Student Claims He Was Suspended For Refusing To Step On Jesus

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BOCA RATON (CBS4) – A student at Florida Atlantic University said he was unfairly suspended from his Intercultural Communications class because he refused to step on Jesus.

Ryan Rotella, a junior from Coral Springs, said the incident began when his professor, Dr. Deandre Poole, asked students in the class to write the word “Jesus” on a piece of paper, fold it up, and step on it.

Rotella, a deeply religious Mormon, told CBS12 that he was offended and refused to participate in the exercise.

...

FAU said Dr. Poole was conducting a classroom exercise from a textbook entitled “Intercultural Communication: A Contextual Approach, 5th Edition” and released this statement to CBS12: ”Faculty and students at academic institutions pursue knowledge and engage in open discourse. While at times the topics discussed may be sensitive, a university environment is a venue for such dialogue and debate.”

http://miami.cbslocal.com/2013/03/21/fau-student-claims-he-was-suspended-for-refusing-to-step-on-jesus/

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Kudos for standing up and not standing on what he believed in.

[Teddy B 17,252]

[quote name=' timestamp='1363965649' post='6066927]

BOCA RATON (CBS4) A student at Florida Atlantic University said he was unfairly suspended from his Intercultural Communications class because he refused to step on Jesus.

Ryan Rotella, a junior from Coral Springs, said the incident began when his professor, Dr. Deandre Poole, asked students in the class to write the word Jesus on a piece of paper, fold it up, and step on it.

Rotella, a deeply religious Mormon, told CBS12 that he was offended and refused to participate in the exercise.

...

FAU said Dr. Poole was conducting a classroom exercise from a textbook entitled Intercultural Communication: A Contextual Approach, 5th Edition and released this statement to CBS12: Faculty and students at academic institutions pursue knowledge and engage in open discourse. While at times the topics discussed may be sensitive, a university environment is a venue for such dialogue and debate.

http://miami.cbslocal.com/2013/03/21/fau-student-claims-he-was-suspended-for-refusing-to-step-on-jesus/

I'm a non-believer and I think this professor is in need of a lengthy unpaid vacation. What a jacka$$. Agreed, kudos to the kid for standing up.

Edited March 22, 2013 by Teddy B

[decocker 7,198]

well being a heathen, i think this kid should suck it up. surely there was a reason for the exercise and if he didn't want to participate, he should've dropped the class before it dropped him.

if he wants to go to seminary or whatever the hell the mormon version of that is - godspeed.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

well being a heathen, i think this kid should suck it up. surely there was a reason for the exercise and if he didn't want to participate, he should've dropped the class before it dropped him.

if he wants to go to seminary or whatever the hell the mormon version of that is - godspeed.

How about if the exercise was to step on a picture of your child? Or mother?

[decocker 7,198]

How about if the exercise was to step on a picture of your child? Or mother?

honestly? i would do it. i'm sure that this exercise was used for a reason, a reason probably related to the class.

now if i was asked to actually hurt someone - i wouldn't. this is a piece of paper and a word. i understand how it could be offensive, but sometimes we have to set offense aside in order to expand horizons a bit.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

honestly? i would do it. i'm sure that this exercise was used for a reason, a reason probably related to the class.

now if i was asked to actually hurt someone - i wouldn't. this is a piece of paper and a word. i understand how it could be offensive, but sometimes we have to set offense aside in order to expand horizons a bit.

That's your choice as it was the students not to do something that was against his beliefs or principles. IMO, he shouldn't have been suspended for that.

[Danno 1,228]

honestly? i would do it. i'm sure that this exercise was used for a reason, a reason probably related to the class.

Good Girl.

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That's your choice as it was the students not to do something that was against his beliefs or principles. IMO, he shouldn't have been suspended for that.

Agreed. If anything, the instructor could used turned his refusal to speak to the point of the exercise.

[decocker 7,198]

That's your choice as it was the students not to do something that was against his beliefs or principles. IMO, he shouldn't have been suspended for that.

he was suspended from the class - not school altogether. i'm not saying he shouldn't have stood up for what he believes in, that's fine. is he trying to suggest removing the exercise from the class because he was offended?

[spookyturtle 9,466]

he was suspended from the class - not school altogether. i'm not saying he shouldn't have stood up for what he believes in, that's fine. is he trying to suggest removing the exercise from the class because he was offended?

I don't know. If he just chose not to participate, I agree with him. It would be a very difficult life if we tired to remove everything that offended us, but we can surely chose to not participate if we are offended.

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I don't know. If he just chose not to participate, I agree with him. It would be a very difficult life if we tired to remove everything that offended us, but we can surely chose to not participate if we are offended.

I wonder if the instructor made clear before the drop period ended that the class would require doing things that could offend people of faith.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

[quote name=' timestamp='1363967724' post='6067011]

I wonder if the instructor made clear before the drop period ended that the class would require doing things that could offend people of faith.

Excellent point. But even if it was disclosed, some could still find certain things that were over the top for them personally and not want to participate in a specific exercise.

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Excellent point. But even if it was disclosed, some could still find certain things that were over the top for them personally and not want to participate in a specific exercise.

I'd expect there to be a points value to each exercise. Choose not to do one, you lose those points. No reason to kick him outta class, just set him up for a C+

[decocker 7,198]

I don't know. If he just chose not to participate, I agree with him. It would be a very difficult life if we tired to remove everything that offended us, but we can surely chose to not participate if we are offended.

of course.

my point is that learning can sometimes be an uncomfortable, offensive thing. i looked up the text book and found this summary (seems like there is plenty of offensive possibilities in this subject matter)

In this fully updated Fifth Edition of Intercultural Communication, author James W. Neuliep provides a clear contextual circular model for examining communication within cultural, micro-cultural, environmental, socio-relational, perceptual contexts, and verbal and nonverbal codes. The text begins with the broadest context; the cultural component of the model and progresses chapter by chapter through each component of the model. The later chapters then apply the model to the development and maintenance of intercultural relationships, the management of intercultural conflict, intercultural management, intercultural adaptation, culture shock, and intercultural competence.