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- Thursday, March 28, 2013
Florida Atlantic University Apologizes for
‘Jesus Stomping’ Classroom Exercise
March 24,
2013 | Filed under: Education,Highlights,Life & Society,Top Stories | By: Heather Clark
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Boca Raton, Florida – A university in
Southern Florida that came under fire this week after a student claimed that he
was suspended for refusing to stomp on a piece of paper bearing the word
“Jesus” has issued an apology.
Ryan Rotela, a Mormon, told reporters
that he was punished by school officials for not participating in the
assignment in his intercultural communications class. The activity
was part of a suggested exercise found in the instructor’s manual accompanying
the classroom textbook.
“This exercise is a bit sensitive, but
really drives home the point that even though symbols are arbitrary, they take
on very strong and emotional meanings,” the manual states. “Have the students
write the name JESUS in big letters on a piece of paper. Ask the students to
stand up and put the paper on the floor in front of them with the name facing
up. Ask the students to think about it for a moment.”
“After a brief period of silence,
instruct them to step on the paper,” it continues. “Most will hesitate. Ask why
they can’t step on the paper. Discuss the importance of symbols in culture.”
However, Rotela said that he was
suspended for refusing to stomp on the paper, after his teacher, Deandre Poole,
had his class perform the exercise.
“He had us all stand up and he said
‘Stomp on it,’” Rotela explained. “I picked up the paper from the floor and put
it right back on the table. I’m not going to be sitting in a class having my
religious rights desecrated.”
“Anytime you stomp on something it
shows that you believe that something has no value,” he said. “So, if you were
to stomp on the word Jesus, it says that the word has no value.”
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Rotela’s teacher is the vice-chairman
of the Palm Beach Democratic Party.
Initially, after many became outraged
both over the classroom assignment and Rotela’s suspension, school officials
defended the teacher because he was simply following the instructor’s manual.
However, on Friday, the university released an apology over the matter.
“We sincerely apologize for any offense
this has caused,” officials representing Florida Atlantic University wrote.
“Florida Atlantic University respects all religions and welcomes people of all
faiths, backgrounds and beliefs.”
However, the school denied that
students were required to stomp on the paper.
“Contrary to some media reports, no
students were forced to take part in the exercise,” it stated. “[T]he
instructor told all of the students in the class that they could choose whether
or not to participate.”
It also asserted that Rotela was not
punishing for his refusal to stomp on the name of Jesus.
“While we do not comment on personnel
matters, and while student privacy laws prevent us from commenting on any
specific student at the University, 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,” the statement read.
Nonetheless, Florida Atlantic
University states that the stomping exercise will never again be performed in
the classroom.
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