EMU student to appeal federal court ruling
Alliance Defense Fund attorneys are planning to appeal the dismissal of the case involving a former master’s student in Eastern Michigan University’s counseling program.
Julea Ward’s lawsuit was dismissed Monday by U.S. District Court Judge George Caram Steeh after he ruled in favor of university and granted it a summary judgement.
In a release, Walter Kraft,vice president for communications at EMU,said the university is pleased with the judgment.
“We are pleased that the court has upheld our position in this matter,” Kraft said. “Julea Ward was not discriminated against because of her religion. To the contrary, Eastern Michigan is deeply committed to the education of our students and welcomes individuals from diverse backgrounds into our community.”
Ward said she was dismissed from the program after one of client’s sought counseling about a homosexual relationship and Ward decided she could not counsel the individual because of her religious beliefs.
In a press release, ADF Senior Counsel David French said Christian students shouldn’t be expelled for “holding to and abiding by their beliefs.”
He argued on behalf of Ward before the U.S. District Court June 24.
“To reach its decision, the court had to do something that’s never been done in federal court- uphold an extremely broad and vague university speech code,” French said.
French believes Ward abided by the guidelines and requirements of the program.
“Julea merely followed her supervising professor’s advice by referring a potential client to a counselor who had no conscience issue with the particular matter to be discussed,” he said. “She would have gladly counseled the client herself had the topic focused on any other matter. We trust the 6th Circuit will understand the constitutional issues involved in this case.”
Monday, Steeh said EMU had a “rational basis” for implementing the American Counseling Association’s code of ethics into its counseling program and requiring students to counsel clients without imposing their personal values.
According to court documents,the judge said by refusing to counsel because of her own personal value system, Ward failed to complete an academic requirement of the program.
Monday’s decision upheld EMU’s right to establish the curricular requirements of its counseling program, and the Ethical Standards of the American School Counselor Association.
Kraft said, “As one of the premiere teacher-training institutions in the United States, Eastern Michigan University takes seriously our Constitutional mission to ensure that every student who graduates from our academic programs meets the applicable curricular and regulatory requirements.”
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by Dave
Liberals want and apparently have it both ways restricting imposing ones own beliefs while requiring adherence to another set, their set of beliefs. Emu will not be out of this controversy very easily. Emu-education first, religious liberty not a close second. ~Unproud alum
Flag for moderationby Bill
Anyone refusing to live up to the required standards of their chosen profession should not be allowed to be a part of that profession.
No matter what god tells them.
Flag for moderationby Alex
As soon as a “christian” can show where it says that homosexuality is a sin…. they can espouse it as a belief. Because they are “christians” they have to follow the new rules set forth in the new testament and no where in there does it state that its a sin.
Flag for moderationby David Gerard
And if she had claimed she wouldn’t counsel blacks based on her religious beliefs, would anyone be arguing to protect those beliefs?
Flag for moderationby Arthur
If this was a Muslim wearing a veil, I assure you she would rapidly be allowed to graduate. Just another left wing libtard college imposing their hatemongering on others. Glad this is being appealed
Flag for moderationby Dave
EMU Social Work tenured faculty teach referral as an appropriate means to avoid being in a situation the counselor/social worker felt may violate their own values/sensibilities/biases. How is it ok for social workers and not counselors. There is a discrepancy in how EMU approaches the issue in different depts.
the NT furthers the OT teaching (Leviticus 20:13) that homosexuality is sin and immoral, 1 cor. 6:9-10, Rom. 1:26-27. Jesus taught that he did not abolish the law but to fulfill it in fact, increase its scope and reach.
Thought and belief should be protected. What is going to continue to happen is certain thoughts and beliefs, in the this context, judeo-christian ethics, become suppressed. For a Christian, homosexuality isn’t about one’s skin color or one’s nationality, its about moral behavior. However, if her religious did teach that being black was immoral, you might have a point.
Flag for moderationby Alessandra
So if a counselor was assigned to see a pedophile client, the counselor would have to uphold the views of the client or be expelled from the program?
If the counselor had Christian or atheist views against pedophilia, they should be expelled as well?
“the university had a rational basis for requiring students to counsel clients without imposing their personal values,”
“Rational basis.” Right.
Flag for moderationby Chuck Anziulewicz
By profession I am an HIV Prevention Specialist for the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health. Part of my job involves doing HIV testing and counseling; I also teach other social workers and health care professionals how to do the same. The definition of HIV prevention counseling is to assist clients in making behavior changes that can reduce their risk for acquiring or transmitting HIV. But counseling of ANY kind relies on certain skills and concepts, and one of the three important “Counseling Concepts” is this:
MANAGE YOUR OWN DISCOMFORT.
Anyone who does HIV prevention counseling is invariably going to be confronted with sexual behaviors and drug use behaviors that make us uncomfortable. But if we are unable to manage that discomfort, the counseling session will not be effective. If one of my clients feels that I’m being judgmental and sanctimonious, rather than caring and empathetic, that’s going to drive a big barrier between me and that person.
Julea Ward is entitled to her views about homosexuality. But COUNSELING is the wrong profession for her, as any professional counselor will have you know.
Flag for moderationby Cathy Seaver
I think it is interesting that when I did a google search for this case, the University’s student paper had the most unbiased article simply representing the facts. Thanks Eastern Echo. Good job.
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