A Florida Atlantic University professor made his students write the name “Jesus” on a piece of paper and then trample on it, as part of a “lesson in debating,” a student suspended for refusing to participate in the exercise has revealed.
Florida Atlantic University student Ryan Rotela provides example of Jesus’ name written on paper that students were instructed to stamp on in March, 2013 class.
“I’m not going to be sitting in a class having my religious rights desecrated,” student Ryan Rotela, a Mormon, told WPEC. “I truly see this as I’m being punished.”
Rotela explained that his Intercultural Communications class was told to write Jesus’ name on a piece of paper, then gather together and stomp on it. The student refused, however, and picked up the paper from the floor and put it back on the table.
The professor, Deandre Poole, was apparently trying to teach the students a “lesson in debate,” but the student found the assignment to be insulting and offensive.
“I said to the professor, ‘With all due respect to your authority as a professor, I do not believe what you told us to do was appropriate,'” Rotela said. ‘I believe it was unprofessional and I was deeply offended by what you told me to do.'”
The student was suspended afterwards by the university, who is defending the instructor.