A group of students at Trinity University is lobbying trustees to drop a reference to Our Lord on their diplomas, arguing it does not respect the diversity of religions on campus.
A diploma is a very personal item, and people want to proudly display it in their offices and homes, said Sidra Qureshi, president of Trinity Diversity Connection. By having the phrase In the Year of Our Lord,' it is directly referencing Jesus Christ, and not everyone believes in Jesus Christ.
Qureshi, who is Muslim, has led the charge to tweak the wording, winning support from student government and a campus commencement committee. Trustees are expected to consider the students' request at a May board meeting.
Other students and President Dennis Ahlburg have defended the wording, arguing that references to the school's Presbyterian roots are appropriate and unobtrusive.
Founded by Presbyterians in 1869, Trinity has been governed by an independent board of trustees since 1969 but maintains a covenant relationship with the church.
Any cultural reference, even if it is religious, our first instinct should not be to remove it, but to accept it and tolerate it, said Brendan McNamara, president of the College Republicans.
McNamara pointed out that Trinity displays other signs of its Christian heritage, including a chapel on campus, a chaplain, Christmas vespers and a Bible etching on the Trinity seal.
Once you remove that phrase, where do you draw the line? McNamara asked.
Students want ?Our Lord' phrase off diplomas
A diploma is a very personal item, and people want to proudly display it in their offices and homes, said Sidra Qureshi, president of Trinity Diversity Connection. By having the phrase In the Year of Our Lord,' it is directly referencing Jesus Christ, and not everyone believes in Jesus Christ.
Qureshi, who is Muslim, has led the charge to tweak the wording, winning support from student government and a campus commencement committee. Trustees are expected to consider the students' request at a May board meeting.
Other students and President Dennis Ahlburg have defended the wording, arguing that references to the school's Presbyterian roots are appropriate and unobtrusive.
Founded by Presbyterians in 1869, Trinity has been governed by an independent board of trustees since 1969 but maintains a covenant relationship with the church.
Any cultural reference, even if it is religious, our first instinct should not be to remove it, but to accept it and tolerate it, said Brendan McNamara, president of the College Republicans.
McNamara pointed out that Trinity displays other signs of its Christian heritage, including a chapel on campus, a chaplain, Christmas vespers and a Bible etching on the Trinity seal.
Once you remove that phrase, where do you draw the line? McNamara asked.
Students want ?Our Lord' phrase off diplomas
