Ken Berwitz
With a major hat tip to Katharine Timpf of National Review, here are summaries of three universities\’ idea of a holiday party (and be sure to click here for Ms. Timpf\’s entire article):
-Cornell University: Cornell has informed its students that they should not use mistletoe for their holiday parties – not because it might generate a little kissing, but because it is Christmas-related and might traumatize non-Christian students. It also advised students that they should “be respectful of the religious diversity of our students and colleagues and are encouraged to use an inclusive approach . . . focusing on the winter season rather than a particular holiday”. (In other words, Christians should not celebrate Christmas.)Heck, if it wasn\’t for the tuition they pay and the alumni endowments, they\’d probably toss Christians off the campus altogether.-University of Tennessee: This supposed institute of higher learning advises students to “Ensure your holiday party is not a Christmas party in disguise,” (what a horror that would be), be sure to have “food and decor from multiple religions” (will they suspend students who leave out any specific ones?), the “refreshment selection should be general, not specific to any religion or culture.” (no Irish whiskey or Scotch, folks) and that there should be no Secret Santa, but things like a “practical joke gift exchange” (to bad these guidelines don\’t qualify as the biggest practical joke of all).Yep, that will prepare them for the real world.Heck, if it wasn\’t for the tuition they pay and the alumni endowments, they\’d probably toss Christians off the campus altogether.-Ohio State University: Tells students that “Decorations and food should be general and not privilege any religion,” and if bows are put up at the parties, they will be “preferably not red and green” (Christmas? What\’s that? Who ever heard of it?).Heck, if it wasn\’t for the tuition they pay and the alumni endowments, they\’d probably toss Christians off the campus altogether.
Since a key purpose of colleges and universities is that they will prepare students for their subsequent lives in the real world, this, apparently, is what the academics\’ view of the real world is at Cornell, U. of Tennesse and Ohio State — and, no doubt, countless others.
Evidently, this is their real world.
Which explains a lot, doesn\’t it?
