Jan. 16--Some Wheaton College alumni say they're reconsidering future donations to their alma mater in a show of support for a professor who faces termination after declaring she would wear a hijab because Christians and Muslims worship the same God.
Alumni submitted a petition to college administrators and board members Friday requesting the school reconcile with tenured political science professor Larycia Hawkins, 43, who last month announced she would wear a head scarf as part of her Advent devotion to show solidarity with Muslims.
"Until full restoration and reconciliation are reached, each of us will prayerfully re-consider our commitment to financially support the mission of Wheaton College," the petition states.
Organizers say the online petition has at least 800 signatures from seven decades of graduates. The west suburban college said in a written statement that it is aware of the letter from alumni and is "committed to addressing their concerns."
Hawkins last month had posted on Facebook her desire to show support for Muslims facing heightened scrutiny after terrorist attacks in Paris.
"I stand in religious solidarity with Muslims because they, like me, a Christian, are people of the book," she said on her Facebook page. "And as Pope Francis stated ... we worship the same God."
The private evangelical college then placed Hawkins on paid administrative leave; the college has said this action was not taken because of her decision to wear a hijab but because she failed to clarify what makes Christianity distinct from Islam, a conflict with Wheaton's statement of faith signed by faculty members.
Clara Kent, who graduated last year and helped organize the petition, said she was disappointed by the college's actions. She said she chose Wheaton College because it offered a Christian education and robust academic environment that encouraged critical thinking, but she fears the Hawkins case threatens these principles.
Some faculty members have expressed concern that any actions against Hawkins would have a chilling effect on other professors or discourage talented educators from applying to Wheaton College.
"There are quite a large number of us that will not be able to support the college if it continues along the path it is going on," Kent said.
eleventis@chicagotribune.com
