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| == OC policy == | == OC policy == | ||
| President Mike O'Neal has attempted to the make the campus more progressive in its language, its ] policies, and ] outreach. These efforts can be seen in the newly-adopted policy changes , although full-time, tenure-tracked faculty are still required to be members of the |
President Mike O'Neal has attempted to the make the campus more progressive in its language, its ] policies, and ] outreach. These efforts can be seen in the newly-adopted policy changes , although full-time, tenure-tracked faculty are still required to be members of the churches of Christ and are discouraged from teaching evolution . | ||
| ===Homosexuality=== | |||
| Though there have been some recent changes in OC's policies, the University's position on homosexual students has become a topic of much discussion among students, alumi, and activists. Because OC is a private college, they maintain the right to impose requirements upon students that would be considered unnacceptable at public universities. Homosexual students are not explicitly forbidden from attending OC, however, they are far from encouraged to do so. The policy apparently extends a requirement that students refrain from engaging in or even advocating homosexual behavior not only on the campus and at campus activities, but also into their personal activities. | |||
| <blockquote>"Oklahoma Christian University believes the Bible and believes that the Bible does not recognize homosexual lifestyles as an acceptable human behavior. For this reason the University does not tolerate activities and promotion of homosexual lifestyles on campus or at University sponsored events. If a student is found to be advocating or practicing homosexual lifestyles or activities they will be required to attend professional counseling or be removed from the University. The violation of this policy and refusal to participate in counseling will be cause for immediate dismissal for the University." {{ref|handbook}}</blockquote> | |||
| This policy statement is ambiguous in that it is unclear if students are expressly forbidden from being homosexuals and in that it does not delinate between being a homosexual and being a heterosexual who advocates equal rights for homosexuals. It is also worth note that the University mandates therapy for students in violation of their policy. This seems to draw upon the antiquated notion that homosexual behavior is a ] (even though homosexuality was removed from the ] in 1973). | |||
| It should be noted, however, that only 13 states have laws explicitly forbidding discrimination based upon sexual orientation and that Oklahoma is not one of these states. As such, it would be legal for OC to dismiss a student soley for being a homosexual. In states that have laws forbidding discrimination based on sexual orientation, dismisal based on sexuality alone would be overtly illegal - much like dismissal of a student for being of a particular religion or ethnicity. | |||
| == Cascade College == | == Cascade College == | ||
Revision as of 21:08, 16 December 2005
Oklahoma Christian University (locally known as OC) is a private Christian university associated with the Churches of Christ. OC is located in Edmond, Oklahoma, a suburb north of Oklahoma City.
Early history
Oklahoma Christian University was originally called Central Christian College when it opened in 1950 with 97 students in Bartlesville, Oklahoma on the 152 acre (615,000 m²) former estate of L.V. Foster, a prominent oil businessman.
L. R. Wilson was the college's first president, having founded Florida Christian College just four years before. In 1959, the campus was moved to Oklahoma City and OC began offering four year bachelor degrees soon after. The school name was changed to "Oklahoma Christian University of Science and Arts" before being truncated to "Oklahoma Christian University."
OC policy
President Mike O'Neal has attempted to the make the campus more progressive in its language, its diversity policies, and Evangelical outreach. These efforts can be seen in the newly-adopted policy changes , although full-time, tenure-tracked faculty are still required to be members of the churches of Christ and are discouraged from teaching evolution .
Homosexuality
Though there have been some recent changes in OC's policies, the University's position on homosexual students has become a topic of much discussion among students, alumi, and activists. Because OC is a private college, they maintain the right to impose requirements upon students that would be considered unnacceptable at public universities. Homosexual students are not explicitly forbidden from attending OC, however, they are far from encouraged to do so. The policy apparently extends a requirement that students refrain from engaging in or even advocating homosexual behavior not only on the campus and at campus activities, but also into their personal activities.
"Oklahoma Christian University believes the Bible and believes that the Bible does not recognize homosexual lifestyles as an acceptable human behavior. For this reason the University does not tolerate activities and promotion of homosexual lifestyles on campus or at University sponsored events. If a student is found to be advocating or practicing homosexual lifestyles or activities they will be required to attend professional counseling or be removed from the University. The violation of this policy and refusal to participate in counseling will be cause for immediate dismissal for the University."
This policy statement is ambiguous in that it is unclear if students are expressly forbidden from being homosexuals and in that it does not delinate between being a homosexual and being a heterosexual who advocates equal rights for homosexuals. It is also worth note that the University mandates therapy for students in violation of their policy. This seems to draw upon the antiquated notion that homosexual behavior is a psychopathology (even though homosexuality was removed from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders in 1973).
It should be noted, however, that only 13 states have laws explicitly forbidding discrimination based upon sexual orientation and that Oklahoma is not one of these states. As such, it would be legal for OC to dismiss a student soley for being a homosexual. In states that have laws forbidding discrimination based on sexual orientation, dismisal based on sexuality alone would be overtly illegal - much like dismissal of a student for being of a particular religion or ethnicity.
Cascade College
OC has a branch campus in Oregon known as Cascade College. Cascade had lost its regional accredidation and was suffering financially when OC agreed to help them by making them a branch campus in 1993. The 12-acre campus is located in Portland, and like OC, the full-time faculty and a majority of the students are members of Churches of Christ.
University Presidents
- L. R. Wilson - 1950 to 1954
- James O. Baird - 1954 to 1974
- J. Terry Johnson - 1974 to 1996
- Kevin Jacobs - 1996 to 2001
- Alfred Branch - Interim President, 2001
- Mike O'Neal - Current President, term began in 2002