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Colleges often say their sexual-assault investigations are supposed to be “educational” rather than “adversarial.” Tell that to the accused students who find themselves judged “responsible” from the start.
Similarly, evangelical Wheaton College’s bid for “reconciliation” with a now-suspended professor who said Muslims and Christians “worship the same God” has gone adversarial very quickly.
The Chicago Tribune reports that Wheaton has offered to reinstate Larycia Hawkins next fall – if she gives up her tenure “for at least two years”:
“I was naively thinking they wanted to cooperate,” she said. “I have tenure, and I have to fight for that.” …
“Both parties are in discussions toward a final and comprehensive resolution,” Wheaton College said in a statement. “Because of the arrival of the Christmas holidays, however, it will be some time before the contours of that resolution are solidified.”
Hawkins said the provost told her that he wants her to “engage in more conversation with the college board of trustees before her tenure can be restored,” but she said she’s tired of arguing her “sincerity” of faith.
Wheaton moves towards termination rather than reconciliation as Christmas nears according to Dr. Hawkins.
— Kirkland An (@kirkland_an) December 23, 2015
The paper reports this is the fourth incident in which Wheaton has asked Hawkins to reaffirm its strict statement of faith: She was previously quizzed when she wrote an article about black liberation theology that “seemed to endorse a kind of Marxism”; was photographed on the same day as the Chicago Gay Pride Parade at a house along the parade route; and for suggesting the college curriculum “should include diplomatic vocabulary for conversations around sexuality.”
Hawkins said she is standing up for her colleagues: “If I can be thrown under the statement of faith bus, so can they.”
The professor’s last social media post appears to have been Dec. 16, on Facebook. She has not tweeted since the uproar over her Muslim statement.
Wheaton itself sought to correct the record on its action toward Hawkins, saying in a Tuesday statement that her “paid administrative leave” was not a “suspension” and is not “punitive or disciplinary.”
It said that its statement of faith is not a “cursory requirement of employment” for faculty and staff, but must be affirmed “as an expression of their own beliefs.” Wheaton said it’s had “extremely frank conversation” with Hawkins but that she has “clearly stated her unwillingness to further participate” in conversations for “additional theological clarification” of her stance:
At Dr. Hawkins’ request, the College proposed the terms of separation if she chose to resign. We have not asked her to resign and did not suggest that she do so. Although Dr. Hawkins and the College have begun discussions regarding the possibility of a voluntary resignation, those discussions have not yet been successful and may have reached an impasse.
Read the story and Wheaton’s statement.
UPDATE: Wheaton’s statement on the “impasse” it has reached with Hawkins has been added to the story.
RELATED: Hijab-wearing Christian professor is promoting culture of oppression, Muslim reformers say
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