Posted on 12/18/2005 8:46:42 PM PST by FeeinTennessee
University Administrator Declares Christmas 'Forbidden' By Nathan Burchfiel CNSNews.com Correspondent December 16, 2005
(CNSNews.com) - An administrator at California State University, Sacramento has banned decorations pertaining to Christmas and the 4th of July, among other holidays, from her office because they represent "religious discrimination" and "ethnic insensitivity."
"Time has come to recognize that religious discrimination, as well as ethnic insensitivity to certain holidays, is forbidden," Patricia Sonntag, director of the Office of Services to Students with Disabilities, stated in the directive she e-mailed to members of her staff on Dec. 9.
Cybercast News Service obtained the directive from the non-profit Catholic League, which "defends the right of Catholics ... to participate in American public life without defamation or discrimination," according to its website. The content of the e-mail was confirmed by the university.
The memo specifically names Christmas, Thanksgiving, Halloween, Valentine's Day, the 4th of July, St. Patrick's Day and Easter as the most offensive holidays, but Sonntag adds that they are "off the top of the list," implying that there may be others.
She wrote that the ban was being implemented "in order to avoid offending someone else" because Sacramento State is "a secular university and we are a public service area that has a diverse employee and student populations [sic] even in our private offices."
Sonntag noted that she is "the worst offender and celebrant," and apologized "if this offends anyone, but it is time to start the new year differently."
A Nov. 28 profile of Sonntag in the university's faculty and staff newsletter stated that she and her office "Have been the cornerstone of equality and progress here on campus."
But the university associate vice president for public affairs, Frank Whitlatch, distanced the university from Sonntag's policy, saying in a prepared statement that it "was well-intentioned but strays from the established practice."
He stated that the university "has no guidelines prohibiting holiday decorations," aside from the responsibility of supervisors, "to ensure that employees do not spend an unreasonable amount of work time decorating."
Whitlatch echoed Sonntag's sentiments that Sacramento State "is a public entity ... and employees do not endorse specific religious beliefs while on the job."
Catholic League president Bill Donohue called the policy a violation of free speech rights. "It never occurs to these secular supremacists that it is their aversion to anything religious - or patriotic - that accounts for their desire to muzzle free speech."
A receptionist in Sonntag's office told Cybercast News Service that Sonntage was on vacation. The office's assistant director, Teresa Mendick, did not return calls requesting comment for this article.
I demand that she add "Kicking the butts and taking the land of the indiginous people" Day - also known as Columbus Day.
*snicker* I like it!
Ummmm...
Not exactly.
I am sure whoever thought she was a responsible adult, and ready to administer other people is having serious second thoughts.
Being a supervisor does not give her the authority to be arbitrary and capricious. The state emplyees working under her (not her employees) still have clearly defined rights.
Time to retire, sweetie.
ping
That tears it. My Jewish-owned business is going all out this year. We are having a CHRISTMAS party, on my dime, and anyone who doesn't like it can stay the hell away. We already have a CHRISTMAS tree in the reception area, I might get another to put outside and maybe a third one for the breakroom. I will get a wreath for the door tomorrow, one with Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus just to make sure any stray multi-cultists who happen by can get the message. The Santa lights are up outside, I will add some with religious messages at once. This person rules her little kingdom, I rule mine. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL (except lefty grinches)!
ie. she discriminates against religion and is insensitive to ethnic holidays.
It is a University in California. They hate everything that pertains to patroitism concerning the United States.
It should not come as a surprise that she attacked the Fourth of July.
Democracy for America Meetup
We want Rocklin Democracy for America Meetups too!
Patricia Sonntag
Sacramento, CA · Tue Mar 01 14:58:52 EST 2005
http://tinyurl.com/7wwmx
What is Democracy for America?
Inspired by the presidential campaign of Howard Dean, Democracy for America (DFA) is a political action committee dedicated to supporting fiscally responsible, socially progressive candidates at all levels of government—from school board to the presidency. DFA fights against the influence of the far right-wing and their radical, divisive policies and the selfish special interests that for too long have dominated our politics.
DFA has a long-term goal to rebuild the Democratic Party from the bottom up—it will take time, but we must start building a base now for the future.
What is it about the First Amendment and "freedom OF religion" that these idiots don't understand?
bump
She being on vacation offends me deeply. No more of that!!!
I agree with that
Hooray for free speech and liberty. The free flow of ideas in academia marches on...
If I worked there id ignore the policy, and let her try and fire me.
Halleluja! Busted! Freeper eyes know all and see all. The commie skank can run but she can't hide!
There is an email address on the bottom of the page also, if anyone is interested.
http://tinyurl.com/bk6uq
The Christian Science Monitor had an editorial with an interesting point: Our calendar is Gregorian, instituted by a Catholic pope. The Muslims, News, Chinese, etc., all have a different start date for the new year.
Is this idiot going to be completely fair and ditch New Year too?
These people are evil. This is a combination of the ADA and weak-kneed university administrators. In theory, this is supposed to help with wheelchair access, accomodations for blind students, etc. In reality, what happens is these little whiners come in with a note from a "doctor" saying they need extra time on exams.
This office processes those claims and forces us to go out of our way to accomodate them. She's so steeped in PC, she can't see her way out.
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