Sandra Moon: In Defense of My Alma Mater, Vanderbilt

As an alumna of Vanderbilt University, I get defensive when my school is wrongly criticized.  In recent months, Vandy has gotten some bad press from certain news sources.  Usually when Vandy gets bad press, it has something to do with the football team.  This fall, however, the controversy has been centered on the university’s decision to enforce its nondescrimination policy. To Chancellor Zeppos, the Rev. Gretchen Person, and to everyone else involved with the enforcement of the university’s policy–I applaud and commend you.

Back story: The constitution of the Christian Legal Society, a student organization of Vanderbilt’s Law School, included a requirement that officers adhere to certain religious beliefs.  CLS, along with a handful of other, primarily religious, student groups, were placed on “provisional status” after a university review found the groups’ constitutions to be in noncompliance with the univeristy-wide nondescrimination policy.  The response from conservative news sources has been hostile.  In an article published in the Daily Caller, Robert Shibley, Senior Vice President of Fire wrote “Pity the modern college administrator — it must be painful to be so politically correct that you’re forced to make embarrassing and nonsensical decisions.”  Comments such as these have greatly angered me, mainly because they are unfounded.  And before anyone accuses me of being a militant secularist set out to destroy religion, I want to make clear that I am a person of deep faith convictions.  I was involved with a variety of student religious organizations during my undergraduate experience at Vanderbilt, and those experiences helped shape my journey that led me to seminary and to seek a vocation in ministry.  That being said, let’s move on…

There is nothing special or uniquely prohibitive of Vanderbilt’s policy.  All public institutions of higher learning, and most accredited, non-religiously affiliated schools have the same, or very similar nondescrimination policies.  Vanderbilt is in the spotlight only because it was bold enough to practice what it preached.  The university  does not discriminate against individuals on the basis of their race, sex, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, military service, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.  This policy applies to the administration of educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic or other University-administered programs, including all student organizations.  This policy was put in place to protect its students and to foster an environment where education, both inside and outside the classroom, can be promoted and nurtured.  If there is any violation of this policy, then the university must take action.  Also, just to clarify, the administration is not forcing any of these groups to have non-Christian officers.  The student organizations are run democratically, and members of the organizations are free to elect whomever they choose.  However, if a non-Christian wants to join the CLS and run for an officer position, that person should not be prohibited from doing so solely on the basis of his or her beliefs.

Vanderbilt University is a school deeply committed to the education and overall well-being of its students.  I am proud to have gone to a school that is deliberate about enforcing its nondescrimination policy, even when it invokes controversy and criticism.  Even years after I’ve graduated, my alma mater continues to teach me–be bold, stand up against those who would speak against you, and put to into practice what you believe is right.