Students hang Obama cutout, receive one-year suspension
Kierra Jones/Contributing Writer; Suzanne Pardington/Religion News Service
Issue date: 10/12/08 Section: Divine Intervention
It's not something 21-year-old Jared Rogers, a senior at George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon, expected at a Christian campus. But late last month, a custodial crew at the 3,355-student university found a life-size cardboard cutout of Democratic Presidential nominee Barack Obama hanging by fishing wire from a tree on the campus.
Religion News Service reported that a sign taped to the cutout said, "Act Six reject," referring to a scholarship program for Portland students, many of whom are minorities.
"It's completely inappropriate," Rogers said. Four students confessed to university officials and were suspended for a year.
Religious leaders throughout the DC metro area also found it inappropriate and denounced it. "I condemn and deplore it," said Rabbi Charles M. Feinberg of Adas Israel Congregation located on Quebec Street, NW.
The Rev. Dr. John Carleton Hayden of St. George's Church on 2nd and U Streets, NW, was equally saddened, especially for this to happen at a school that bears the name George Fox, founder of the Society of Friends. Some of the core values of the Society, commonly known as Quakers, are non-violence and tolerance.
"It shows a lack of appreciation by whites of the African-American experience which has been marked by extensive lynching," Rev. Dr. Hayden said.
Fox was the founder of the Quaker Movement. In 1891 GFU became known as Pacific College. It wasn't until 1949 that the school's name changed, in honor George Fox.
The Act Six scholarship program started last year to steer urban minority students to the university, which over the years has had little success in recruiting non-white students.
"The four students that did the act must have seen this as Freedom of Speech, but indirectly they are saying don't vote for a Black man," said Rev. Joel Ojelade of Alafia (Peace) Baptist Church located in Mt. Rainier, Md. "The right wing fundamentalist Christians always create a scene of that nature during election time."
Religion News Service reported that a sign taped to the cutout said, "Act Six reject," referring to a scholarship program for Portland students, many of whom are minorities.
"It's completely inappropriate," Rogers said. Four students confessed to university officials and were suspended for a year.
Religious leaders throughout the DC metro area also found it inappropriate and denounced it. "I condemn and deplore it," said Rabbi Charles M. Feinberg of Adas Israel Congregation located on Quebec Street, NW.
The Rev. Dr. John Carleton Hayden of St. George's Church on 2nd and U Streets, NW, was equally saddened, especially for this to happen at a school that bears the name George Fox, founder of the Society of Friends. Some of the core values of the Society, commonly known as Quakers, are non-violence and tolerance.
"It shows a lack of appreciation by whites of the African-American experience which has been marked by extensive lynching," Rev. Dr. Hayden said.
Fox was the founder of the Quaker Movement. In 1891 GFU became known as Pacific College. It wasn't until 1949 that the school's name changed, in honor George Fox.
The Act Six scholarship program started last year to steer urban minority students to the university, which over the years has had little success in recruiting non-white students.
"The four students that did the act must have seen this as Freedom of Speech, but indirectly they are saying don't vote for a Black man," said Rev. Joel Ojelade of Alafia (Peace) Baptist Church located in Mt. Rainier, Md. "The right wing fundamentalist Christians always create a scene of that nature during election time."
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 30
Jane Doe
posted 10/14/08 @ 12:36 PM EST
It is amazing to me how quickly people are ready to jump on the racist bandwagon. The effigy of Obama, was a political joke, not an ugly racist act. I actually thought it was pretty clever. (Continued…)
jane doe
Jane Doe
posted 10/14/08 @ 12:50 PM EST
It is amazing to me how quickly people are ready to jump on the racist bandwagon. The effigy of Obama, was a political joke, not an ugly racist act. I actually thought it was pretty clever. (Continued…)
Tee Odeyale
posted 10/21/08 @ 9:46 PM EST
Other ways to have portrayed this message:
1. A poster with bold text across it stating "Act Six Reject."
2. A sculpted visage of Obama with a sign hangin over his neck stating he was an "Act Six Reject. (Continued…)
jane doe
posted 10/22/08 @ 7:33 PM EST
I have no need to hide, jane is my first name and doe is my last. Sick parents. I said what I said because I know who did this and spoke with them about everything that I wrote above. (Continued…)
Tee Odeyale
posted 10/26/08 @ 8:14 PM EST
My apologies for your name. That was an assumption on my part and I guess Vanessa's. To avoid that you'd be better off just using Jane D. My argument to that matter is irrelevant nontheless. (Continued…)
LeTigre
posted 11/03/08 @ 3:20 PM EST
All right, so hang an effigy of Obama and you're a racist, but hang an effigy of Sarah Palin and it's all right?
The liberal double standard at work. (Continued…)
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