4.17.2007

THE POWER OF ONE: One Young Woman's Courage Restores Academic Freedom at Missouri State University...

Emily Brooker

Several months ago, I shared the story of Emily Brooker, the social work student who underwent intense interrogation by hostile faculty members at Missouri State University for refusing to follow "orders" to send a letter to the Missouri state legislature supporting adoption by those who engage in homosexual behavior.

This "letter" was not the first time that Emily had been subjected to the homosexual agenda at Missouri State. As a freshman, she was assigned to openly display "lesbian behavior" in public and then write about her experiences! Emily declined to engage in such behavior, but wrote a paper anyway in fear of academic intimidation.

But last fall when a social work professor tried to force her to violate her beliefs again, Emily took a stand. She was slapped with a "Level 3 grievance" - the most serious charge possible - resulting in possible withholding of her degree and the two-and-one-half hour interrogation by the school's "ethics" committee.

David French

David French, director of the ADF Center for Academic Freedom filed a complaint on Emily's behalf in federal district court. The school settled - removing the grievance from Emily's record, agreeing to pay her tuition for two years of graduate school, and the professor who gave the assignment was removed from his administrative duties and placed on academic leave for the rest of the semester. And as blessed as all this was, it gets even better yet!

The school also commissioned an independent investigation of the social work program. The commission's report came back last week. I'll let David French report from here:

"...the university announced the results of the investigation, and - to the administration's infinite credit - the report is not a whitewash. In fact, I've never read a more stinging indictment of an academic department. Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the report was the authors' call for accountability and consequences. Here are their first two recommendations for fixing the problem:

• Close down the school; disband the faculty and restart the School after a short period...This option ensures ridding of all toxic faculty...
• Eliminate those faculty who are identified as major contributors of the problem and find ways to remove them from the faculty...

Emily Brooker's case could represent a watershed moment in higher education in Missouri. For the first time in a long time, an administration has the courage to step up and acknowledge mistakes. For the first time in a long time, an internal academic investigation has resulted in a call for real reform. Emily's case has already led to the American Council of Alumni and Trustees (ACTA)-inspired Emily Brooker Intellectual Diversity Act, and now it seems to be leading to genuine institutional self-examination. Students take note: there is hope, and a bit of courage can go a long, long way. "

I want to thank God and salute Emily for standing by her convictions and taking a bold stand for the Truth in an incredibly hostile environment. Emily's courage proves that the legal battle to preserve our First Liberty - religious freedom - can and will be won if we rely on Christ (John 15:5), and are willing, like Emily, to challenge injustice. Thank you for making it possible for ADF to be there for courageous young adults like Emily - so that they know they are not alone and can stand up to the leftist orthodoxy on tax-funded university campuses and, one by one, change the world.

Read the ADF press release to learn more...

Prayer Requests | Visit the ADF prayer page
"Without Christ, we can do nothing." - John 15:5

1. Please for wisdom and victories in the many legal battles ahead.
   
2. Please pray for the ongoing marriage cases in California, Connecticut, Iowa, and Maryland.