Hello,
Here we are greeted with more folks openly identifying themselves as empty-
headed fools.
Sincerely,
Bob Jones University Bans Gay Alums
.c The Associated Press
GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) -- Bob Jones University has a message for gay alumni:
Stay away or be arrested.
The Christian fundamentalist school threatened Thursday to arrest all gay
graduates who return to campus. But the university then partially backed down,
permitting gays to visit its art museum since a ban could affect the gallery's
tax-exempt status.
Wayne Mouritzen, a retired minister and Bob Jones graduate, got a letter
banning him from campus because officials discovered he is gay.
The letter, signed by Bob Jones' dean of students, said: "With grief we must
tell you that as long as you are living as a homosexual, you, of course, would
not be welcome on the campus and would be arrested for trespassing if you did
visit."
Mouritzen, 60, who said he came to grips with being gay only six months ago,
was shocked to read the letter.
"They do have a beautiful art gallery, but who wants to go on campus and get
arrested?" he said. "It's truly not public if it discriminates against
gays."
University spokesman Jonathan Pait said administrators routinely write to
alumni they think have strayed from the school's core beliefs. It was not
clear whether local police or the university's own campus officers were
expected to arrest returning gay alumni.
Pait initially said that gays were completely barred. But, after questions
from The Greenville News, he said they could visit the museum, a separate
nonprofit organization.
An IRS spokesman said a violation of state or federal law, including anti-
discrimination laws, could jeopardize an organization's tax-exempt status. He
refused to discuss Bob Jones' policies.
Last month, Greenville County Council agreed to give the college $28,000 in
hotel tax money to renovate the museum's entrance, but backed down after
discovering it had not followed state procedures for dispensing the funds.
Councilwoman Lottie Gibson said letters banning people from campus should
disqualify the museum from receiving aid.
"They're just trying to get the money and they aren't going to let those
people go out there regardless of what they say," she said. "I don't put any
faith in what they're saying now."
Bob Jones' tax-exempt status was debated for more than a decade after the IRS
withdrew the status in 1970 because it said the university discriminated on
the basis of race.
AP-NY-10-23-98 0937EDT
Copyright 1998 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news
report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed
without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active
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Date: Fri, 23 Oct 1998 11:08:18 EDT
Subject: Academic Freedom?
Caroline
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