A Letter From Concerned Students Addressing the Special Assembly For Black History Month

A letter to Dean Cain by students we will call "Tacitus" and "Aquinas":

"Dean Cain,
On February 15, in Assembly, the speaker introduced by J.C. Thomas gave a speech in honor of Black History month. Normally assemblies have a spiritual message relevant to all who attend, but in this case it was exactly the opposite. The message had nothing spiritually relevant about it. The section of the speech that is particularly in question is the speaker’s summary of African-American inventions in his “A World without Black People” mini-speech. To be sure, we admire his basic argument: African-Americans have made America a better place to live in for all. However, the “A World without Black People” section of his speech betrays his motives in the most critical way. The original source of this fellow’s information was not his own work, but in fact an anonymous internet e-mail chain letter that has been circulating around the net for years. This letter is riddled with half truths and blatant lies, and much of what our assembly’s speaker said for that section was plagiarized word for word from the letter! Please see Snopes.com here for a critical analysis of his letter, as well as a later variant that has also been floating around the internet you can find at this address: www.snopes.com/business/origins/blackinv.asp

The speaker in assembly, rather than seeking to create unity, apparently focused his attention only on what divided us as a people, instead of the Gospel that unites us. It seemed almost as if there were some political agenda behind his words. While this aspect of the speech is certainly troubling to us, the fact that a speaker and speech of such low credibility and intellectual honesty was allowed to be presented to us in an academic institution is even more distressing. As students of Rochester College, we are taught to question what we are told and critically analyze messages that are resented to us. Unfortunately, the speaker’s message wholly failed to pass this test. Imagine if we presented an anonymous internet e-mail chain letter as an academic source to our professors! Why then should an assembly speaker, speaking in front of the entire student body, be held to a lesser standard? While the contents of this letter are of grave importance to us, we hope it is understood that this letter has been written not because of hatred or antagonism towards the college, but rather that we are concerned for the direction in which this college is headed. We strongly believe that Rochester College should put academic integrity and intellectual honesty among its highest priorities. With that said, due to the respect we have for this college, we feel that it is only right for the college to apologize to its student body and seek some redressing of these concerns.

Sincerely,

Concerned Students of Rochester College"

Special Assembly For Black History Month

A letter from a reader we will call "Luther" to Dean Cain:

I believe we as the student body deserve an apology for allowing what was presented in Chapel on February 15, 2006. We came to give our time to God, as we were told and perceived what Chapel is for. I do believe it is very necessary for the giving of contribution to Black History Month, although Chapel if specifically and most of all for our contribution to God.

On that day I came to Chapel and concentrated my ears to what I thought were great words relating to God that the man wanted to share. That is until I realize my ears were assaulted by blasphemous words. That was outrageous. First of all, there was no major contribution to God. Secondly, half the words were false. Then the thing I’m most disappointed in is that Rochester College, a Christian establishment would allow such half-baked content to be presented. I felt betrayed coming here trusting the school to uphold Christian principles. This is inconsistence to the Rochester College Mission Statement and Code of Academic Integrity that we proudly display in our buildings and on the internet. Example of false words would Walter Sammons inventing the comb. The comb is and ancient tool that existed even during ancient Egypt. It is not a recent century invention. Walter Sammons did invent the heated comb. Also Alexander Miles did not invent the elevator. He improved on it by inventing the mechanism to automatically close the doors of it. This is academic fallacy that the college has allowed to be presented, to be taught especially in Chapel. That is just disturbing.

The major point I received form his speech is the casting of blame on the white man. It really is sad for him to not realize who his true enemy is. (I assume he is a Christian since Rochester College allowed him to speak in Chapel.) “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12. His true enemy, the true oppressor is Satan, not his brethrens.

I felt like I’ve sinned for sitting there, listening to, giving my spiritual attention to, then received false teachings. This just disgusts me. I feel ashamed for having to encourage my friends and family to attend here. I don’t want us to just become a so-called Christian College. I hope that we don’t travel far from the Rochester College Mission Statement and Code of Academic Integrity.

I know you cannot apologize for what the man said during Chapel, but you can apologize for allowing fallacy to be preached. What is more important than an apology towards the student body is an apology to God. Humility is what makes us humble.

"Luther's" letter was only one among a number exposing the problems with that assembly and the speech. The Rochester College staff, encourage students to analyze things, so it will be interesting to see how they respond.

The New Blog

This blog aims to foster an intellectual environment in which analytical students are free to question the teaching and philosophies taught by Rochester College, both in its activities and assemblies. The creator of this blog wishes to remain anonymous and respects the wishes of any student who desires to take part in the discussion. This blog will publish anything relevant to the college and its teaching, namely relating to the philosophies and beliefs of the students themselves versus (or in complement to) that of their professors or leaders.

It should be noted that this blog is not for immature, emotional exchange, but for deep, serious discussion of the state of the college and what it endorses. This blog may well be the result of a lot of controversy, though no inflamatory remarks against professors or staff will be permitted. Let's keep this discussion calm, reasonable, and civil.

Students from all perspectives are welcome to comment, and anyone can make a post and send it to rochesters7uden7@yahoo.com to be reviewed, then published. If accepted, a poster's work will NOT be edited.