Academic Freedom in the Great Tarheel State
• Christian Fundamentalism
RALEIGH, N.C. -- A college religion professor defended his book on the Quran on Thursday, a day after state legislators voted to ban public money for a freshman reading assignment centered on the text.
Michael Sells' book "Approaching the Qur'an: The Early Revelations," is required reading for about 4,200 incoming freshmen and transfer students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill this month. New students may decline to read the book and write essays explaining their decision.
Legislators said they had calls from constituents who were offended by the reading requirement.
The House budget-writing committee voted 64-10 Wednesday to bar the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from using public money to support the reading requirement unless it gives equal time to "all known religions."
"The plaintiffs charge that UNC indoctrinates students with deceptive claims about the peaceful nature of Islam, violating the separation of church and state. In fact, the book makes no general claims about Islam," Sells said in an essay in Thursday's issues of The Washington Post.
Book author, Muslim group, react to committee's vote on Quran textbook
RALEIGH, N.C. -- Critics of a state House committee decision to ban the use of public funds for a UNC-Chapel Hill reading assignment on the Quran said the move could threaten academic freedom and accreditation.
"I suppose evolution will be next," said Sue Estroff, a social medicine professor and chairwoman of UNC's faculty. "I can see them saying we have to teach creationism and the rest of it. To say it isn't an assault on academic freedom is ludicrous."
The House Appropriations Committee voted Wednesday to bar the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from using public funds for the assignment unless it gives equal time to "all known religions." The move came as the committee worked to put together a $14.3 billion state budget.
The book, "Approaching the Qur'an: The Early Revelations" by Michael Sells, is required reading for about 4,200 incoming freshmen and transfer students this month.
New students may decline to read the book and write essays explaining their decision. Students are scheduled to discuss the book Aug. 19 in 180 small-group discussions.
Three unidentified incoming university freshmen and a conservative Christian organization have filed a federal lawsuit last month contending the university infringed upon their rights to religious freedom. Opening arguments are scheduled for Thursday in Greensboro, said Joe Glover, president of the Virginia-based Family Policy Network.
Rep. Gene Arnold, R-Nash, called the UNC requirement "extraordinarily arrogant" due to anti-Arabic sentiment after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
"I think the chancellor is totally, completely out of step with what people of North Carolina want and expect out of its university," he said.
Critics react to House measure regarding UNC reading requirement
Comments
Posted by: Robert Easter | October 9, 2002 9:08 AM