17 August 2007

A Lost Hope

I heard about it while I was in Africa. I had to put it out of my mind. I had to think on more immediate things. Now my senior year at Colorado Christian University approaches and the only feeling I have is of resentment. I feel that I and so many others have been cheated out of a great thing and we are powerless to get it back.

I talk of the recent dismissal of Professor Andrew Paquin (now Syed).

When I returned from Africa (as a side note, I traveled there under the mantle of The 10/10 Project, which was begun and is directed by the aforementioned professor), I signed the online petition, joined the Facebook group, and ranted quietly in my head that I was so far away and two months late. For the following month (July) I simply got on with my increasingly boring summer and tried not to be too apprehensive about my final year.

Then, four days ago, an article appeared in the Rocky Mountain News. I was sent the link that very day and rejoiced that the story made the news. More people were being informed. Then, suddenly, the internet was awash with blogs and comments about the issue (When I say awash, one must still know where to look). Even Christianity Today blogged. Andrew himself even wrote a response.

I am grateful for the comments posted as sincere opinions and documented defenses. I see that all sides of the issue are presented and very few are being pushy or disrespectful. I feel that this is Professors Paquin's best defense; his loyal (though not brainwashed!) former students and others who see his dismissal as unjust.

Though I think that there is now no hope of Andrew Paquin's return to CCU, I have some small hope that such publicity will allow the administration to understand the mistake that has been made, and rectify some thinking to prevent it from happening in the future. I'm only sorry that it did not happen sooner.