To: Philip Graham Ryken, President, Wheaton College
.@WheatonCollege: Restore Christian Professor Who Wore Hijab in Solidarity
Just Foreign Policy
Wheaton College should fully restore political science professor Dr. Larycia Hawkins to her position, apologize for mistreating her, and express its gratitude for her service to humanity.
Why is this important?
Wheaton College in Illinois put political science professor Dr. Larycia Hawkins on leave for wearing a hijab, WGN News reports. [1] Dr. Hawkins, who is Christian and has taught at Wheaton College since 2007, was wearing the headscarf to show solidarity for Muslim women in America.
Wheaton College has claimed that it is not punishing Dr. Hawkins for wearing the hijab, but for failure to "faithfully represent the college’s evangelical Statement of Faith,” [2] because she wrote on her Facebook page that Christians and Muslims worship the same God.
Regardless of what one thinks of this theological question, it's obvious that Dr. Hawkins' intentions were humane and that punishing her for this act of solidarity is unjust. Urge President Ryken to reflect on and rethink the college's position by signing our petition.
1. http://wgntv.com/2015/12/16/wheaton-college-professor-put-on-leave-for-wearing-hijab/
2. http://www.christianitytoday.com/gleanings/2015/december/wheaton-college-hijab-professor-same-god-larycia-hawkins.html