The University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, recently invited faculty members to write “solidarity statements” for “historically marginalized groups.”
An email to faculty from the Catholic university’s Office of Academic Affairs said the project aims to demonstrate their “commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and the myriad ways in which we are now acting [or] will act on that commitment.”
“We’re asking you to share how you personally will engage in the work of creating an inclusive and equitable campus community that truly values all,” it reads.
The email then asks the faculty what they will “specifically” do in their classroom, advising meetings, mentorship of students, and “other areas” to make this a reality.
“Our BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ students, as well as those who identify with other historically marginalized groups, need to know they have allies at St. Thomas who will actively stand and act in solidarity with them,” the email continues.
Each “solidarity statement” will be gathered together and shared with the entire campus community “in both virtual and physical formats.”
The unnamed professor who sent a screenshot of the email to conservative writer Rod Dreher told him that it’s a blatant violation of academic freedom.
“Imagine you’re untenured and don’t agree with the LGBTQIA+ movement, what do you do? If you don’t write anything, your chair and colleagues will notice. This may cost you tenure,” the professor said. “On the other hand, you can write some b.s. made up stuff and violate your conscience.”
He continued: “Either way, the university is on a fishing expedition to separate the woke sheep from the Catholic goats. Stunning stuff, really. Other [schools], of course, will follow, if they haven’t done it already.”
The University of St. Thomas in Minnesota encapsulates the social and cultural collapse of academia in general and Catholic education more specifically. In June the university promoted the celebration of “Pride Month” in emails and on social media, with the diversity and inclusion office also publishing a guide on the use of “gender neutral” pronouns.
Earlier this month, the university offered “counseling and psychological services” after a celebrity street preacher known as “Sister Cindy” came to campus to “preach” against sexual promiscuity. Several hundred students watched her speak and participated in a “ho no mo” chant.
St. Thomas, however, condemned Sister Cindy for her “intolerance, hate, and sexism,” despite the fact that students familiar with her TikTok videos, even if they disagree with her sincere message, understand her performances to be comedic.
Evan Stambaugh
Evan Stambaugh is a freelance writer who had previously been a sports blogger. He has a BA in theology and an MA in philosophy.
