State College in Alabama Opens a Faith-Based Dormitory

[Somerville]

Funny how there is so much hatred of the Christians that a publically-funded school thinks Christian students need their own dormitory - you know, so the poor kids can feel safe amongst their own kind and not have to mix with those others.

Is faith-based housing the next big thing for public colleges? Troy University thinks so

Troy University will open this fall an $11.8 million student housing complex designed specifically for students seeking a faith-based collegiate experience. <snip>

The new facility gives preference to students who maintain an active spiritual lifestyle and are actively engaged in a campus faith-based organization.

Residents are required to engage at least semi-annually in a community-service or service-learning project that is tied to a church, such as food or clothing drive.

They must also refrain from using illegal drugs or alcohol while in the facility -- a rule that applies to all Troy dormitories -- and maintain a minimum 2.5 grade point average.

Schmidt said university officials hope the facility will attract students who would not otherwise consider a public university instead of a private faith-based school.

Naturally there are objections to this project.

 

[Fiddytree]

I think it is a decent idea, the only problem is potentially this:

Schmidt said students of non-Christian faiths will not be excluded "if there was space available" and that university officials have discussed the prospect of catering more to non-Christians.

I think there is no reason to minimize the other religions. Students who have a problem with peoples of other faiths should instead become exemplars of their faith, and do good for humanity (one of the requirements for the dorm halls anyway).

 

[Anagram]

Sounds like a good idea to me as long as the include people of all faiths, which they say is their intention.

 

[iliveonramen]

haha! I can't wait until the first bible thumper gets kicked out for not "maintaining an active spiritual lifestyle". Will be interesting to see that play out. How will you enforce it? Informants? People in the dorm tell on others? How about some kind of trial by your peers?

I can also see issues where individuals parents put them in that dorm but the actual students aren't to thrilled about living there.

 

[WCH]

Well since a lot of today's kids go to college 'to' party and escape the pitiful job market, this seems like a good idea.

Maybe they'll have half a brain left when they're done.

 

[Fiddytree]

haha! I can't wait until the first bible thumper gets kicked out for not "maintaining an active spiritual lifestyle". Will be interesting to see that play out. How will you enforce it? Informants? People in the dorm tell on others? How about some kind of trial by your peers?

I can also see issues where individuals parents put them in that dorm but the actual students aren't to thrilled about living there.

Alcohol and drug use is regularly regulated on college campuses already. Residence hall staff would oversee the students just fine. The student's academic performance is, of course, accessible by the college. Students can supply reports or merely receive attendance checks by community service providers. Students can transfer to other student housing options.

 

[Carjosse]

Alcohol and drug use is regularly regulated on college campuses already.

I don't think it is really enforced though.

 

[Fiddytree]

I don't think it is really enforced though.

In the dorm halls, it is generally about as good as you're going to get.

 

[CanadaJohn]

People are aware, I hope, that there are dormitories in public schools that cater to a number of niche student populations. One example would be gay students.

But then, anything related to Christians, their beliefs and traditions, etc. seems to be open for any and all criticism.

If this dormitory is not taking up space that is needed for students not seeking faith based housing and if no student is being prejudicially harmed by this dormitory option being available and if this public school has become aware of a desire by a significant number of students for this type of housing, what's the big deal?

 

[Fiddytree]

People are aware, I hope, that there are dormitories in public schools that cater to a number of niche student populations. One example would be gay students.

Correct. Some notable inclusions of specific populations that are intentionally clustered you have: individuals that may have difficulty socializing or adjusting to campus life, honor students, international students, and so forth. Actually, I was in a dorm hall that was the first example I mentioned.

 

[Carjosse]

I do not agree with this public schools including colleges should be exclusively secular.

 

[molten_dragon]

Funny how there is so much hatred of the Christians that a publically-funded school thinks Christian students need their own dormitory - you know, so the poor kids can feel safe amongst their own kind and not have to mix with those others.



Naturally there are objections to this project.

I think as long as the dorms don't offer amenities that the non faith-based dorms do it's no big deal.

Though I can't see many college students voluntarily wanting to live in a dorm that bans illegal drugs and alcohol.

 

[trfjr]

Funny how there is so much hatred of the Christians that a publically-funded school thinks Christian students need their own dormitory - you know, so the poor kids can feel safe amongst their own kind and not have to mix with those others.



Naturally there are objections to this project.

what happened to striving for diversity on college campuses isn't that what was affirmative action was about? now we are advocating segregation based on being religious or not?

 

[Anagram]

I think as long as the dorms don't offer amenities that the non faith-based dorms do it's no big deal.

Though I can't see many college students voluntarily wanting to live in a dorm that bans illegal drugs and alcohol.

All college dorms ban illegal drugs and alcohol. It's just a question of enforcement. I doubt it would be enforced any more in that dorm than in the others, although the people who choose to live there might be less likely to use it.

 

[molten_dragon]

All college dorms ban illegal drugs and alcohol.

Well they probably all ban illegal drugs, but they certainly don't all ban alcohol. It was allowed in my dorm if you were 21 or over.

 

[Anagram]

Well they probably all ban illegal drugs, but they certainly don't all ban alcohol. It was allowed in my dorm if you were 21 or over.

Really? Every college I visited only allowed Alcohol in dorms if everyone on the floor was 21 or over. Although, I guess I visited a bunch of private schools, so its probably different elsewhere. Either way, its not like alcohol was actually not present though.

 

[Fiddytree]

I do not agree with this public schools including colleges should be exclusively secular.

It should be inclusive, not exclusively secular. I, for one, value a university system which promotes its religious and cultural diversity.

 

[Fiddytree]

Really? Every college I visited only allowed Alcohol in dorms if everyone on the floor was 21 or over. Although, I guess I visited a bunch of private schools, so its probably different elsewhere. Either way, its not like alcohol was actually not present though.

It's pretty common to remove certain allowances in specific buildings. For instance, dorm halls would prohibit alcoholic beverages, meanwhile the student apartments would not. Each could likewise have certain academic requirements (mostly progress in one's academic career and/or age).

 

[Carjosse]

It should be inclusive, not exclusively secular. I, for one, value a university system which promotes its religious and cultural diversity.

If students want to have their own religious organizations on campus that's fine but the administration should have no part.

 

[Anagram]

It's pretty common to remove certain allowances in specific buildings. For instance, dorm halls would prohibit alcoholic beverages, meanwhile the student apartments would not. Each could likewise have certain academic requirements (mostly progress in one's academic career and/or age).

Well yeah in the apartments they'd allow it if everyone in the suite was 21. In dorms though, it was never allowed. But that might not be standard everywhere.

 

[Dr. Chuckles]

The new facility gives preference to students who maintain an active spiritual lifestyle and are actively engaged in a campus faith-based organization.

Residents are required to engage at least semi-annually in a community-service or service-learning project that is tied to a church, such as food or clothing drive.

They must also refrain from using illegal drugs or alcohol while in the facility -- a rule that applies to all Troy dormitories -- and maintain a minimum 2.5 grade point average.

Schmidt said university officials hope the facility will attract students who would not otherwise consider a public university instead of a private faith-based school.

from what you posted it seems to apply to people of faith, in general. Which I don't see as an issue, necessarily

 

[Dr. Chuckles]

haha! I can't wait until the first bible thumper gets kicked out for not "maintaining an active spiritual lifestyle". Will be interesting to see that play out. How will you enforce it? Informants? People in the dorm tell on others? How about some kind of trial by your peers?

I can also see issues where individuals parents put them in that dorm but the actual students aren't to thrilled about living there.

from the OP the standard seems to be based on behavior, with particular focus on partying and participation in social programs run through a faith based organization

 

[TiredOfLife]

from the OP the standard seems to be based on behavior, with particular focus on partying and participation in social programs run through a faith based organization

They have WWJD over the toilets. Most of them need at least 12 minutes before deciding that Jesus would poop, but he'd do it praising god like so many others of different faiths, and he wouldn't look at his junk for fear that he'd get aroused and have to gouge out an eye, or two.