Opinion Article Sparks Controversy

In the latest issue of The Slate, Simpson University’s official newspaper, editor Elizabeth Cifu wrote an opinion piece entitled “A Confusion of Priorities.” This piece deserves to be read if you have not already. For those of you who haven’t, the piece essentially outlined the general lack of academic focus on campus and in Simpson’s official documents. Unwittingly, this publication set off a controversy that has yet to be resolved.
The article in question came out over Genesis weekend, during which prospective students flooded the campus. As one admissions counselor puts it, “I had to explain that article to at least four parents.” As tensions were high during this event (upon which the school largely relies upon for incoming students), not only the visitors took a keen interest in the article. One university student posted the article and a vehement defense and critique of it on his Facebook page, which started a storm of comments discussing and largely agreeing with the article. This article is included on the back page under the opinion heading. Even a faculty member wrote a letter to some of the administration agreeing with the opinions espoused in the article.
Largely because of these two events, a meeting was called to discuss some of the ideas put forth in the Facebook thread. One of these in particular was the idea of a student put forward as such: “Here’s an idea: Why doesn’t every individual on campus who is serious about this issue…have productive intellectual discussion, and/or discuss the need for academic reform at Simpson? If there were people willing to do this, I would spearhead the effort myself.”
This idea matured in the minds of several students and culminated in a meeting by the aforementioned party with Travis Osborne, the campus pastor. The meeting was a tremendous success. “I clarified our collective intentions, as well as my personal intentions. I think it caused a real turning point for him.”
As of now, nothing is set in stone, but the alternative chapel motion is moving forward without interfering with the set standards for chapel attendance. With the exception of the Monday following spring break, “Meetings will be held Monday mornings, beginning at 10:20am, in the tutoring room of the Writing Center.”