Harding, God and gays
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Human rights / Harding, God and gays Harding paper covers HU Queer Press
The Harding University student newspaper provides thorough, straightforward coverage of the HU Queer Press zine and website about the gay experience at Harding.
The article, displayed on the frontpage of the student newspaper website (above), has drawn many comments. Most, but not all, are supportive of the university position on the issue. The Church of Christ-supported school has prevented access to the website on the university's computer system and the college president affirmed the belief that homosexual behavior is sinful. But he said the school wouldn't tolerate bullying of students.
Posted by Max Brantley on | Permalink | Comments (23)
Friday, March 4, 2011
Human rights / Harding, God and gays Harding president addresses gay website UPDATE
Dr. David Burks, Harding University president, addressed the new website and publication by gay students at Harding, HU Queer Press, at a talk at daily chapel yesterday. He affirmed the Church of Christ school's teaching on the sinfulness of homosexual behavior and defended the blocking of the website on the Harding network on account of its "offensive" content. But he also said bullying would not be tolerated at Harding.
Past reporting:
A followup, containing Harding's prepared response, is here. This post has drawn more than 120 comments, ranging from defense of the school to sharp criticism to some thoughtful posts on biblical interpretation and history. And, I should say, some heartfelt personal testimony, including just recently.
UPDATE: We've been looking for awhile for an opportunity to try out Storify, the news tool that lets you tell stories in real time with social media and other web tools, and the web chatter this story has inspired seemed like a good fit. Check it out on the jump. We'll add to it as the story evolves.
Posted by Max Brantley on | Permalink | Comments (25)
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Human rights / Harding, God and gays God and gays at Harding University
Interesting reading has arrived:
At this attachment, you'll find a "zine" described as containing perspectives from current and former gay and lesbian students at Harding University. Here's a website with more.
Harding, the Church of Christ institution in Searcy, hews to church teaching on homosexuality (disapproving) and participants say they have written anonymously for fear of fallout. As the website said: "It is part storytelling, part religious and political critique, and partly a manifesto of hope for Harding’s future." Take a look.
I've sought comment from Harding officials.
UPDATE: The group moved up activation of its website. It had been originally set for 9 p.m. tonight. But news began leaking out and the site was activated. Not long afterward, access to it was blocked at Harding.
UPDATE II: Harding responds on blocking the website.
UPDATE III: See video from Harding president David Burks reading a statement about the website and zine, and see how the story has spread across the blogosphere and on social media in the first Arkansas Times Storify.
Posted by Max Brantley on | Permalink | Comments (94)
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