In an address at Regensburg, Pope Benedict XVI reflected on his experience in Bonn as a professor of Theology. His comments provided a very good description of what a University should be:

“There was a lively exchange with historians, philosophers, philologists and, naturally, between the two theological faculties. Once a semester there was a dies academicus, when professors from every faculty appeared before the students of the entire university, making possible a genuine experience of universitas: the reality that despite our specializations which at times make it difficult to communicate with each other, we made up a whole, working in everything on the basis of a single rationality with its various aspects and sharing responsibility for the right use of reason-- this reality became a lived experience.”

Earlham has chosen to suppress lively exchange by its Integrity Statement. That statement makes it unacceptable at Earlham, not only to disagree (deference is required), but makes it mandatory to embrace (admire, i.e. have a high opinion of) the values of others. Students must fear being branded bigots if they challenge certain issues.

Couched in indirection, the Integrity Statement means that Earlham “encourages and celebrates” homosexuality. But the Bible records “disrespectful” statements about homosexuality. Under the guidelines of the Earlham Integrity Statement, reading those Biblical admonishments aloud would qualify as “an expression” inconsistent with Earlham’s “values.”

I strongly disagree with Earlham's Integrity Statement as an attempt to silence dissent. The college is abusing its charter to educate and is choosing instead to indoctrinate.

—Jaye Gibbs
Earlham student 1956-58