More Negative Press for Louisiana College
Jim Leggett is reporting that four LC professors have “renewed” their lawsuit against the college, citing, among other things, that LC continues to violate the principles of academic freedom. (See previous posts on the definition of academic freedom and LC’s responsibility to its shareholders).
LC’s attorney, Ted LeClercq, is attempting to downplay the allegations. He says this is just a “workplace dispute” and that these allegations are vague with no cause of action.
But… that’s not true.
It turns out that Scott Peck’s classic The Road Less Traveled is STILL banned at LC, despite the fact that the book was reinstated by both the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (that’s the association that determines accreditation) and the Faculty Grievance Committee.
I wonder if Joe Aguillard has even read The Road Less Traveled. If he had, he’d know that it’s a harmless, wonderful book about the use of religion in the discourse of pyschology. The book was an international bestseller and remained on the NY Times Bestseller List for years. What worries me (and I assume these professors as well) is that if you ban a book like The Road Less Traveled, you’re likely to ban anything that doesn’t conform to your own personal religious views.
And right after this story broke, the Town Talk published a letter from an LC student that lambasted Aguillard on his own terms. This is what you call imminent critique. Mr. Hand is building his argument within the context of Aguillard’s religious beliefs.
To: Dr. Joe Aguillard, Louisiana College:
I write to confront you regarding your decision to not renew Dean Thames’ contract. Second, I decry your refusal to disclose your reasons for doing so. I write not in a spirit of anger or derision. Rather, I write as one who loves Louisiana College and the highest Christian values for which she has stood for 100 years.
Dean Thames, as you already know, has tirelessly served her alma mater for over 20 years. Last fall, she was honored as a distinguished alumnus at Homecoming. She is loved by the students of LC. I have spoken with many students in the past few days, and even those who fell under disciplinary action by her decisions are shocked and profoundly saddened. In the three years that I have attended LC, she has been a unifying presence in an endless age of division.
I appeal to you under I John 3:18 — “Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.” The LC community deserves a complete and honest explanation for your actions. What you have done is not outside your authority, but it is outside the moral imperatives of scripture. Some may suggest that you do not need a reason for your actions, but such a message is Darwinian, and anything but biblical. You must understand: Dean Thames is a woman of strong Christian faith, which makes her your sister in Christ. To all public knowledge, she is above reproach, and innocent until proven guilty. Therefore, by acting in this loveless manner, you implicitly deny that she is your sister in Christ. Thus, you are making a liar of our God and undermining the spiritual unity of his church.
I am fully aware that you acted according to the advice of your legal counsel. That is no excuse. Legal counsel should be taken seriously, but never may it be obeyed against the word of God. The Apostle James warns us against this very method, of professing to belong to God while looking to the fallen world for answers.
Finally, let me make this plain: You have said and repeated many times that LC will seek in all things to lift up the name of Jesus. But until your actions are either sufficiently explained or rectified, they shall mock that glorious name and cripple our Christian witness more than any alcoholic beverage. As you listen to your lawyers, I remind you that a man reaps what he sows, and that what is whispered in darkness will ultimately be shouted from the rooftops. Therefore I urge you: don’t be double-minded! Be unambiguously devoted to Christ in word and deed. As your brother in Christ, I charge you to unveil the light of truth, that LC may not be resigned to walk in darkness.
CenLamar 
we havent read The Road Less Traveled however the trustees of lc do have a duty under the baptist belief’s to keep the campus free from “worldliness” or sin because as baptists we believe christ when he said “…whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” however you cant go overboard because every lc student is above the age of accountability and innately knows right from wrong – or should provided the baptist parents had heeded solomon’s advice. in our view the baptists should fire every one of these involved in this controversy – trustees, professors, everyone involved and on both sides and start fresh.
That’s right, WeSawThat. It’s an important distinction that these people are missing: They’re not providing an education for CHILDREN. They’re providing an education for ADULTS. In everyday language, people often refer to college students as “kids,” but the law treats them as adults. And so should LC.
Well if “worldliness” is the problem, LC is definately the solution.
The consumer (in this case the student) will vote with his/her money. If LC is destined to be a “bible College” it will be due to those desirious of any other type education will vote with their feet and money and attend elsewhere.
Believe it or not LC (in strongly conservative views) has come a long ways. Shorts were not allowed, female students could not leave the dorm with hair in curlers, students were being expelled for being caught alone with the member of the opposite sex in an apartment, etc, etc.
LC will self destruct as will the Convention. The Convention is heading on a downward path. The Convention has tried and tried to assume control of the WMU. The male leaders of the convention forget they gotta go home with momma. This simple fact is indicative of the IQ of the leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Real progress: they allow short pants and ban thought. My friends in the civilized parts of this country love the LC story. It would have it’s own half hour on comedy central if it just somehow mattered. Saw the local play by the bar association – “Inherit the Wind” this weekend. Its a play about the tyranny of the narrow minded.
There are two separate but closely related issues: can LC make all these rules, demands and conditions on their faculty and limitations on cirriculum, burn and ban books, etc. as long as they don’t contravene contractual obligations; AND
are their policies, actions, and conditions compatible with accepted standards of higher education and within the criteria of the certifying bodies?
My uneducated guess is that they can do most of the rediculously distructive stuff they are doing, it is within there right; however, they forfeit their accreditation, reputation, credibility, and standing in the accademic community.
The good news is that LSUA is improving at the same rate that LC is declining and quality higher educations will still be available in central La.
In other local blogs and to some extent on this one, bloggers have been concerned about the local media and specifically its ability to handle investigative stories. I admit the Louisiana College controversy is a tough story to navigate in two minutes on television. We send our cameras to the campus; get sound with students who are for and against the changes and then get an interview with the top guy who by the way is good at talking on camera. The professors are hard to find, have not returned phone calls and have not contacted our staff about the developments in their efforts to get the message out. What is a little media staff to do? We know we are letting you down and not bringing the issues you write about in this blog to light on TV…suggestions?
truthfully the lc story isnt that interesting to us. however, it might be helpful to other bloggers and us as well if you could post the lawsuit from kalb.com in .pdf form perhaps? that way we could actually see whats being said in a court of law and could form better opinions.
also have you contacted whoever is in charge of lc’s accredation to inquire if it is under review and/or jeopardy?
Great ideas..I’ll work on that and try to have it posted by the end of the week.
Truth is only PART of the story is being told. Truth is only one side of the issue is being reported. Truth is Both sides have some wrong, the liberals and the fundamentalist. And of course it is the liberal side that is being told in the newspaper and the television . It is so interesting how quickly a negative story appears in the Town Talk and on KALB. Obviously there is a friendly exchange and relationship. The Truth is that very little honest information can be revealed when only the screaming nonrenewed are heard. Truth is that it is not the employee , not the administration, not the board that is hurt by all of this, its the students. And for that reason alone I question the real motive of the screaming liberals who seek publicity of the negative and plot the destruction of the school as well as the self rightous fundamentalist that seem very closed minded. No question some of the employees not rehired should not be. In every business or school that is the situation . The hysterical use of these situations to promote a particular positon is shameful and the TRUTH is that such actions is shameful and hurtful to the people who the school and these screamers and self richtous claim to be most concerned about, the students.
Anonymous,
I appreciate your contribution, and I think that you make some fair points about the real victims of this controversy, the students. However, those of us taking the “liberal” side, as you call it, believe that the present administration fails to uphold its duty to provide an atmosphere that promotes the open exchange of ideas among students, alumns, and professors. (I’m not sure how promoting academic freedom is inherently liberal… but perhaps liberal has just become a junk word for anything or anyone who argues against fundamentalism).
You’re right: If LC lost their accreditation, the students would be hurt more (at least in the short term). But hopefully, it would propel significant reform, waking up alumns and the greater community to the need for a change in leadership.
I believe that there is value in LC’s association with the Baptist faith, and many of our greatest academic institutions are affiliated with various forms of the Christian faith. The problem arises when the religious agenda takes priority over the academic agenda. This is what has occurred at Louisiana College.
I do not want to see the self-destruction of this school. That’s a ridiculous argument considering the amount of time and energy I have spent writing about this story. Many friends and family members of mine have earned their undergraduate degrees from LC. I want their degree to have meaning and value, and I believe that there are two basic options:
1. The present administration should resign.
OR
2. The SACS should fulfill its obligations and suspend or strip LC’s accreditation until noticeable reforms have been made.
And to Michele Godard:
WeSawThat may not be as interested in this story as many of us are, but I assure you that the interest is out there. The community needs to know the basic facts of the case and the basic principles of academic freedom. They need to hear from alumns, former professors, and concerned citizens who worry about the impact this could have on the value of an LC degree.
By the way, to the reader who said that LSUA is improving at the rate of LC’s demise, you may be right. LSUA is looking better than ever.
Obviously Lamar you are in the group that believes that you must DESTROY LC to save it. What an open minded approach. BTW my wife and I just paid for the Spring semester of my sons Junior year. Do you think you and the rest of the elitest who have very little in common with the college other than taking a pay check or being so smart as to educate the rest of us could hold off on your burn and destroy tantrum until I can get my son graduated? Thank you.
Ms Goddards connection and relationship with certain person at LC is well known and it would be perfectly expected for KALK which doesnt cover ANY local news to make exception to cover their slanted version of their friends complaint about the college. I am sure we will have a select group of whining weirdo students looking into the camera and reciting their script as have many others have thusfar in print . Its a shame that personal friendships are necessary for KALB to decide to do anything but network feeds and auto accidents.
It is stange how perplexing thoughts wing into your mind. LC is a Baptist Institution. The controversy and resultant impact of actions will impact a Baptist Institution.
Junior has no ties to the Institution nor, if as typical he followed the family’s religious affilitation, does he have any “dog in a Baptist fight.”
Could it be even at his young age he knows what is best for us common folks (which is, as stated many, many times, the mindset of the moneyed white folks in Rapides Parish most especially his family,) is he just trying to attract attention to his web site or is he just trying to sitr the pot?
My money is on him being an elitist more knowledgeable than us joe six packers – a family trait.
Once again, if he can barely survive on $35,000.00 a year how can he identify with the typical citizen?
Well its easy to come back to Alexandria after being so successful at his previous address and set us all straight. If Im one of the screaming liberals as LC I would not want this guy speaking on my behalf. It only makes the arguments seem pretty much as unsoulful as the fundamentials say it is. As for Ms Goddard, I give it a week before she orders a rare Expose as she and her friend from LC see it . And when she does I bet there will be several letters sent to their parent company and the FCC re political/religious advocacy vs news reporting. Bet the Neilson watchers at home office won’t want that anymore than they dont want KALB reporting on graft and corruption by black city counsilmen.
Then go support LSUA which you and your family DO support with taxes and get out of the business of LC an institution that you nor your family have EVER financially supported.
The bottom line, we can argue all that we want but the facts are clear. Every lawsuit thus far has been struck down and denied on appeal. Thus despite OUR opinions the law has not contrary to the actions of the administration. Also the accredidation has not been removed and at worst was ONLY under review. So although there are such experts as Jr White, the authorities have not removed the accredidation and it appears that the school has followed legal and expert advice in making each decision within the law and the requirements of accredidation. So we can howl at the moon and all of us can go have a beer or a donut with former employees with chips on their shoulders and we can continue to use and intice students to vocalize all of our complaints and continue to talk about what a bad place it is but the FACTS are that the school is going forward right or wrong and despite all efforts of those currently disgruntled it will continue. It might not be what you want or I want but they are doing it legally and within the criteria to maintain their accredidation. If all we want to do is harm students are seek revenge then please find something else to do . As for this debate, stick a fork in it. Its over.
well the only reason its not that interesting to us is that we would side more to the right on this one. in the past part of what has made lc successful is that its different.
“different” can mean many things to many people, no doubt. the purpose of lc at least in our minds is that it is a place for like-minded youth to come and learn within a community of christans illuminated by the light of our lord jesus christ. this lifestyle appeals to many people of all ages which in the aggregate, and if they could, would fill up countless lc’s. for each of you who think that lc is stuck in some mythical victorian past – well there is 100 people that would gladly for the opportunity to study under such draconian circumstances trade places with you. there might be some of you who fell like you got gypped or forced into going to lc because it was the only scholarship you were offered or maybe because its the only college that your parents would pay for or support you in going to. there are a lot of things that you will consider worth fighting for but wearing curlers in your hair, shorts drinking and having sex in your dorm room arent them. the baptists with lc have intended to give you a unique place to make your transition from childhood intellectually, morally and physically within a spiritual setting. cant you see that some day you will look back over your life and do you want to risk being ashamed because of something you did at lc? do you want to remember your time there with a curse? thats all the baptists are trying to do is to give you a opportunity to prepare yourself to enter learned society without the encumbrances of needless youthful indiscretions haunting you.
the right isnt blameless in all this either. they overreacted and didnt follow the way of christ in their response. they do not meet the standard of leaders established by solomon. they have foolishly allowed the devil to cast a snare a stumbling block. this is why we say that the whole lot of them should be thrown out.
Geez…I am just sitting here trying to figure out who I know at LC. Are you talking about my former husband’s family? You know the people I was related to OVER 15 YEARS AGO???!!! Just for the record my last name is GODARD has been for 12 happy years now…I am not connected to anyone in Louisiana College and I do not order “exposes” since it is obvious we here at KALB never report on local news. Whew. I am sorry but this blogging business is just too frustrating for me. Goodbye. Goodnight and GOODLUCK!
Michele Godard
lol well its not for the faint of heart dats fo sho
One thing she said that was VERY accurate. KALB does not cover local news. And local news is NOT defined as the video of an auto wreck . It sucks. Its a shame we do not have a local news station.
Actually, the Road Less Traveled is not banned. What is being required is that this book not be used as a textbook representing Christianity in a particular class. Peck was a zen-buddhist at the time. It can be tought as representing that perspective, but the LC Trustees would like an actual Christian book (say, by N.T. Wright, C.S. Lewis, etc.) to represent Christianity in the values course. That’s all.
The book is still in the library. It isn’t banned.
So can you teach the book at all?
Yes, just not as a Christian book.
Love the blog, man. Just what we need here in Cenla.
I’ve had a blog for a good while as well, mostly on Episcopal/Anglican issues, but I sometimes post about Cenla.