Shaun Christie, a final year law student at North-West Univeristy, Potchefstroom, has been suspended by university authoriries for disrupting a LGBTQIA+ presentation during an orientation session for first year students on Tuesday.
In a video clip [see below] of Shaun speaking in front of the university he says he had responded to a phone call alerting him that first year students were being compelled to listen to the presentation. The clip cuts away to footage of the incident which led to his suspension.
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Christianview Network reports that Shaun said they didn’t want to listen to “this nonsense” and were not given the same opportunity to speak about Jesus — and that he was followed by several hundred likeminded first years when he walked out of the session in protest.
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In an official statement on the incident the university says: “The student’s actions resulted in disruption and confusion among the students, and a large section of the audience left the proceedings. The NWU prides itself on being a diverse and inclusive institution which allows constructive discourse on all matters irrespective of race, religion, culture, or gender/sexual orientation.
“We strongly condemn any actions where these fundamental rights of association and expression are infringed upon. We view the incident in a very serious light; hence, we immediately commenced an investigation. Consequently, the student in question has been temporarily suspended for his disruptive behaviour, pending the finalisation of the investigation.”
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Afriforum Youth said in a statement today it is considering taking legal action on the matter which it says goes to the heart of the constitutional right to freedom of expression.
ChristianView Network says North-West University was called Potchefstroom Christian University, and was founded to promote Christian faith. It is the only university where biblical orthodoxy can be taught in theology, and had until recently been a centre for study of biblical worldview. Northwest remains then a strategic campus for Christianity in South Africa.”
It says it is investigating the matter. It also urged Christians to email NWU’s vice chancellor Prof Bismark Tyobeka c/o his PA Feroza.Brishmaer@nwu.ac.za “to ask for the reinstatement of the Christian student protesting compulsory LGBT indoctrination of First years at Northwest University and an end to such compulsory indoctrination”.
In a statement released late today the ACDP says it is outraged by Shaun’s suspension. The statement says: “Mr Christie, a final-year law student, boldly stood up for first-year students who were being forced to sit through an orientation session in which LGBTQI+ ideology was being pushed. He made it known that students are not allowed to speak about Jesus Christ at the Potchefstroom Campus, but are being fed information about ideological “nonsense” that does not benefit their academic aspirations or spiritual life.
“The ACDP is of the opinion that no single person’s right can outweigh that of another, and that one’s freedom of conscience, as well as opinion should not be suppressed, but protected. Our carefully-crafted Constitution clearly provides that everyone has the right to freedom of conscience, religion, thought, belief and opinion.
“Last year, in Cape Town, during Israel/Palestine protests that related to the on-going war in the middle-East, Palestinian supporters were allowed to protest freely, but in turn did they did not allow for supporters of Israel to do the same. The supporters of Palestine descended on the Sea Point Promenade and violently disrupted a peaceful prayer meeting held by supporters of Israel. Our government sat by and watched as one group’s rights were being allowed to be expressed, and the other group’s rights infringed upon and suppressed.
“The ACDP cannot by its nature allow for the same to happen in the case of Mr Christie. We want to affirm our support for Mr Christie, who chose to boldly exercise his right to freedom of belief, religion, and association, and stand with students who felt the same as him – the majority of whom walked out of the orientation session after he spoke up for them.
“We call on the NWU to apologise to Mr Christie, to revoke his suspension, and reinstate him with immediate effect.”
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This is not surprising, Also
Read Rev 3:14 and following
Rom 1:20-32 KJV 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
I believe this is an infringement of Shaun’s rights as a citizen of South Africa.
That according to the constitution we have the right to an opinion.