.

Good news concerning tax dollars going to fund discrimination -- Judge rules that the 11 million dollars the legislature appointed to go to the University of the Cumberlands violates the Kentucky State Constitution.

www.kentucky.com/454/story/339629.html