http://www.cnn.com/2004/EDUCATION/12/28 ... index.html

They sued the university over a requirement that incoming students read the Quran before coming to campus.

I dont understand,so to be able to study at this school these students had to read the quran weather they liked it or not?Or is it a class that assigned them this assignment?

That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard in my entire life. However, I can honestly say it dosent suprise me

Yeah, it's not made clear.

If it is for a class, then what are you going to do? And I have heard colleges require the reading of the Bible as pre-requisites to some world history classes before, and nobody raised a fit then. I wasn't required to pre-read any literature before entering into a major college (for any class) so I don't get it.

The main problem: Are teachers guilty of bias based on differences in opinion? Does this bias have anything to do with the subject matter at hand. I'm sure it's happened before, but how wide-spread is the problem? This is a serious question and that needs to be addressed.

But If students are insecure enough in their religious convictions that they sign up for Evolutionary Science class and get upset that they have to learn about Darwin then I have no sympathy. Education is supposed to challenge your convictions and strengthen your positions. Even if you are a staunch Creationist, you need to be intelligent enough to know what evolution is all about to consider yourself an educated individual. I don't see why reading the Quarn is any different. Reading the Bible didn't turn me Christian, why should they have a fear reading an important book that is (in part) at the heart of world conflict.

All in all, it's a lot of conservative bitching in my opinion. The world is a wider place than their beliefs, and since they seem to be usually the ones in favor of keeping their boundries shut, it's no surprise that when they enter into a zone where they are challenged they shut themselves off instead of challenging themselves. *shrug*

Boo hoo, is all I can say. While most of the college campuses are really like a one-party state, there is no right to an education the way you want it. The courts shouldn't be involved.

They are thousadnss of colelges in t his country, pick a bloody different one if you don't like the incoming assignment...its not a secret that you'll have to read it.

They didn't say you have to convert to Islam, I'm an agnostic I still took a religion class, read the bible and Qua'ran...I mean honestly. It certianly helps to read the book of a given religion while discussing it.

That reminds me of a story. In our German class, some years ago, a friend of mine got an assignement to read up on Sodom and Gomorra in the Bible. Well, he forgot it and didn't do that. Since he is a Muslim, I suggested him to tell the teacher that his religion does not allow him to read the Bible. He said that and man, I haven't seen the teacher that angry ever before

He had a right to be angry; the story of Sodom and Gomorrah is in the Koran as well.

Yes, but she didn't know it.

What the FUCK?!
...
That about sums up my thoughts on this situation.

It's a private institution. A college is a private institution, to which the student pays to go. Any half-assed high-school student would read the pre-reqs before even applying to the college, let alone deciding on it.

They probably just didn't want to do the assingment. Sounds like something I would do.

Not all colleges are private colleges.

I agree that the kid should either read the book or apply to a different school. For all of you that say the kid should read the story, would you then apply the same logic to private employers?

I don't understand the question -- do you mean if a boss required me to read something for work?

I should clarifiy.

Say the boss said you had to wear makeup to work at his resteraunt. Would the boss be justified?

Sure...I guess

This is kind of a weak parallel.

People are required to wear uniforms and look presentable in many situations and not following the guidelines set up in appearance can have consiquences in many states, including termination. If you work at a makeup counter at Macy's you may be required to wear make-up.

You also can find another job with more reasonable employers if you care that much about it.

But the key here is that looking presentable has something, directly, to do with job performance (presentability = appearance and tips, etc.). If you are going to draw a parallel, then you would say that the Quaran is definately a subject of controversy and war and political theory of late and it definately applies to some history and sociology classes.

You know ... thats prolly the worst article I've ever read .... concentrates less on what happened and more on everything else.

It is a weak parrelel that you draw kidrock ... while wearing makeup might actually be a job requirement cause it may be directly related to the job itself, once again, this article tells us nothing about how the "Q"uran enables these people to study in this school.

I'm sort of divided on this issue ....

You know ... thats prolly the worst article I've ever read .... concentrates less on what happened and more on everything else.

It is a weak parrelel that you draw kidrock ... while wearing makeup might actually be a job requirement cause it may be directly related to the job itself, once again, this article tells us nothing about how the "Q"uran enables these people to study in this school.

I'm sort of divided on this issue ....

Give'r. That's all I gotta say.