By Educate Truth Staff
The current conflict at LSU regarding evolution being promoted hasn’t been the only time the university has butted heads with concerned students. Seventy-eight La Sierra University students expressed interest in having more events that showed evidence affirming the biblical creation by signing a petition May 27, 2004. The petition reads:
Please sign your name if you are interested in having more events at La Sierra University that actually show that science does not invalidate the Biblical account of Creation. I am a senior bio major, and believe me you will not hear this message anywhere in the entire bio curriculum! After paying $60,000 for our ‘SDA’ education we deserve to hear this evidence.”
The student-led petition was signed by LSU students at a packed Cossentine Hall following a lecture by Sean Pitman titled “Creation or Evolution: What Does the Science tell Us?” The petition is covered in Bible verses, “amens,” and various remarks such as:
“Bring it sister! Stop the confusion!”
“Is this an SDA university or are we now in the U.C. system?!”
“Preach the Truth!”
One student suggested that the same was happening in the religion department at LSU, “Do this for the religion dept. too!” At the bottom of the petition a student wrote, “I’m not paying $20K/year for public school education.”
The president of LSU at that time Larry Geraty was in attendance along with some LSU faculty. A question and answer session, lasting over an hour, followed Pitman’s lecture. According to Pitman, Geraty was one of the first to make a comment, “We’re all creationists here, and we all teach about creation.”
This statement contrasts significantly with the LSU student petition. At one point, during the question and answer period, students reacted in loud clapping, cheers, and amens when Pitman said, “If you’re working for Nike, and you’re promoting Reebok, why should Nike pay your salary?”
According to General Conference Representative from Loma Linda University Don Roth, two LSU students Janelle Moorhead and Jason Shives approached him regarding the petition. He told them he would pass the petition on to GC Secretariat Matthew Bediako and Pacific Union President Tom Mostert, both of whom are currently retired. Roth said he didn’t hear anything more from the GC or Pacific Union concerning the issue.
