UNC Wants ‘Objectors’ to Defend Religious Beliefs

Chapel Hill, NC – In reaction to controversy over a mandatory introduction to Islam for incoming freshmen, the University of North Carolina has developed a so-called “opt-out” policy that is bringing greater criticism than the requirement itself.

The leader of a non-profit group calling for the University to drop the pro-Islamic reading assignment expressed outrage over the change. Joe Glover, President of the Virginia-based Family Policy Network, says the so-called “option” is worse than the original requirement.

Glover said, “At first, UNC wanted to force their students to read a pro-Islamic text, which is bad enough. But now they want those who object on religious grounds to step forward and defend their own beliefs. That’s even worse.”

“The administration may as well line up thousands of incoming students and ask objectors to take one step forward. What freshman would want to do that?” he asked.

On Wednesday, the University posted a change to the Summer Reading Program webpage indicating students can opt out of the reading requirement. However, all students are required to attend University-sponsored discussions about the book. The posted change says:

Although the summer reading is required, if any students or their families are opposed to reading parts of the Qur’án because to do so is offensive to their own faith, they may choose not to read the book. These students should instead complete their one-page response on why they chose not to read the book.

In a recent interview with host Bill O’Reilly on FoxNews Channel, an English professor representing UNC indicated students would be forced to explain why their own beliefs caused them to object to the requirement in order to “defend the right not to read the book.” Dr. Robert Kirkpatrick, a member of the committee that selected Approaching the Quran as the text for this year’s Summer Reading Program, said the essays written by students rejecting the assignment on religious grounds, “will be very interesting to read.”

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For more information related to this issue, see:

Daily Tar Heel: Summer Reading Choice Prompts Lawsuit Threat:
http://www.dailytarheel.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2002/07/18/3d36c0f96495e

FPN News Release: UNC Wants ‘Objectors’ to Defend Religious Views
http://www.dailytarheel.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2002/07/18/3d36c0f96495e

High Point: Christian group considers lawsuit over requirement:
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=4692021&BRD=1332&PAG=461&dept_id=414366&rfi=8

FoxNews: University’s Quran Reading Stirs Controversy:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,57093,00.html

UNC Summer Reading Program Islam requirement:
http://www.unc.edu/srp/

The Chapel Hill News: FPN Chairman Terry Moffitt ‘ashamed’ of UNC:
http://www.chapelhillnews.com/Issues/2002/06/02/news04.html

FPN’s first news release on UNC/Islam controversy:
http://familypolicy.net/nc/unc-islam.shtml

News & Observer article about Islam requirement controversy:
http://newsobserver.com/news/triangle/story/1406152p-1440245c.html