Private University Requires Faculty to Sign Lifestyle Pledge

[JOVE23]

http://www.11alive.com/news/article/210678/40/ROME-Shorters-employee-pledge-raises-eyebrows

ROME: Shorter's employee pledge raises eyebrows

6:36 PM, Oct 27, 2011



ROME, Ga. - A newly adopted employee pledge is raising some eyebrows at a private Baptist college in Rome.



Shorter University now requires all faculty and staff to sign a "personal lifestyle statement" that rejects certain behavior on religious and moral grounds.



University President Don Dowless told 11Alive News on Thursday the same principles were already in the employee handbook. But last week the university's Board of Trustees adopted a separate policy statement that must be signed by all employees.



Founded in 1873, the main Baptist campus has about 1,600 students and 200 employees.



Students don't have to be Christians and some aren't, but faculty and staff must adhere to the faith.



The new Principles of Personal Conduct say each employee agrees to the following:



1) I will be loyal to the mission of Shorter University as a Christ-centered institution affiliated with the Georgia Baptist Convention.



2) I will not engage in the use, sale, possession, or production of illegal drugs.



3) I reject as acceptable all sexual activity not in agreement with the Bible, including, but not limited to premarital sex, adultery and homosexuality.



4) I will not use alcoholic beverages in the presence of students, and I will abstain from serving, from using, and from advocating the use of alcoholic beverages in public...neither will I promote or encourage the use of alcohol.



The editor of a pro-*** Atlanta web magazine said they've already received complaints from one Shorter graduate and two supposedly anonymous faculty members.



"They have the legal right to do this, but just because something is legal doesn't make it morally right," GA Voice Editor Laura Douglas-Brown told 11 Alive News.



"I would say that picking and choosing from the Bible is rather inconsistent," she added.



Shorter's President makes no apology for the school's employee policy, saying it's similar to that of many other private Christian colleges.



"We want people to know who we are; we want people to understand that we have certain views; we hold the Bible as the word of God and if we didn't, what kind of people would we be if we didn't follow what we said we would follow?" said Pres. Dowless.



He said its purpose is to be transparent about what the school expects from its faculty and staff.



When asked what could happen to employees who violate the pledge, Dowless said, "they could be subject to discipline, up to and including dismissal."

Thoughts?

 

[BigPete]

They are nuts, but they are entitled to their opinion and as a private business can do what want.

 

[jaxhawksfan]

My company has some stupid rules that I have to sign off on in order to remain employed. Doesn't mean I can't do what I want, just means they can fire me if they find out. However, they can fire me anytime anyway so it really makes zero difference.

 

[BiscuitintheBasket]

The school is asking that the faculty follow the morals of the foundation faith. Nothing wrong with that, and they are free to do so.





Sadly this will just turn into an anti-religion thread, rather than look at this for what it is: A business that has expecations for it's employee's that choose to work there.

 

[BiscuitintheBasket]

duplicate

 

[BlackHawkPaul]

The school is asking that the faculty follow the morals of the foundation faith. Nothing wrong with that, and they are free to do so.





Sadly this will just turn into an anti-religion thread, rather than look at this for what it is: A business that has expecations for it's employee's that choose to work there.

Not really.

If a place wants to have these kind of rules, then people with a problem can work elsewhere.

 

[BigPete]

Hey Biscuit give me some credit man! I'm the first guy to jump in the pool...hell I usually fill the ****** up and invite everyone over...but not this time.

 

[Tater]

The school is asking that the faculty follow the morals of the foundation faith. Nothing wrong with that, and they are free to do so.





Sadly this will just turn into an anti-religion thread, rather than look at this for what it is: A business that has expecations for it's employee's that choose to work there.

+1 given.

 

[BiscuitintheBasket]

Hey Biscuit give me some credit man! I'm the first guy to jump in the pool...hell I usually fill the ****** up and invite everyone over...but not this time.

Pete as I think we are on the same wavelength with this topic, so no initial intention against you at all. I just know that some will just see a religion is involved and just drag the thread down that sole rabbit hole.

 

[JOVE23]

I was hoping you guys would be at each others' throats by now.



Sowing discord fail

 

[MassHavoc]

As irrational as topics get on here I think people are usually smart enough to understand the separate issues.

 

[Tater]

As irrational as topics get on here I think people are usually smart enough to understand the separate issues.

At times.

 

[LordKOTL]

Private university--not an issue. Public university? Then the feces would fly.