Phil Dosa was eager to meet the visiting Equality Riders as he walked to the Hunter Welcome Center on Friday afternoon. But a university administrator intercepted him at the door and asked if he was on the list. "They told me since I wasn't a student in one of two classes, I couldn't stay," Dosa said. "I actually showed up and was turned ... [Read More…]
Soulforce meets small group of faculty, students for constructive conversation
A group of about 70 faculty members, students and members of a group that advocates for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people met Friday in the Bob and Shirley Hunter Welcome Center to discuss how the LGBTQ community is viewed at ACU and by Christians in general, as well as how LGBTQ people view Christianity. Dr. Jack ... [Read More…]
Soulforce returns to campus
A group advocating the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people is scheduled to visit campus Friday and meet with students, faculty and staff members. The group Soulforce was on campus three years ago and requested to return this year for a luncheon and discussions with members of the ACU community. All activities will take place in ... [Read More…]
Combat tough issues head on
By Daniel Johnson-Kim, Sports Editor I almost forgot about them. It has been a little more than a year since Soulforce, the gay and lesbian group devoted to fighting religious and political oppression through non-violence, came to this university in March 2006, and it took a washingtonpost.com video to bring them back into my life. The video ... [Read More…]
Soulforce activists experience welcome and hostility after campus visit in March
By Kelsi Peace, Features Editor After the group's visit to ACU in late March, Soulforce continued its Equality Ride of Christian, politically conservative and military institutions across the nation, experiencing both warm welcomes and cold shoulders. "The Equality Ride's goal overall was to bring a perspective that we feel is not freely or ... [Read More…]
Dialogue is necessary for understanding faith
Perhaps have the words discussion and dialogue have not been used so regularly during one week as they were leading up to Monday. But for all the buildup and concern about the conversations with the visiting gay rights activist group Soulforce, the university received exactly what it said it wanted out Monday's forums: dialogue. Students had the ... [Read More…]
Soulforce realizes difference at ACU, praises the university’s cooperation
By Jonathan Smith, Editor in Chief Members of Soulforce said they knew something was different about their stop at ACU minutes after setting foot on campus. They said even being given name tags to wear made them feel like their visit to Abilene was official - something they did not feel during their previous six stops. The university welcomed the ... [Read More…]
Evening forum evokes mixed student reactions
By Mallory Sherwood, Managing Editor Students and faculty left the final event of Soulforce's Equality Ride visit with mixed feelings. The open forum discussed sexuality and the media with most of the focus on Brokeback Mountain, a three-time Academy Award-winning film that told the story of two gay cowboys in Wyoming during the 1960s. Although ... [Read More…]
Soulforce offers unique chance to learn
Soulforce's arrival to campus Monday has produced mixed feelings among students, faculty and administrators, which, no matter the outcome of the visit, will be one of the best things to happen to the university in years. A university is an institution of higher learning whose members strive to study, research and learn about their society and ... [Read More…]
University prepares for day of peaceful dialogue
By Jonathan Smith, Editor in Chief With months of preparations, planning and organization behind, the campus now awaits Sunday's arrival of the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender activist group Soulforce on its Equality Ride tour. Dr. Royce Money, president of the university, said he thinks students and faculty here are prepared for Soulforce's ... [Read More…]