Blatant violations of the U.S. Constitution seem to be a very common theme at many of Murray State University's Hutson School of Agriculture events. Requiring all students, staff, and faculty members to pray to god before being allowed to eat is unconstitutional and a violation of our First Amendment rights. Not everyone in attendance at these events identify as christian students. Since Murray State is a publicly funded institution, professors (including the Dean of the agricultural college!) cannot promote any one religion over others, require prayer as part of any university sanctioned event, pray with students, or lead students in prayers. The Establishment Clause states publicly funded institutions may not establish a state religion or promote one religion over others. However, this happens at the School of Agriculture's back to school picnic every Fall semester, all of the IHSA horse shows the equestrian teams attend, and major events put on by the Horsemen's Association, in addition to events held by other organizations within the school of agriculture.
Nobody bats an eye or breathes a word about it- why is this? This is a public university funded by taxpayer dollars. The school is clearly violating the U.S.' Establishment Clause.
These practices are not only unlawful, but also alienating and downright disrespectful to students not of the christian faith, whether they be jewish, unitarian, agnostic, muslim, buddhist, hindu, atheist, etc.
I have spoken to several international students that chose to come here (they were buddhist, hindu, muslim, jewish, atheist, agnostic, unitarian, or just not religious)... and it makes them uncomfortable. They are being TOLD by university authority figures at the beginning of the school year that they must participate in prayer to a god they do not believe in and in doing so, may violate their own personal religious beliefs, or lack thereof. Since these students are brand new to the country and the university, they often feel compelled to go along with it, because, what other choice do they have? It pisses me off how this university, especially the School of Agriculture, so openly discriminates and alienates all non-christian students. These students are trying to get involved on campus and are being alienated from the very start. I have tried speaking up and was ignored and ostracized for my efforts.
I am all for engaging in religious discussions and do not have a problem with people talking about their faith, I actually do like hearing other people's views and engaging in religious discussions- but when people in authority positions at a public institution push one religion over others and do so to their students, I just cannot tolerate it anymore. It has upset me quite a bit about how many interested new and international students I have seen drop out of attending the Agriculture clubs and events due to the professors, academic advisors, club leaders, and even the dean of the Agriculture college pushing their beliefs on the students in attendance.
If I had a dollar for every "friend" that I have lost, every time I have been ostracized or alienated from a club or team on campus, every occasion I have been questioned about my (lack of) belief, and every time I have been preached to since moving to Kentucky in July of 2012, I would be a very rich woman. I was deleted by 30+ of my "friends" when I came out as an atheist on Facebook several months ago. Several of those people I had considered to be very close friends since grade school. I have been receiving anonymous hate mail and threats on Facebook since then as well. I have been alienated and ostracized by clubs and teams on campus. Most people don't talk to me at all on campus anymore. I have heard people talk behind my back on multiple occasions. My truck has been vandalised on three separate occasions. My constitutional rights have been violated at a majority of the Agriculture college's events I have attended.
I am NOT going to let this drop. Since the university has refused to take any of my concerns (and US law) seriously over the past three years, I am taking the next step.I will NOT let it go. If standing up for myself and defending my rights, and the rights of other non-christian students on campus, makes me an extremist, then I will bear that title with pride.
My primary goal isn't enlightenment, but if anything I post helps even one person begin to open their eyes, awesome. I post to show others that it is OKAY to doubt and to question and to TALK openly about these things. I post to show closet atheists, especially those in Kentucky, that they are not alone.
-Stef (That Stephans Chick)
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