GCC Alumni in Support of Dr. Jemar Tisby

Comments

#402

Current GCC student

Elijah Duckworth (Grove City, 2022-05-03)

#418

I am signing because we are very serious about where we give our financial support, especially our tuition money. To censor speakers, and apologized for inviting them, is absurd. We want our daughter to be EDUCATED and to think for herself with a Biblical lens, not pandered to as if the world she is a part of will be a Christian bubble!

Kristen Johnson (Columbia, 2022-05-04)

#427

Jemar Tisby is an important voice In the work of Christian racial reconciliation. I think an academic institution especially a Christian one should hear from diverse viewpoints in the Christian community. Diverse viewpoints reflect the strengthen and uphold the goal of reconciliation in the body of Christ.

Karen Boyer (Pittsburgh , 2022-05-04)

#428

Because I truly believe the GCC Board of Trustees should issue a public apology to Dr. Tisby for their misinformed and inaccurate portrayal of his work.

Mark Maynard (Thurmond, 2022-05-04)

#432

Class of 1981, former GCC faculty member and department chair.
This is not the Grove City College I attended or served for 11 years.
I have read both of Dr. Tisby's books, listened to dozens of his podcasts, read numerous articles, and watched several videos. His is exactly the kind of voice that students (and others) at GCC need to hear. We will never eliminate systemic racism, allowing people of color to live to their full potential as Image bearers, unless we hear, learn, lament, repent, and repair.

James Downey (Sewickley, 2022-05-04)

#439

GCC alumni, 2011

Joseph Sanchez (Adamstown, 2022-05-04)

#440

Dr. Tisby is a Christian historian whose research and rhetoric should cause all of us to examine ourselves in the light of our history. I believe Dr. Tisby has been raised up "for such a time as this," as many Christians are recognizing their direct or indirect complicity in racism and choosing to make changes. For GCC to disregard and disrespect him in this public, written statement only underscores the idea that white conservatives are more concerned about themselves than others. I read and studying "The Color of Compromise" just a few months ago at church and was deeply impacted by this work and developing this knowledge. To turn around and have my alma mater trash him like this is embarrassing and sad.

Wendy Hall (MONROE, 2022-05-05)

#441

Thank you, GCC, for giving me more book titles to add to my ever-growing collection of “controversial” and banned books. I look forward to learning more from Dr. (NOT Mr.) Tisby. Claiming GCC as my alma mater is of utmost embarrassment and I refuse to do so most of the time. This particular incident is the most recent in a long line of reasons why. I read the college’s report in it’s entirety and am disgusted by the lack of proper argument formation by persons who consider themselves to be academics. Not once was there a quote from Dr. Tisby’s chapel sermon or a specific reference to any ideology or theology presented in his books or sermon. The board instead relied on gross generalizations using phrases and vocabulary that is frequently used by the extreme far right authoritarian leadership to instill fear in the sheep they are leading. Examples of this include the use of “intersectionality” on pg 5 of the report and “woke” on pg 16. The report was also riddled with inaccurate definitions of CRT, and I found the board to rely on the “pop-CRT” it was attempting to denounce. Indeed, CRT is a fascinating and valid field of study and worth promotion, but only if it’s actually CRT (typically a graduate level course or law school course). The shallowness of the research and self-education of the board is a gross misrepresentation of academia. You should be ashamed. I know I am.

Elizabeth (Betsy) Steadman Lett ‘00 (Richmond, VA, 2022-05-05)

#445

I am a Gcc 2005 alumni who went on to earn a graduate degree and license in social work. Racial reconciliation was a missing part of the curriculum while I was there. How shameful and ignorant to attack this man's work through dishonesty and trying to induce fear.

Heather Morris (Pittsburgh, PA, 2022-05-05)

#447

The report in question, including the thoughtless critique of Dr. Tisby, deeply saddens and embarrasses me as a GCC alumna. For shame, Board of Trustees. For shame.

Mary Teisserenc (Trease '11) (Ondres, 2022-05-05)

#450

The Grove City College I attended trained me to think critically and deeply about conflict and disagreement in this world. The college that I am seeing now is burying its head in the sand and avoiding the relevant issues of our brothers and sisters in Christ. It also saddens me that there is consideration to align themselves with a one-sided political party in their mission. The gospel is not owned by a political party.

Kristen Rudd (North Haledon, 2022-05-05)

#452

I believe racial reconciliation and justice are more important than politics. More importantly, I believe the Bible says the same.

Christie McHugh Ketterman (Pittsburgh, 2022-05-05)

#454

Because this institution once believed in honesty and integrity. I’d like to think that’s not been lost but lately the antithesis seems more accurate.

Taylor Barner (Burlington, NC, 2022-05-06)

#455

The college’s poor research and politically slanted evaluation of Dr. Tisby’s chapel session is laughable at best and disgusting at worst. I will refuse to give this institution that I used to hold near and dear to my heart any future financial support so as long as this sort of poor scholarship, political hogwash, and ignorance is accepted by school leadership.

Mary Bitzer (Portland, Oregon, 2022-05-06)

#461

Speakers should not be maligned for speaking Biblically to social realities. Christians should be known by our ability to love and our unity in difference.

Janine Shurmer (Saskatoon, 2022-05-06)

#464

I am saddened that GCC continues to be a product of American conservatism and not the truth of the Bible and teachings of Christ.

Christina Ware (Nashville, 2022-05-06)

#468

GCC alum and former employee. Dr. Tisby deserves a formal apology. Please do the right thing and put the teachings of Jesus ahead of politics.

Caroline Knowles (Koopman) (Bozeman, 2022-05-07)

#473

GCC alum (2012)

Rachel Walker (Werner) (Silver Spring, 2022-05-09)

#474

Class of '15. Grove City College frustratingly wants to claim it believes in freedom of ideas, while simultaneously denouncing Jemar Tisby's chapel, which in the world of discussing racial justice was fairly tame. If GCC wants to call itself a Christian institution then it needs to listen to the voices saying they're hurting, not its donors who don't like it when someone left of center dare raises their voice. Call yourself a Christian institute and stand by those values, or just embrace that you're a conservative institute that has nothing to do with Jesus' message, but stop trying to have it both ways.

Marcus Archibald (Portland, ME, 2022-05-09)

#476

I wish I knew when I was at Grove City what Dr. Tisby is teaching me now. He was spot on in his Chapel sermon. Grove City needs to embrace him, not shun him.

Megan Owens (Philadelphia, 2022-05-09)

#477

The GCC board needs to go back and read the Gospels. Tisby’s books are completely on side.

Anna Beaudry (Waco, 2022-05-09)

#482

I was so proud of Grove City College when I heard they were featuring speakers like Dr. Tisby and felt they were doing their best to equip students for the future. The pushback has been disappointing and frankly makes me heartsick. I pray for a more diverse and open campus that doesn't hold conservative values over Christian ones.

Jodi Tahsler (Evansville, 2022-05-15)