Our Protest: Why we need the Cedarville Philosophy Program and its Professors

Dear Friends,

It has just come to the attention of current students and alumni of Cedarville University that a recommendation has been made to the board of trustees that, upon approval, will result in the removal of the Philosophy program and perhaps even the professors who have invested their lives into creating a community of philosophical thought.

This blog is a form of protest intended to foster unified, credible, and honest dissent. It is our hope that we will soon see not only the rejection of this recommendation, but also the recognition and celebration of the professors who have invested their time into making this program into what it is. This is a call for those who have a direct connection to Philosophy at Cedarville, those who may be indirectly connected to Cedarville’s professors or alumni, or those with no connection but the will to promote philosophy, quality education, institutional transparency, or something else. Rather than stating our own reasons why we think the philosophy program and its professors should remain, we ask that each individual post their own personal reason and thoughts. In an effort to act according to the principles of unity, credibility, and honesty, we ask that you email a picture of yourself, your name, who you are (professional affiliation, chosen path of life), and why you specifically protest the removal of this program and its professors to:   indefenseofcuphilosophy@gmail.com [notice: This email address has recently changed because of problems with the other account. If you have sent a submission recently and it has not been posted, please send it to this new address. We apologize for any inconvenience.]

Please go to the ‘Our Voices’ page to hear what our community has to say about this issue.

We hope this will be a space that reflects a beautiful and strong unity through our diversity and brings about radical changes for those who need it.

On behalf of those of us who care,

Thank You.

Please consider signing this petition–and passing it along to others–to let Cedarville know we are passionate & concerned about our university!

http://action.groundswell-movement.org/petitions/restore-critical-thought-to-cedarville-university

*Our Community is Growing: Please note that the names listed on the left side only represent the most recent 50 posts. Please see ‘Archives’ to navigate through our complete listing of posts.

9 thoughts on “Our Protest: Why we need the Cedarville Philosophy Program and its Professors”

  1. Joeleah (Hill) Tighe
    The philosophy program is what brought me to Cedarville while I was still in my senior year in high school. My sister convinced me to enroll at Cedarville in order to get classes from Mr. Grier before he left Cedarville. I was taking a class or two across the street at the high school and a few classes at Cedarville at the same time. He was amazing!!

  2. I attended Cedarville University last year, my freshman year, but am currently a student at Cincinnati Christian University. The primary reason I transferred was financial, but I truly enjoyed my time at this school. I took Introduction to Philosophy last year with Dr. Graves, and was very impressed not only with the class and the way he taught it but also his passionate faith which guided everything he did and said. This class was very rewarding for me, and was my favorite that I took at Cedarville. It saddens me that the Philosophy program may be shut down because doing Christian philosophy is extremely important for defending our faith and is a fantastic witness to nonbelievers. I will firmly support this petition to keeo this program, because I know the lives that is impacting, has impacted, and will impact in the future if it remains.

  3. When I was in college, philosophy was my least favorite subject. BUT it is critical that it be taught from a Christian perspective! I realize that now that I am (much) older.

  4. My name is Tim and I am a ’96 grad of Cedarville College, back before it became the University, having made the changes to meet the standards to be approved as such.

    I only found out about the Philosophy department and major being considered for termination this morning. Amidst starting four children for their days, I’ve had time to consider the decision the Trustees are weighing, but I’ve not much time to respond as I ushered our last child out the door and am now attempting to respond before the 10AM deadline.

    I will keep it short as to my responses. I have two primary thoughts. The first is from my experience and obviously my opinion. The Cedarville Philosophy department had great profs when I attended. I did minor in Philosophy and majored in Bible. The profs in the philosophy department served more practically as an adviser to me than did my own adviser and department. From a personal perspective, my experience with the Philosophy department and in my case as a minor, I experienced and received more counsel, care, and direction than from within my own major.

    Secondly, and as a broader response, I question what the purpose of this move to terminate the department and major is about. Making this move will most certainly speak or reveal something to Cedarville University’s peers, future students, current students, and faculty. As Trustees, I would like to ask you, what do you think this decision, if you follow through with it, will communicate among your peers, students, and faculty? As someone who attended and now is much more of an observer than participant, I am concerned that this is boiling down to stats and money. So 11 students are in the department currently (as I understand it). If that is total major and minors or only majors, I don’t know because as I said, I received the message through my wife as I was readying children for school. Bottom line is, that if this decision is based off of stats leading to financial motivation, please consider this post. What other way(s) can this be remedied. Making a change like this because of the numbers also says something. About what is valued. About what we believe. Please consider a better way. As one alternative, why not revamp your general requirements to include a different array of Philosophy foundations courses that speaks loudly to your peers, future and current students, and faithful faculty that what Cedarville University is behind is not teaching students what to think, but how to think.

    Respectfully, thank you for considering my post,

    Tim Courtright

  5. Dear, dear friends,

    We are saddened to hear about the fundamentalist encroachment at Cedarville. Having been through something similar from 2008-2011 and dealing with the constant threat of more problems, many students, faculty, staff and alumni of Oklahoma Baptist University stand in solidarity with you.

    http://www.SaveOBU.blogspot.com.

    Our very best wishes to you all.

  7. I’m really enjoying the design and layout of your blog. It’s a very easy on the eyes which makes it much more
    enjoyable for me to come here and visit more often. Did you hire out a developer to create your theme?

    Superb work!

  8. What’s Taking place i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I have found It absolutely helpful and it has helped me out loads. I’m hoping to contribute & help other users like its
    aided me. Good job.

Leave a comment