DOES A "DON’T ASK, DON’T TELL"
RELIGIOUS POLICY EXIST IN THIS OHIO COLLEGE?
by Stan Griffin
It seems a good place to talk about religion: a college philosophy course. After all, philosophers like Plato, Lao Tzu, Maimonides, and Thomas Aquinas, taught theories combining religion and philosophy as "integrated parts of one whole." That doesn’t seem to be true at Lakeland Community College near Cleveland, Ohio.
Dr. James Tuttle is a part-time professor of moral philosophy and holds traditional Catholic beliefs.. Early in 2003, he distributed a "syllabus" (outline; overview) for a course he was teaching. It contained a disclaimer which said he: (1) was a committed Christian philosopher and theologian; (2) asked students to be "aware of where I am coming from and where you are coming from"; and (3) encouraged students who were uncomfortable with his views and/or methods to talk to him outside of class.
In February, 2003 a student sent a letter to Dr. James Brown of the college’s Arts and Humanity Department. In it he complained about Dr. Tuttle’s teaching methods and statements he considered offensive to his Pagan religious views and that Tuttle mentioned his Catholic beliefs "too often."
Dr. Brown, in a letter to Tuttle in April, said: (1) he was " ... more upset about the disclaimer than the student complaint ..." (2) "I’m beginning to question your suitability to teach in a public school classroom ... you may be happier in a sectarian classroom ..." Later that year, Tuttle’s course load was reduced to one class; and his choice was limited to only one remaining, even though he had seniority over half a dozen other professors. He refused to accept those conditions; and in June, 2004 he filed suit against the college. Tuttle contends he was demoted without a hearing, only allowed to teach logic courses "outside his area of expertise," and claimed he suffered religious discrimination. He seeks reinstatement and lost wages.
The Hamilton (Ohio) Journal-News, in an editorial published on July 11, said: "It seems we live in a world where it is OK to be a Christian as long as Christians keep their religious views to themselves ..."