University of Tennessee removes 'inclusive holiday' post

[d_r]

Source: Nashville Tennessean

The University of Tennessee has removed a Web post about "inclusive holiday celebrations" that had drawn the ire of state lawmakers and the Tennessee Republican Party, which accused the college of trying to "eliminate Christianity" from campus parties.

The post, which came from the Knoxville campus' Office of Diversity and Inclusion, included several recommendations to "ensure your holiday party is not a Christmas party in disguise," including the suggestion not to participate in "Secret Santa" or "Dreidel" at holiday parties.

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Republican lawmakers were quick to blast the original post last week. Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey, R-Blountville, said that Chancellor Jimmy Cheek, who oversees the Knoxville campus, should resign if he had approved the post. If not, Ramsey said, the entire staff of the diversity office should be fired.

In a resolution passed on Saturday, the Tennessee GOP State Executive Committee said the post was an attempt to "eliminate Christianity" from the holiday season. The committee called for lawmakers to eliminate funding for the Knoxville diversity office.

Read more: http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2015/12/08/ut-removes-inclusive-holiday-post/76973454/

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

1. Our country is spiralling down a shithole....

....and this is what lawmakers and leaders at a state university concern themselves with? Dumbass tweets telling kids how to party setting up the moral outrage of do nothing bible thumping dickwads.

Fuck it all.

[snooper2]

2. Stupid

[romanic]

3. Guess academics

wanted to get it on the Christmas pastime of throwing common sense out the window.

[rurallib]

4. maybe some legislators should learn about all the holidays

celebrated in December and realize christmas is just one of many.
It has to do with the sun returning you dumb fucks.

[Igel]

7. Then have that many celebrations.

Don't say "since somebody might be offended at mentioning the solstice, all talk of solstice must be removed lest somebody who might attend a solstice celebration feel excluded."

Not everything needs to be inclusive, and those who feel humiliated at not being included in something have to grow up. Freedom of assembly includes the right to pick and choose the reasons to assemble.

Yes, Xmas is one of many. Solstice celebrations, New Year's, even Hanukkah, most likely. Then there are things like Kwanzaa, created for the purpose of having a different "like theirs but especially our own" holiday. Don't want to attend any, fine, don't attend. But don't compel those who want to celebrate something to avoid it because, well, somebody may feel left out.

[FLPanhandle]

5. I hate to agree with Republicans but this PC overkill

And I'm a pretty rabid atheist.

[sinkingfeeling]

6. Guess Tennessee GOPers don't understand the definitions of 'diversity' and 'inclusion'.

[branford]

9. Recommendations not to participate in "Secret Santa" or "Dreidel"

do not foster "diversity" and "inclusion." They do, however, live-up to the very worst conservative stereotypes of left-wing, totally-unconnected, politically-correct, university busybodies.

[goldent]

8. It's this kind of thing that makes Trump popular.

[Nye Bevan]

10. Is people being pressured to participate in "Dreidel" at "Holiday parties" a big problem?

Because I have to say, I am fortunate in that this has never happened to me.

[MisterP]

11. no dreidels! NO DREIDELS!

"secret Santa" isn't a conspiracy to have "Christmas in disguise," I might add

have you now, or ever been, a teetotum?