NCU’s Problem With ‘Alternative Sexualities’

In light of the recent saga in which Sha-Shana James, a student of Northern Caribbean University (NCU) was suspended for what was deemed a brazen cheerleading stunt, I’m compelled to write not to defend my alma mater for the stance it has taken but to outline the reasons why their decision was preposterous.

As mentioned by James on CVM’s Live at 7 program aired on April 10, the entire cheerleading routine was not vetted by the board implemented to do so. Therefore, if the entire routine wasn’t vetted prior to the Sports Day event, what evidence does administration have to support its claim that the team deviated from the actual routine?

It is important to note that a cheerleading squad is made up of a number of persons and the decision to form a human wedding cake with James “proposing” to another female atop the pyramid would have to be sanctioned by all members of the team; James could not have made this decision on her own. Why was she the only one suspended?

As a past student of the beacon on the hill, I’m cognizant of all the rules outlined in the “Golden Bible” (NCU’s Student Handbook) and to my knowledge when a student breaks a rule, he or she is issued with a verbal warning on the first offence followed by a Letter of Council (written warning) on the second offence. It is on the third offence that disciplinary action is taken against the student. Why was James suspended on her first offence?

The institution has gone ahead to ban Sha-Shana from all social and student related activities for the rest of her tenure with the aim that her “behavior” will improve. How will administration know whether or not her “behavior” has improved if she’s banned from interacting with her peers within a social sphere? Is it that God will miraculously reveal to administration that she has improved and is now fit to participate in social and student related affairs?

While NCU prides itself on morals, values and holistic development of its students; what they need to understand is that they can’t coerce adults into accepting the principles they present. One may say that upon acceptance to the university, students sign that they will abide by the rules outlined in the “Golden Bible”. While this may be true, many students sign not because they plan to uphold the standards of NCU but for a myriad of other reasons. For instance, I signed because the institution offers the best mass communication program in the island and moreover it is located in my neighborhood, hence; I would be freed of the exorbitant cost of studying and living out of parish.

If NCU wants to become a developed, state of the art and first class institution then they’ll have to put aside some of their rules for the greater good of the greater number of people and become tolerant of what is happening in today’s society. Failure to do so will result in only persons of Adventist faith enroling at NCU or eventually the institution will have to close their doors; we should note that the latter is more likely to happen as NCU’s student body consists of mostly non-Adventists. Obviously NCU had no idea that the day the University Council of Jamaica accredited most of their programs their doors would be automatically opened to all types of people. We don’t reside in a static environment, things are constantly changing and if a person has made up their mind to do something no code of ethics will hinder them from doing so. If a student decides that he or she wants a piercing while at NCU, the fact that he or she signed a sheet of paper stating that they’ll refrain from wearing jewelry definitely would not deter the student from getting the piercing.

Of all the pressing issues that Jamaica is currently facing, I’m quite mystified that such a simple issue has spiraled out of control and has gained so much attention in the media. After analyzing the matter, its clear that they have a major problem with the sexual orientation of others. If a student has faced such injustice, we are left to wonder what punishment would be meted out against a member of staff if it was proven that he/she is a homosexual? Meanwhile this issue continues to dominate the media, a UN report has revealed that Jamaica is ranked the sixth most murderous country in the world, which is more cause for concern than NCU’s ludicrous rules and policies.

I thank NCU for the Christ-centered education received by means of their Monday afternoon chapel sessions and the three mandatory religious courses that I paid for but in order for the institution to become eminent in this 21st Century, they need to banish some of their rules, get a grip on certain issues and of course become tolerant of person’s varied sexual orientations.

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