By signing this petition we are affirming the following:
We question Huntington’s decision to invite Jerry B. Jenkins to deliver the commencement address and to award him with an honorary doctorate when we lack evidence of his academic achievements. No information has yet been provided as to Jenkins’ qualifications for such an honor.
Since the administration continues to claim that we are not becoming a fundamentalist institution, then the invitation Huntington has put forward is damaging to our reputation as it associates us in the public’s eye with Christian Fundamentalism.
The decision to honor Jenkins has affected a particular caliber of students and faculty as revealed by the unrest since the April 11th press release. This same impact will likely be felt in our recruiting efforts of new students and faculty. Though it is typically true that people quickly forget commencement speakers and little attention is drawn to them, this clearly will not be the case for this speaker. Huntington University will forever be tied with Jerry Jenkins and fundamentalist Christianity.