Spring Break
Forty faculty protest G.A.M.E.
Issue date: 4/18/08 Section: Letters to the Editor
An open letter to the Student Government Association:
We, members of the faculty and staff of Saint Louis University, strongly recommend that the Student Government Association vote against granting a permanent charter to the Gun Awareness and Marksmanship Education Club.
We are mindful that our country was born of protest, of dissent and of revolution. We Americans value our freedoms, especially those enshrined in the Bill of Rights. Liberty is our greatest gift to the world.
However, we, as a community, are more than just sons and daughters of a revolution. We are children of God. We, the undersigned, support the Catholic Jesuit mission and its orientation toward respect for all human life.
When necessary, we are called to be counter-cultural witnesses. As the United States Bishops stated in 1994, we live in a society, a world, which can be characterized as a "Culture of Violence." This violence takes many forms, appearing in physical and psychological manifestations. The cycle of violence in the world must end.
The chartering of the G.A.M.E. on the campus of Saint Louis University, we believe, is not in keeping with the Jesuit and Christian values of loving and forgiving one another in a world of full of hatred and violence.
We have to ask ourselves what the chartering of such an organization says to our community here at SLU and to the larger community that is our city, state and nation. Just weeks ago there were acts of violence committed on the campus of the University of Northern Illinois and at the Kirkwood City Hall, and last year there was the terrible tragedy at the campus of Virginia Tech.
What is our response to these wanton acts of violence? Chartering a gun club does not appear to be the appropriate response.
We mustn't confuse others by stating that we are a gun-free campus, but then sanction a gun club.
The opportunity to learn about weapon safety and to participate in sport shooting and hunting is available throughout this country; there are organizations that provide such services. And even though the charter for this gun club absolves Saint Louis University of any responsibility or liability should there, heaven forbid, be a shooting accident, this institution will be held morally culpable.
In the Spiritual Exercises St. Ignatius calls us to be witnesses of Christ's message of peace, love, and reconciliation.
Let us live what we profess.
Eleonore Stump Jack Renard
J.J. Mueller, S.J. Karla Scott
Ben Asen Hal Parker
Patrick Quinn, S.J. Louise Lears, S.C.
Sr. Angie Dries, O.S.F. Michal Rozbicki
Daniel Schlafly Kenneth Parker
Ron Modras Hayrettin Yucesoy
Jim Veltrie, S.J. Ed Lisson, S.J.
Kathy Bonsack Elena Leonard
George Ndege Sr. Jeannine Declue, O.P.
Wayne Hellmann, O.F.M. Conv. Michael Ruddy
Kelli Bell Chris Pudlowski
David Meconi, S.J. Albert Rotola, S.J.
Silvana Siddali R. Bentley Anderson, S.J.
Damian Smith Mark Ruff
Bill Rehg, S.J. Carl Starkloff, S.J.
Paul Shore Hal Bush
Tom Finan Terri Foster
Teresa Harvey Elizabeth Ingenthron
Jonathan C. Smith Cornelia Horn
We, members of the faculty and staff of Saint Louis University, strongly recommend that the Student Government Association vote against granting a permanent charter to the Gun Awareness and Marksmanship Education Club.
We are mindful that our country was born of protest, of dissent and of revolution. We Americans value our freedoms, especially those enshrined in the Bill of Rights. Liberty is our greatest gift to the world.
However, we, as a community, are more than just sons and daughters of a revolution. We are children of God. We, the undersigned, support the Catholic Jesuit mission and its orientation toward respect for all human life.
When necessary, we are called to be counter-cultural witnesses. As the United States Bishops stated in 1994, we live in a society, a world, which can be characterized as a "Culture of Violence." This violence takes many forms, appearing in physical and psychological manifestations. The cycle of violence in the world must end.
The chartering of the G.A.M.E. on the campus of Saint Louis University, we believe, is not in keeping with the Jesuit and Christian values of loving and forgiving one another in a world of full of hatred and violence.
We have to ask ourselves what the chartering of such an organization says to our community here at SLU and to the larger community that is our city, state and nation. Just weeks ago there were acts of violence committed on the campus of the University of Northern Illinois and at the Kirkwood City Hall, and last year there was the terrible tragedy at the campus of Virginia Tech.
What is our response to these wanton acts of violence? Chartering a gun club does not appear to be the appropriate response.
We mustn't confuse others by stating that we are a gun-free campus, but then sanction a gun club.
The opportunity to learn about weapon safety and to participate in sport shooting and hunting is available throughout this country; there are organizations that provide such services. And even though the charter for this gun club absolves Saint Louis University of any responsibility or liability should there, heaven forbid, be a shooting accident, this institution will be held morally culpable.
In the Spiritual Exercises St. Ignatius calls us to be witnesses of Christ's message of peace, love, and reconciliation.
Let us live what we profess.
Eleonore Stump Jack Renard
J.J. Mueller, S.J. Karla Scott
Ben Asen Hal Parker
Patrick Quinn, S.J. Louise Lears, S.C.
Sr. Angie Dries, O.S.F. Michal Rozbicki
Daniel Schlafly Kenneth Parker
Ron Modras Hayrettin Yucesoy
Jim Veltrie, S.J. Ed Lisson, S.J.
Kathy Bonsack Elena Leonard
George Ndege Sr. Jeannine Declue, O.P.
Wayne Hellmann, O.F.M. Conv. Michael Ruddy
Kelli Bell Chris Pudlowski
David Meconi, S.J. Albert Rotola, S.J.
Silvana Siddali R. Bentley Anderson, S.J.
Damian Smith Mark Ruff
Bill Rehg, S.J. Carl Starkloff, S.J.
Paul Shore Hal Bush
Tom Finan Terri Foster
Teresa Harvey Elizabeth Ingenthron
Jonathan C. Smith Cornelia Horn
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 53
John Wilson
posted 4/18/08 @ 4:43 PM CST
To imply that wanting to charter a gun education club is part of "protest, of dissent and of revolution" is decietful! Especially coming from an author claiming moral authority. (Continued…)
Justin Halbe
posted 4/18/08 @ 5:09 PM CST
To the Faculty who signed and the others who support this letter:
If teaching students and others how to SAFELY AND PROPERLY handle and use guns is contrary to the "Jesuit Mission," then how are UNA and the Rainbow Alliance supported by it?
I am by no means saying that UNA and the Rainbow Alliance shouldn't be funded. (Continued…)
SLU Student
posted 4/18/08 @ 10:29 PM CST
In the reply by the faculty they state "We, the undersigned, support the Catholic Jesuit mission and its orientation toward respect for all human life. (Continued…)
AndyEtother
posted 4/18/08 @ 10:48 PM CST
Was the NCAA rifle team that SLU supported in the 1990s in conflict with the Catholic Mission?
Bert Seefeldt
posted 4/19/08 @ 1:56 AM CST
It's an interesting thing, this Jesuit Mission statement. I find that it's often used inappropriately as a sword and a shield--particularly in this publication--when individuals want to avoid a serious conversation and gain unquestioned moral authority. (Continued…)
Mark
posted 5/02/08 @ 7:53 PM CST
Apparently the SLU Jesuits never read Luke 22:36 where Jesus himself recognized the need for a sword for self-defense. If you're going to believe the Bible, you've got to believe the WHOLE thing; you can't pick & choose which parts you like. (Continued…)
You can Exhale Now
posted 5/02/08 @ 8:58 PM CST
The Powers that be at SLU should line these folk up and have them pee in a cup! I cant feature how high you would have to be for ANTHING in that letter to make sence! If you can see a difference between muslim people and terrorists, how is it you cannot see the difference between sportsmen and criminals? I was pleased to see that some people know that Jesus said "let he who is wihtout a sword sell his garments and buy one" I would also remind these devout souls that jesus re-attached the ear of one of the soldiers sent to arrest him when the disiples tried to fight them. (Continued…)
Simon
posted 5/02/08 @ 11:01 PM CST
Jesus taught us to combat evil, not to submit to it. Sometimes, in defense of innocent life, lethal means are necessary. This is justified by the Catholic faith. (Continued…)
James
posted 5/03/08 @ 10:53 AM CST
This faculty protest is another nauseating "politically correct" statement from academics so removed from reality that it boggles the mind. It is just one more example of what we have come to expect from the over-educated cadres that are devoid of wisdom. (Continued…)
Dave
posted 5/03/08 @ 10:57 AM CST
HMMMMMM! I don't recall anything, anywhere, that connected the tragedies at ANY school shooting with a firearms safety education club. Those shootings were perpetrated by mentally unstable individuals. (Continued…)
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