Louisiana College trustees, whose December decision to screen all classroom materials was criticized as a violation of academic freedom, will consider an even stricter textbook policy when they meet in late April.
Conservative trustee Leon Hyatt is proposing a policy that would bring the college — specifically classroom materials — in line with “the principle that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant and infallible Word of God.” The policy also would prohibit any “approval or portrayal of profanity, sexual activity outside of marriage, homosexuality, pornography or other illicit sexual expressions.” Violation would be grounds for dismissal.
Hyatt, a prominent figure among conservative Louisiana Baptists, also is seeking to replace the current trustee officers, which in effect would disband the search committee looking for a new president. Hyatt announced his plan in a March 19 e-mail to selected trustees, according to two Louisiana newspapers.
Current trustee chair Joe Nesom said the faculty and textbook policy would be addressed during the trustees’ special meeting April 19, but Nesom implied the issue of trustee officers would not. The board will consider the textbook policy and accept nominations for an interim college president, Nesom told The Town Talk of Alexandria. Hyatt declined to comment to reporters and referred all questions to Nesom.
In December trustees voted to require faculty members to get all classroom materials pre-approved by the vice president of academic affairs. Some faculty, alumni and students said the new policy amounts to censorship, but trustees said it is reasonable and not uncommon.
The new textbook policies were enacted after a student complained about two books available in the bookstore — “A Road Less Traveled” by Scott Peck and “A Lesson Before Dying” by Earnest Gaines. (ABP)
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