I wish to be entirely fair to SAFE and the editors behind it, so I will quote their statement as to why letters are modified:
The editors purposely tried to edit articles so that criticisms would be as broad as possible and would not attack individuals as individuals and would avoid names. We desired to do this because: 1) These are institutional concerns, not concerns about personal grievances or personality conflicts and 2) It is more appropriate for the commission to sort out the more specific details of the issues in question, rather than for them to be aired in public.This is very well and good and I applaud this – truly, I do. But words matter. “Personal grievances” are enormously important here – one entire letter below and the most important paragraph in the other letter are about one person in particular. These letters were sent directly to the moderator of Synod, the chairman of the Board, the president of Erskine, and through a recent nominee to the Board, many other people as well. They were even posted on the internet for a short time, though the first letter in particular was quickly removed.
Their actions have consequences; Synod acted in part under their advisement. These students cannot say, “oh, just kidding” and distance themselves from what happened. Their names, for better or for worse, will be forever linked here.
Nothing happened to these two letter writers because of their concerns. Quite the contrary – both were present on important committees despite their well-known disagreement with Erskine’s direction prior to SAFE’s founding. They both graduated with excellent academic standing and now pursue whatever careers they want. Erskine was good to these students.
Letter 1 – Laura Griffin
May 5. 2009
Mr. Scott Mitchell
Dr. Richard de Witt
Mr. Stephen Mayc
Dear Sirs:
My name is Laura Griffin, and I am a rising senior at Erskine College. As I am sure you are all aware, there has been much controversy and discussion recently about Erskine and about how well the institution is implementing its Christ-centered mission. I am one of many concerned students who have become disappointed in and frustrated with the institution because of its inconsistencies and unwillingness to follow Biblical principles in the classroom or within the administration.
Enclosed you will find a copy of a letter that 1 am sending to Dr. Ruble, addressing some of these issues. In the past, students who have expressed concerns about Erskine to administrators have often felt that we were sidelined or ignored. In an effort to ensure that my concerns will be heard, I am forwarding this letter to you, as incoming leaders of Synod and of the Erskine Board.
I hope that the spirit in which the enclosed letter was written is clear. It was not written out of anger or malice, but out of concern for the institution and in an effort to “speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15)
Thank you all for your time and concern in these matters.
Dear Dr. Ruble,
In my time as a student at Erskine, I have often been concerned about the state of affairs here as we struggle to fulfill our mission of integrating faith and learning in our unique context. Over the past semester, that concern has begun to grow, and events in the past few weeks have caused it to develop into a deep sense of alarm. It is in this spirit that 1 write to you today.
In the three years since I came to Erskine, I have never seen the student body as united as it is now. However, the spirit drawing us together is not one of Christian fellowship, sincere goodwill towards one another, love for our school, or any other desirable possibility. No, instead we are united in discontent. Visit any place on campus where students gather these days and you are sure to hear several conversations expressing dissatisfaction and often disgust with present conditions at Erskine. This general lack of satisfaction with or loyalty to Erskine is not centered in or bred by any particular faction of students. In fact, students who oppose each other on any other issue all seem to agree that something is very wrong on our campus. Accusations that Erskine restricts students’ freedom, subdues our voices, and lies to us about what it is and what it stands for are common. I am sure you will agree that these are very serious allegations, and should be heard and addressed.
At this critical juncture in Erskine’s history, with so much dissatisfaction in the air, I would like respectfully to submit to you the idea that now is not a time for continuing in the same line of action as we have taken before, no matter how safe or fair it may have seemed in the past. Now, more than any time in the recent past of Erskine, is the time to abolish the “good old boy” system that seems to govern Erskine politics. In this light, I implore you to consider filling the position of Vice President of Student Services with someone fresh and new—someone who is not a part of the old system that quite obviously, from the students’ perspective, is not working. Please consider not hiring Dean Agnew for this position, but instead hiring someone who represents and is willing to implement changes that will benefit the students and Erskine as a whole.
I have reason to believe that Dean Agnew is not the best person to fill this important role. I served on the Student Services strategic planning committee that she chaired last year, and I saw things during that process which! found very concerning. The committee proceedings were poorly organized, and our purpose and design in meeting were never made clear to the members. Through deceitful and evasive tactics, the voices of committee members who sought to integrate a Christian worldview into the planning process were subdued. As you will recall, two others and 1 met with you at Synod last summer to discuss these things. I fear that appointing Dean Agnew to the vice president position will lead to more instances in which the truth of the Gospel and its application in the setting of Christian liberal arts higher education will be actively, if subtly, suppressed.
Filling the Vice President of Student Services position is one of the more urgent concerns I have, but is certainly not the only one. In many ways, I feel that Erskine is failing to fulfill its purpose as the educational arm of the ARP Church. As an institution, we are failing the families who have entrusted us with the spiritual and academic wellbeing of their children. I fear that frustrated students will continue to leave in droves unless drastic changes arc made and Erskine finally seeks to become the excellent, Christ-centered college it was designed to be.
I write this letter to you out of a deep love for the institution—a love I know you have as well. I write as a rising Erskine senior and active participant on campus, a daughter, granddaughter, and great- granddaughter of ARP pastors, and as a fourth generation Erskine student, and I respectfully beseech you not to neglect my request. If you are interested in hearing more of my concerns, I would be glad to talk to you about them in person.
I am grateful for your willingness to accept the great challenge and high calling of leading Erskine as a Christian institution, and I appreciate your attentiveness to my concerns.
Sincerely,
Laura Griffin
Letter 2 – Joshua Grimm
A letter by Josh Grimm, co-editor of SAFE, is still present on the SAFE website, but with one paragraph removed. On the website its loss is indicated by ellipses, and I provide the offending paragraph below:
“The most saddening aspect of that process for me was observing how Dr. Robyn Agnew was allowed to dishonestly manipulate the Student Life committee and to evade a clearer implementation of the College’s mission in Student Services. Because of that, I am greatly concerned about your appointment of Dr. Agnew to be the Vice-President for Student Services. After working with Dr. Agnew for two years as an SLA and observing her work with the strategic plan, I have never seen her put forth or lead on the basis of an articulate vision for Christ-centered community. While I appreciate Dr. Agnew’s years of commitment to Erskine and her personal concern for many students. I believe that this appointment needs to be filled by someone who will advance the mission and promote Christian community and leadership instead of holding it back, as I believe she will. Dr. Ruble, how is it consistent with our mission to promote someone who has actively undermined its further implementation?”
