On January 2 I wrote a short piece about how Jack Hawkins, the chancellor (i.e., president) of Troy University, a public university in Alabama, sent a 90-second video (below) to all the students and faculty of his university. As the Telegraph reported, the email was meant to be
. . . a “reminder” of what [Hawkins] called the “blessings” of American democracy – and its vulnerability to secularisation.
Here’s the short video circulated by Hawkins. It was originally put up on YouTube by Brigham Young University’s School of Law, and features features Clayton Christianson, a professor at Harvard’s School of Business:
Hawkins’s promulgation of that video is a blatant violation of the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment, which forbids public officials (Hawkins is one) from proselytizing for any religion—or for religion as a whole. The video clearly promotes religion and warns of the dangers to American democracy of “secularization.”
Reader Jerry (not me) wrote a letter of complaint to Troy University and received a copy of following email, written by Hawkins, from Andy Ellis, Troy’s director of University relations. Jerry forwarded Hawkins’s email to me, and I’ve put it below, bolding the weasel words:
Dear Trojans:
As we begin 2015, I welcome you back to campus and I look forward to another year of teaching, scholarship and service. In its evolution as Alabama’s international university, Troy University has become Alabama’s most diverse institution. Students come to us from more than 70 countries, represent all segments of the global community, speak more than 80 languages and they are people of many faiths. We honor their spiritual commitments and we emphasize the importance of tolerance and acceptance of other cultures and beliefs.
The recent New Year’s message I shared with the university community was not intended to offend. It was intended to encourage recipients to embrace the year ahead and to stimulate thought and discussion as to “why” America appears to be challenged at home and abroad.
Of course it wasn’t intended to offend! It was intended to tout religion!
It is regretful my message was found offensive by some due to their assumption it was based upon my intent to promote religion. Nowhere in my personal message did I mention religion. It is also ironic the genesis of the video message narrated by Harvard professor Clay Christensen was an observation made by a visiting scholar from China—a Marxist economist spending time at Harvard as a Fulbright scholar.
There we have the musteline phrases. Hawkins didn’t say he erred, or shouldn’t have sent out the video, but simply expressed “regret” that some found his actions distasteful. That’s the classic notapology. And Hawkins’s claim that the promotion of religion involved an observation from a Marxist economist does not in the least de-fang that video as a vehicle for faith.
The email goes on:
The Marxist economist concluded that American democracy has worked because the historic role of religion as a cornerstone of our society leads most Americans to “choose to obey the law.” Dr. Christensen expressed concern that as the influence of religion wanes in America, our nation will be left without institutions to teach this valuable lesson.
American higher education values academic freedom and free speech. It also holds dear its role as offering a marketplace of ideas for this country and the world. Those ideas should span a broad spectrum—even if segments of our society are offended by the views and observations of those with whom they disagree. In the end it is truth we seek as a university community.
As Chancellor of Troy University I have the obligation to share information with students, faculty, staff and alumni which I deem helpful in building a stronger community. In sharing the New Year’s message for 2015, information was presented which I believe will be helpful to all of us. Thus, regardless of your religion or political persuasion, I encourage all Trojans to work together as we address problems of concern to our state, nation and world. Happy New Year!
Unfortunately, Chancellor Hawkins seems to misunderstand the notions of academic freedom and free speech. Free speech does not give public officials the right to force religion, religious tenets, or atheism on their employees and students. The courts have already decided that in the case of Bishop v. Aronov (ironically, at the University of Alabama), where a professor was told he couldn’t use his class in exercise physiology to promote his religious views.
Hawkins has no obligation to share the promotion of religion with his students, regardless of whether he thinks it helps build a “stronger community.” In fact, he has an obligation not to. The American Atheists have demanded an apology and retraction from Hawkins, but it looks as if they aren’t going to get it. I have no idea whether a lawsuit is in the works.
It would be salutary if all the officials of Alabama and Georgia’s public universities were required to take a workshop on the First Amendment.
