Expelled after challenging woman's belief in leprechauns

[Lewis]

Student expelled after challenging woman's belief in leprechauns

Bob Averill, a student at the Art Institute of Portland, claims he was expelled for being an atheist after he challenged a young woman's belief in "energy layers and astral beings."

"I jokingly asked her if she believed in leprechauns. It turns out, she does. They live on another energy layer," Averill told the Portland Mercury. "In the interest of bringing my own view to the discussion, I began to ask her how she knew these things. Again I know all too well that people can be sensitive about their spiritual beliefs, so I was pretty much walking on glass as I did so."

The other student complained to the teacher, and Averill was eventually expelled.

The dean of the for-profit school told Averill in an e-mail that the dismissal was "not the result of a single action on your part, but a series of actions. I believe that, in several instances, your actions have been aggressive, demeaning, and threatening and that this demonstrates a pattern of inappropriate and unacceptable behavior."

Averill told the newspaper he has requested assistance from the American Civil Liberties Union.

Comments

This is definitely a case for ACLU. Give me a break!
Posted by: Don | Nov 28, 2006 9:02:10 AM

This is what happens when you go to a for-profit school that only cares about being "political correct" instead of caring about the value of open discussions in the classroom.
Posted by: Mr. Education | Nov 28, 2006 8:59:38 AM

As an honorary leprechaun I can take issue with this.

I believe that this young lady is a nut. The young gentleman sounds pretty normal as were his remarks to her.

I think his dismissal was inappropriate.

Also inappropriate was the dean of profits' determination about this young lad.

I am not a supporter of the ACLU, but I think in this circumstance, their involvement would be justified.
Posted by: Mr. Mutt | Nov 28, 2006 8:45:13 AM

You have got to be kidding me. it sounds like the student was making fun of her but who wouldn't.
Posted by: Confused American | Nov 28, 2006 8:18:43 AM
http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/20 ... pelle.html

 

[Lewis]

But seriously' I don't see what the guy did wrong. Because if you believe in something like that. Something is wrong with you' unless you are a child or something.

 

[Quath]

I think it depends on how he presented himself. If he was threatening, then I agree that he should have been expelled. However, if he was kicked out because he does not believe in another's faith, then she should not have been kicked out.

 

[TanNinety]

But seriously' I don't see what the guy did wrong. Because if you believe in something like that. Something is wrong with you' unless you are a child or something.

That's an interesting quote. I bet she has enough "personal faith" and "personal evidence" to show for her belief as a Christian would have to show about his God.

Something's wrong with her because she is singled out. Something's NOT wrong with Christians because we are in millions? If there were a million atheists around and a single Christian, yeah you probably would hear the exact same words, "Because if you believe in something like that. Something is wrong with you".

We ask atheists all the time "Can you prove God does not exist?"

The same question here is "Can anyone prove that her leprechauns do not exist?"

 

[Lewis]

That's an interesting quote. I bet she has enough "personal faith" and "personal evidence" to show for her belief as a Christian would have to show about his God.

Something's wrong with her because she is singled out. Something's NOT wrong with Christians because we are in millions? If there were a million atheists around and a single Christian, yeah you probably would hear the exact same words, "Because if you believe in something like that. Something is wrong with you".

We ask atheists all the time "Can you prove God does not exist?"

The same question here is "Can anyone prove that her leprechauns do not exist?"

Yeah you heard me right. If she is grown' something is wrong with her. Man oh man' a box of Lucky Charms' would be good right about now.