• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

FAU Student Claims He Was Suspended For Refusing To Step On Jesus

Truly amazing the way some people, competent and sufficiently intelligent to operate a computer keyboard, show a complete and utter inability to read the simple English words found in newspaper articles and websites.

The only places we find the words "stomp" and "force" are in those radical right sites (and comments) that promote some bizarre, never existent, society that would surely result in third-world lives for the vast majority of Americans.

Some who label themselves "Libertarian" do appear to better fit the label "Authoritarian" as they demand that others act only in ways they, the pseudo-Libertarians, deem appropriate
 
why are they in the wrong?

are you yanks too stupid to understand that to engage in "intercultural communication" it is useful to understand how YOU react when people offend the things YOU regard as sacred?

Because the whole point of the exercise was for people to REFUSE TO STEP ON THE PAPER, thus bringing up the discussion on symbology in society. If nobody refused to do it, they'd have nothing to talk about!
 
Because the whole point of the exercise was for people to REFUSE TO STEP ON THE PAPER, thus bringing up the discussion on symbology in society. If nobody refused to do it, they'd have nothing to talk about!

Right, which shows that there has to be more to the story than "student gets kicked out of class for refusing to step on Jesus, which shows that liberal professors are anti Christian and are brainwashing students to be the same", or anything similar.
 
I'm thinking that there is a problem with your interpretation of what was going on here. A course on intercultural communications would be looking at the importance of cultural symbols. you need to look at the events in the classroom in that context. I also helps if you don't take one side of the story at face value, until you've heard the other side as well.

the University stated that

“We can confirm that no student has been expelled, suspended or disciplined by the university as a result of any activity that took place during this class,”

however it appears that there is an allegation of misconduct against the student:

"Rotela is facing a litany of charges – including an alleged violation of the student code of conduct, acts of verbal, written or physical abuse, threats, intimidation, harassment, coercion or other conduct which threaten the health, safety or welfare of any person.”

“In the interim, you may not attend class or contact any of the students involved in this matter – verbally or electronically – or by any other means,”

so .... it doesn't appear he misbehaved in class (and I seriously doubt that he would have been "ordered" to stomp on the piece of paper), but at another - or other - times.

he may have argued that the class was the catalyst for his problematic behavior.

in general, when disciplinary action is taken against students in a university it is not done so lightly.

It seems that what you - and he - are doing is trying to justify unacceptable behavior on the part of a student.


Wait a minute here....From the facts we know, the class was asked to write the name "Jesus" on a piece of paper, fold it, place on the floor at their feet, and then step on it. This student did not do that, and from an interview of his attorney that I listened to yesterday, he waited until after class was over, and approached the teacher. According to his lawyer, he told the teacher that "he disapproved of the exercise, and would be reporting it up the chain, and that the teacher would be hearing from him."

When he reported the complaint of the exercise, it was he, the student that was gone after by the University, including these so called violations of the student code...

Then the story hits the local, and then national media, and the University backed down...

So, are you kidding me with this crap...What a bunch of cowards, and weasels....
 
Wait a minute here....From the facts we know, the class was asked to write the name "Jesus" on a piece of paper, fold it, place on the floor at their feet, and then step on it. This student did not do that, and from an interview of his attorney that I listened to yesterday, he waited until after class was over, and approached the teacher. According to his lawyer, he told the teacher that "he disapproved of the exercise, and would be reporting it up the chain, and that the teacher would be hearing from him."

When he reported the complaint of the exercise, it was he, the student that was gone after by the University, including these so called violations of the student code...

Then the story hits the local, and then national media, and the University backed down...

So, are you kidding me with this crap...What a bunch of cowards, and weasels....

read through this thread, and this one: http://www.debatepolitics.com/relig...1-university-takes-action-punish-student.html

then get back to me.
 
you might find this interesting ...


I will see if I can find what other students have said as well.

From your own article in the educrat magazine....

The reason the student faced charges, Robé said, was that "the instructor was verbally threatened," not because the student objected to the Jesus exercise. "He faced a hearing over that."

Really? :lamo What a bunch of wimp, little cowards liberals are...Even worse when they hold even the slightest bit of power....The student said to the teacher "you'll be hearing from me".... And the only way that sniveling little panty waste of a liberal teacher could get back at the student was to bring charges of a threat? :lamo

What a joke.
 
From your own article in the educrat magazine....



Really? :lamo What a bunch of wimp, little cowards liberals are...Even worse when they hold even the slightest bit of power....The student said to the teacher "you'll be hearing from me".... And the only way that sniveling little panty waste of a liberal teacher could get back at the student was to bring charges of a threat? :lamo

What a joke.

your reading comprehension issue is not my problem. :)
 

Reading through it now, but are you saying that I got something wrong? What is it?...

Look Mary, I am not going to waste a bunch of time with you here...The facts are relatively simple, and straight forward about this situation, and events that took place surrounding it. Now I know that progressive liberals love to hide things in shades of grey, and circle the wagons around any offender, but FAU in this case was clearly caught being dumb, then when the light of the press shone on them, they backed off and reversed their heavy handed BS.

FAU went so far as to assure the student, and his attorney that the exercise would no longer be performed in that class ever. So if it is such a valid lesson, why'd they drop it so quickly? This such stupidity coming out of this supposed institution of 'higher learning' that if this is any example of what is normative of the type of liberal indoctrination pablum that is slid through every day, then it is no wonder we have kids coming out of collage today that are woefully unprepared for the real world in terms of quality education.
 
if you don't understand the issue, then its not my problem.

Yeah, some do appear to have a bit of a problem with comprehending matters that don't fit into their world view. I thought these words were rather telling
I know that progressive liberals love to hide things in shades of grey


Ooooh, do you think that was meant as a double entendre?
 
Yeah, some do appear to have a bit of a problem with comprehending matters that don't fit into their world view.

Well, here's your chance....Tell me what am I not understanding about this?

1. University teacher attempts a silly, and offensive exercise in class
2. Student refuses to participate in that exercise
3. Student complains to teacher, tells teacher that 'he'll be hearing from him' and reports it up the chain
4. University slaps student with charges, and backs the teacher initially
5. University gets national, and local media attention
6. University backs down, apologizes to student, and then tries to cover tracks by denying that anything adverse is happening to student...
7. Liberals then try to ignore all that happened before the back track from the University, and tell people that they are either just too stupid to understand the nuance, or have comprehension problems, or critical thinking problems, or any other BS insult to deflect from the facts that this is a case of liberals being caught red handed.

So, lay it out for me sommerville. Spell it out what you think I am missing here.
 
Yeah, some do appear to have a bit of a problem with comprehending matters that don't fit into their world view. I thought these words were rather telling



Ooooh, do you think that was meant as a double entendre?

could be .... progressive liberals are all about breaking down morality ... so hiding things in an erotic novel kind of fits.

just to trick, deceive and lure fine upstanding conservatives into their debauched lifestyle .....
 
I understand just fine. Hell, I opened the thread...:doh Now either be civil or find somewhere else for your vitriol. Thank you.

you did. I agree.

but that doesn't mean you understand.
 
Yeah, some do appear to have a bit of a problem with comprehending matters that don't fit into their world view.
Well, here's your chance....Tell me what am I not understanding about this?

1. University teacher attempts a silly, and offensive exercise in class
2. Student refuses to participate in that exercise
3. Student complains to teacher, tells teacher that 'he'll be hearing from him' and reports it up the chain
4. University slaps student with charges, and backs the teacher initially
5. University gets national, and local media attention
6. University backs down, apologizes to student, and then tries to cover tracks by denying that anything adverse is happening to student...
7. Liberals then try to ignore all that happened before the back track from the University, and tell people that they are either just too stupid to understand the nuance, or have comprehension problems, or critical thinking problems, or any other BS insult to deflect from the facts that this is a case of liberals being caught red handed.

So, lay it out for me sommerville. Spell it out what you think I am missing here.

1. your opinion that it was a "silly, and offensive exercise". Others see it as attempt to push students into understanding the problems of communicating with those who come from different cultures. The purpose of the exercise as has been explained time and time again was to force students into articulating - you know, saying out loud in a coherent manner - exactly why they personally found the action of stepping on the name of their deity to be offensive. This was in order to promote understanding of the ways in which one can offend people of another culture through ignorance and without malice. You know - making kids think about their beliefs. When I brought this up in my Writing class this past week, one student was upset that I had even written the name Jesus on a piece of paper after explaining the story. Our school is about 15 miles from FAU and the student hadn't even heard about the story - but then that student has shown a lack of knowledge about news stories since the beginning of the term.

2 & 3. The stories vary on this point. Some of have stated the student left the class room after making threats toward the professor. We don't know for sure, as we have only Rotela's version of the story, although we do have the fact that disciplinary charges were laid against him.

5. HOW did this story get national attention? Who went to the media over a school matter?

7. You are showing a refusal to comprehend the object of the lesson. A lesson which had been taught in the past without "media attention", it is out of the textbook for the course - this would indicate that said exercise has been used at other universities using the same text. I provided a link earlier to an interview with a graduate of FAU who had taken the class last year. She noted that no one was forced to step on the piece of paper. She also said that she thought Rotela was "being rather childish". Just what have liberals been caught doing "red handed"? Forcing Christians to desecrate their God? or forcing students to think about why they would find a certain action offensive and 'forcing' them to explain their feelings.

Lastly, Somerville has only one 'M'





Ooooh, do you think that was meant as a double entendre?[/QUOTE]
 
Why are conservatives so damned thin-skinned? Who cares if someone steps on a piece of paper with a stupid word scribbled on it? It's not like the professor asked the Mormon kid to piss on a picture of Jesus, Mary and all the Saints, for Christ's sake.
 
..... Just what have liberals been caught doing "red handed"?

1.Forcing Christians to desecrate their God? or
2.forcing students to think about why they would find a certain action offensive
3.'forcing' them to explain their feelings.

I choose 2.... maybe 3 as well.
 
you did. I agree.

but that doesn't mean you understand.

You're right, on a totally hypothetical level, it doesn't mean that. But, I would say that I understand the facts that we know pretty well. Your attempt here to make everything a semantic exercise is, in my view, just another attempt to dishonestly this about supposition rather than the easily understood, and clear mishandling of this situation on the part of the University, and since this mishandling resulted in the national news attention, the University is left with egg on their faces, as so often happens when liberals are caught in their sniveling little power plays.
 
1. your opinion that it was a "silly, and offensive exercise". Others see it as attempt to push students into understanding the problems of communicating with those who come from different cultures.

So tell me, what cultures see Jesus as a figure to be disrespected, and stepped on?

The purpose of the exercise as has been explained time and time again was to force students into articulating - you know, saying out loud in a coherent manner - exactly why they personally found the action of stepping on the name of their deity to be offensive.

I thought you of all people would be against the melding of religion and state? Why would you have to "force" students into questioning their beliefs about religion unless the exercise was a veiled attempt to have them question their faith?

This was in order to promote understanding of the ways in which one can offend people of another culture through ignorance and without malice.

And this was the only way to get this point across? Can you think of any way this lesson could be taught in a different way? I can.

You know - making kids think about their beliefs.

So you agree, that the teacher was less interested in a lesson about cultural understanding, and more bent toward getting the students to "think about their beliefs".... Why is that the role of the school?

When I brought this up in my Writing class this past week, one student was upset that I had even written the name Jesus on a piece of paper after explaining the story.

I would suggest that just as in that class that day, there were more than the one, but as usual most people are cows when it comes to speaking up.

Our school is about 15 miles from FAU and the student hadn't even heard about the story - but then that student has shown a lack of knowledge about news stories since the beginning of the term.

So what? I know lots of kids that don't follow the news....Do you think that makes you better than him or something?

2 & 3. The stories vary on this point. Some of have stated the student left the class room after making threats toward the professor. We don't know for sure, as we have only Rotela's version of the story, although we do have the fact that disciplinary charges were laid against him.

Nonsense. I think that the tap dancing that the school, and those arguing in favor of FAU in this thread alone shows that we know exactly what went down...The school was in the wrong here, and all we have are the school, and its liberal defenders grasping at semantic straws to defend them.

5. HOW did this story get national attention? Who went to the media over a school matter?

Easy, the student contacted the local CBS affiliate about the story, and the national media picked up on it...Oh, and it was a story because a majority of Americans are Christian, and would be offended at at the actions of the school.

7. You are showing a refusal to comprehend the object of the lesson.

No, no...I comprehend it just fine. But there are other ways to teach it other than being an offensive jerk.

A lesson which had been taught in the past without "media attention", it is out of the textbook for the course - this would indicate that said exercise has been used at other universities using the same text.

Let's see if I follow your logic here...An offensive liberal lesson was attempted, by a liberal teacher, taken from a text book most likely compiled by liberals for a liberal course in diversity studies, and you think that all that confirmation bias stacks up to justify the offensive drivel spewed? Good GAWD!

I provided a link earlier to an interview with a graduate of FAU who had taken the class last year. She noted that no one was forced to step on the piece of paper. She also said that she thought Rotela was "being rather childish".

Who gives a **** what yet another progressive liberal thinks? Is that supposed to sway my opinion or something?

Just what have liberals been caught doing "red handed"? Forcing Christians to desecrate their God?

Yes

or forcing students to think about why they would find a certain action offensive and 'forcing' them to explain their feelings.

Feelings? :lamo oh my....What a waste of money that class is....

Lastly, Somerville has only one 'M'

Feel better?

Ooooh, do you think that was meant as a double entendre?

:roll:
 
Why are conservatives so damned thin-skinned? Who cares if someone steps on a piece of paper with a stupid word scribbled on it? It's not like the professor asked the Mormon kid to piss on a picture of Jesus, Mary and all the Saints, for Christ's sake.

Why is liberals only think that their "free speech" matters?
 
Why is liberals only think that their "free speech" matters?

How do you get that from what is being said in this thread?
 
So tell me, what cultures see Jesus as a figure to be disrespected, and stepped on?

Somerville says:Interesting. You are saying that stepping on a piece of paper with ink traces forming a word is to be thought of as the same as disrespecting your preferred deity? Many non-Christian and some Christian cultures would not equate a word on a piece of paper with a god.

I thought you of all people would be against the melding of religion and state? Why would you have to "force" students into questioning their beliefs about religion unless the exercise was a veiled attempt to have them question their faith?

How is the exercise to be seen as a "melding of religion and state"? Why do you see this as forcing students to "questioning their beliefs", why not see it as an exercise in "forcing" students to think in a rational manner so they can explain in an articulate fashion what it is that they believe?

And this was the only way to get this point across? Can you think of any way this lesson could be taught in a different way? I can.

The reactions here and in the rightie media are perfect illustrations of the validity of the lesson. So why teach it in a different weaker fashion? This was not a beginning of the term exercise, the students would have already been discussing concepts in regards to intracultural communications.

So you agree, that the teacher was less interested in a lesson about cultural understanding, and more bent toward getting the students to "think about their beliefs".... Why is that the role of the school?

Teaching students that THINKING about controversial subjects, not simply relying on that which they have had drummed into them by their family and their culture, but actually taking the time to think IS the purpose of a tertiary education. Do you believe that if a person is 'forced' into rational thought that will automatically cause them to throw away their personal beliefs? If that is what you think, then it would appear you think college students shouldn't be forced into thinking about controversial subjects - just go along to get along, too much thinking causes problems. It also indicates some fear that your and some students beliefs aren't supported by anything more than cultural indoctrination.

I would suggest that just as in that class that day, there were more than the one, but as usual most people are cows when it comes to speaking up.

You can "suggest" all you want but until another student comes forward - you got nothin'

So what? I know lots of kids that don't follow the news....Do you think that makes you better than him or something?

Nonsense. I think that the tap dancing that the school, and those arguing in favor of FAU in this thread alone shows that we know exactly what went down...The school was in the wrong here, and all we have are the school, and its liberal defenders grasping at semantic straws to defend them.

Funny, I see you as the one "grasping at semantic straws"

Easy, the student contacted the local CBS affiliate about the story, and the national media picked up on it...Oh, and it was a story because a majority of Americans are Christian, and would be offended at at the actions of the school.

Why did the student contact CBS 12 in Palm Beach County? The ginned up hysteria does cause me to believe this was a created incident for a very specific purpose - an attack on a political opponent

No, no...I comprehend it just fine. But there are other ways to teach it other than being an offensive jerk.



Let's see if I follow your logic here...An offensive liberal lesson was attempted, by a liberal teacher, taken from a text book most likely compiled by liberals for a liberal course in diversity studies, and you think that all that confirmation bias stacks up to justify the offensive drivel spewed? Good GAWD!

You are right. Good GAWD! is an appropriate response to what you have just written, as it does show non-rational "conservative" thinking - the type of thinking which is well along its way in destroying public education in this nation

Who gives a **** what yet another progressive liberal thinks? Is that supposed to sway my opinion or something?

Not that you actually know anything about the FAU grad who was interviewed and therefore are simply making an assumption about the person, but nevertheless you are quite willing to admit that you don't wish to hear opposing views - gee, kinda like Mr Rotela

Yes



Feelings? :lamo oh my....What a waste of money that class is....



Feel better? Do you?




:roll:
That last little bit about "double entendre"[/quote] was a typo on my part. I hope it is clear to the readers that my words are those in bold Georgia font.
 
Back
Top Bottom