Muslim Students Demand "Our Lord" Be Removed From University Diplomas

When I think of the word "trinity", I automatically think 'Christian'- "the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit". I never quite understood the concept, but that's the origin of the word. So, when you think of a college named Trinity University, what comes to mind (at least mine) is a school that if not religious, has its roots in Christianity. Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas is one such university. Founded in 1869 by Presbyterian pioneers, it has been housed in various locations, finally settling in San Antonio in 1942. And although it is not a religious institution, per se, it does have what is termed a "covenant relationship" with the Presbyterian Church.

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In its attempt to embrace diversity Trinity accepts students (including foreigners) of other religions, although the majority are Christian. So, one would think that if you had problems with a school rooted in Christianity, you would be better off choosing somewhere else, since being in that kind of environment might cause you undue grief, particularly if there could be things that could potentially be offensive to you. Like Trinity's graduating diplomas which reference "Our Lord".

But there are always trouble makers, usually Atheists, who take offense to anything referencing God. At Trinity, a group of students is trying to force the university trustees to do away with the reference to "Our Lord", because

it does not respect the diversity of religions on campus.

“A diploma is a very personal item, and people want to proudly display it in their offices and homes,” said Sidra Qureshi, president of Trinity Diversity Connection. “By having the phrase ‘In the Year of Our Lord,' it is directly referencing Jesus Christ, and not everyone believes in Jesus Christ.”

Qureshi, who is Muslim, has led the charge to tweak the wording, winning support from student government and a campus commencement committee. Trustees are expected to consider the students' request at a May board meeting.

Sorry, dude, but since the majority of the students there are Christian, the wording should remain. I have to wonder what the diplomas at Muslim universities might say, and if they referenced Mohammad or Allah and whether they would change it to reflect the diversity of other students' religions, if there are any to begin with. However, if I were to attend a Muslim university I would expect that there might be things there that I might not agree with, which is why I wouldn't choose to attend one. But if I did, I would have to accept things as they are. We have choices in this world.

Of course, there are those who believe the wording should not change, including other students and the University President Dennis Ahlburg.

“Any cultural reference, even if it is religious, our first instinct should not be to remove it, but to accept it and tolerate it,” said Brendan McNamara, president of the College Republicans.

McNamara pointed out that Trinity displays other signs of its Christian heritage, including a chapel on campus, a chaplain, Christmas vespers and a Bible etching on the Trinity seal.

“Once you remove that phrase, where do you draw the line?” McNamara asked.

No-one seemed to care until a Mexican Muslim convert, Isaac Medina, balked at the wording when he was checking out diploma frames prior to graduating in December. Medina claims he was told that the university was secular, when he first applied, and was completely taken by surprise when he noticed the reference to "Our Lord" stating “I felt I was a victim of a bait and switch.” But if he even had to ask, what was he doing applying there in the first place? There are plenty of State universities that are totally secular where he would have had no problems.

So Medina, along with Qureshi, demanded that they change the diplomas for those who chose not to have the God reference printed on it. But, as expected, they were told that it would be impossible to custom print diplomas. So they next asked that the "Our Lord" be taken out altogether. And if you gripe and bitch enough you get results.

In January, the student government and the Muslim Student Association co-sponsored a forum to debate the issue. And in February, the Association of Student Representatives and the university's commencement and convocation committee both voted to support the change, Qureshi said.

“I honestly feel like nobody actually noticed it before,” Medina said. “Now that it has been brought up, the institution is trying to find its own identity. Are we or are we not a religious institution?”

It's not that students of other religions have ever been discriminated against, Medina himself has said he was always made to feel welcome. In fact, the campus chaplain deals with Christians and non-Christians alike, and a Muslim prayer space was added to the Parker Chapel.

In voting against the change, it's not that Ahlburg wants to do away with diversity, the school even has a Sikh awareness student union,but he feels that they shouldn't chuck their religious roots over a discontented few.

“The fundamental issue is not so much what is on the diploma. The fundamental question is, ‘Is Trinity a place that is accepting and supportive of all faiths?'” Ahlburg said.

Current students are not Trinity's only stakeholders, Ahlburg said. The university also has thousands of alumni and donors to appease, many of whom have called Ahlburg to tell him they oppose the change.

“Democracy is not letting a small number of people have their way,” Ahlburg said. “Democracy is listening to the different voices and making an informed decision.”

A diploma is only a piece of paper with words on it. If certain words upset you, then God help you, the world is going to be a terrible place to live. These students are going to learn that in a democracy, you're not always going to get your way, and demanding doesn't always work.