Higher Ed = Sex Ed?

By: American Decency Staff

By Chris Johnson Remember when it was shocking to hear about college sex scandals? Earlier this month, news broke that former Penn State University assistant coach Jerry Sandusky was being arrested for child molestation. He is accused of sexually abusing at least 8 boys over the course of 15 years. He allegedly used the university's showers with the boys under the pretense of his charity. Definitely shocking. Another assistant coach has been fired and is being investigated for the same thing – Bernie Fine, formerly of Syracuse University, allegedly molested a Syracuse ball boy and his step brother. Now there is the story of the University of Utah professor who was caught looking at child pornography on a plane to Boston. Apparently, a fellow passenger saw what he was looking at and informed a flight attendant, who informed the police, who greeted this professor with some shiny bracelets and a car ride. Then there is the instance of the Michigan State University art history professor whose hobby is taking pictures of him and his students naked and calling it art. MSU says that's fine because the students are not coerced in any way and he only uses volunteers. Finally, it was only 8 months ago that we were shocked at hearing about Northwestern University Professor Michael Bailey who held a demonstration in which the attendant students watched a woman masturbate on stage. Sex has been so tied up with college student culture, I guess it's no surprise that many of the professors teaching the students are morally decrepit as well. At this point, in fact, college/university officials getting caught in outrageous sexual activity is almost becoming cliché. The most egregious offenders – the three pedophiles – were obviously and rightfully dropped from their schools like a basketball on the boundary line. But what's amazing to anyone with a moral compass that hasn't been sitting on an amoral magnet, is that Michigan State and Northwestern don't seem to understand why everyone is upset. Consider the official response to the Northwestern controversy. "Northwestern University faculty members engage in teaching and research on a wide variety of topics, some of them controversial and at the leading edge of their respective disciplines. The university supports the efforts of its faculty to further the advancement of knowledge." First of all, it should be pointed out that watching a woman masturbate is in no way educational. Seriously, if that's what's meant by higher learning, a laptop and an internet plan is a lot cheaper than a 4-year degree. Secondly, the school doesn't seem to realize that it's not just the fact that this guy invited a bunch of students to watch live porn on a stage instead of in their dorms (because let's face it, anyone who signs up for a "sexual diversity" class most likely spends their evening in the red light district of the internet), it's the fact that he's a professor and people still have this naive belief that highly educated professors are people for their kids to look up to. Michigan State really doesn't seem to understand this fact either. The "artistic" professor, Danny Guthrie, seems to be catching on, though. In an email to Detroit News, Guthrie said the University "is not a great climate for being edgy in the area of sexuality." Who would have thought? An establishment where a bunch of malleable, newly independent, ignorant kids go to learn is not a place for the leadership to be "edgy in the area of sexuality." Here's what the MSU spokesman said about Guthrie's hobby. "Sometimes art, and the means by which it is expressed, evokes strong responses – both for and against it. In situations where the art relates to an academic activity, MSU's main concern is to maintain the integrity of the teaching and learning environment." How a teacher getting naked with his students maintains the "integrity of the teaching and learning environment" is a mystery. The premise that – "It's OK that he got naked with his students – he took a picture of it and called it art" just doesn't evoke feelings of trust in the learning environment for me. Laura Merrihew, whose daughter is a student at MSU, sums up what I’m sure most parents feel when she stated:  "This man has breached the bounds of the student-professor relationship.  His pictures are sexually motivated and they are taking advantage of the students. There are several with totally nude girls that he's holding … and touching. To think that he is participating in this and not thinking: 'What good luck I have to be able to do this and get away with this.'" http://www.detnews.com/article/20111123/SCHOOLS/111230376/MSU-professor%E2%80%99s-nude-photos-stir-debate Here's the point, Universities. You can hire Rembrandt to teach art history, but if he's taking pictures of himself and my daughter naked he needs to find a new occupation. I suggest the Wall Street Occupation. That seems to be a favorite hangout for that type. Michigan State University needs to be held accountable for their irresponsible position of not only allowing, but also defending these unconscionable actions of a professor – entrusted to educate students – to instead use his position to take advantage of them in the name of “art.â€Â Contact Michigan State University by clicking on the link below: https://americandecency.org/take_action_form.php?message=137 Attn:  Lou Anna K. Simon – President Michigan State University 438 Administration Bldg. East Lansing, MI  48824 517-355-6550 Fax: 517-355-9601 ========================================================== Your support is important to our ability to make a difference. Donate online at: https://secure4.afo.net/ada/donate.php American Decency Association is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. American Decency Association Bill Johnson, President P.O. Box 202 Fremont, MI 49412 ph: 231-924-4050 www.americandecency.org http://www.twitter.com/billwjohnson

---