An open letter to President Fisher and the Belmont University Board of Trust
An open letter to President Fisher and the Belmont University Board of Trust:
Five years ago, I was part of a discussion group sponsored by the university to have “difficult dialogs” about Belmont and its treatment of LGBT students. At the time, I was newly out of the closet, a student in the School of Religion and CEMB, and an active leader of student organizations on campus. I was invited to be a part of this group that literally met underground (the symbolism was not lost on us even if it was unintentional) in response to the university denying the recognition of an LGBT student organization.
However well intentioned this group may have been, it was a debacle. While I am thankful to this day for the myriad faculty and staff members who were involved in supporting the position of students like me, it was clear that the university was not actively listening to us as a minority within the population.
Then, in the fall of 2010, Lisa Howe ceased to be employed at Belmont. I say, “ceased to be employed” because the secrecy surrounding her exit remains to this day. I will not get into a he-said/she-said debate here,but her departure set off a chain of events that led to student protests,sit-ins, and national media attention far divergent from the façade Belmont presented two years prior during the Presidential Town Hall Debate.
The story being painted for students was that Coach Howe had been fired for revealing to her soccer players that she and her same-sex partner were expecting a child. This made students like me, students who LOVED the university, feel threatened and ashamed. I proudly participated in the marches and protests. I wrote letters. I even spoke to the media on behalf of the students rallying for change. And I graduated that fall deeply disappointed in the school I had dedicated massive amounts of my time to growing.
When, in early 2011, Belmont amended its non-discrimination policy to be inclusive of LGBT faculty, staff, and students, I was shocked but pleased. This was the Belmont I believed in. This was an institution of which I could be proud.
I write this lengthy preamble to remind us all where Belmont was just five years ago. Five years ago when students had to protest and garner national media attention to beg for equal protection for ourselves and for our professors.
Today I read that, in light of the Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, Belmont has voluntarily extended benefits to ALL legally married faculty and staff, gay or straight. So monumental was this simple pronouncement that Christianity Today set the university opposite sister institutions like Baylor.
I have never been more proud to be a Bruin. I cannot fully express my gratitude to you, Dr. Fisher, and to the university leadership for not only being on the right side of history but for living into the message that Belmont is indeed a Christian institution. Belmont has chosen to extend love and value to all people who are employed by the university.
So, once again, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. May Belmont University continue to stretch and grow and live into the fullness of God’s plan as a community of higher education that claims a faith tradition where all are welcome.
Sincerely,
Dan Ritter
Class of 2010
Five years ago, I was part of a discussion group sponsored by the university to have “difficult dialogs” about Belmont and its treatment of LGBT students. At the time, I was newly out of the closet, a student in the School of Religion and CEMB, and an active leader of student organizations on campus. I was invited to be a part of this group that literally met underground (the symbolism was not lost on us even if it was unintentional) in response to the university denying the recognition of an LGBT student organization.
However well intentioned this group may have been, it was a debacle. While I am thankful to this day for the myriad faculty and staff members who were involved in supporting the position of students like me, it was clear that the university was not actively listening to us as a minority within the population.
Then, in the fall of 2010, Lisa Howe ceased to be employed at Belmont. I say, “ceased to be employed” because the secrecy surrounding her exit remains to this day. I will not get into a he-said/she-said debate here,but her departure set off a chain of events that led to student protests,sit-ins, and national media attention far divergent from the façade Belmont presented two years prior during the Presidential Town Hall Debate.
The story being painted for students was that Coach Howe had been fired for revealing to her soccer players that she and her same-sex partner were expecting a child. This made students like me, students who LOVED the university, feel threatened and ashamed. I proudly participated in the marches and protests. I wrote letters. I even spoke to the media on behalf of the students rallying for change. And I graduated that fall deeply disappointed in the school I had dedicated massive amounts of my time to growing.
When, in early 2011, Belmont amended its non-discrimination policy to be inclusive of LGBT faculty, staff, and students, I was shocked but pleased. This was the Belmont I believed in. This was an institution of which I could be proud.
I write this lengthy preamble to remind us all where Belmont was just five years ago. Five years ago when students had to protest and garner national media attention to beg for equal protection for ourselves and for our professors.
Today I read that, in light of the Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, Belmont has voluntarily extended benefits to ALL legally married faculty and staff, gay or straight. So monumental was this simple pronouncement that Christianity Today set the university opposite sister institutions like Baylor.
I have never been more proud to be a Bruin. I cannot fully express my gratitude to you, Dr. Fisher, and to the university leadership for not only being on the right side of history but for living into the message that Belmont is indeed a Christian institution. Belmont has chosen to extend love and value to all people who are employed by the university.
So, once again, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. May Belmont University continue to stretch and grow and live into the fullness of God’s plan as a community of higher education that claims a faith tradition where all are welcome.
Sincerely,
Dan Ritter
Class of 2010
Comments
Post a Comment