Jewells of Thought

Do you remember not so long ago colleges were requiring shots for students to even go back to online learning on top of being back in Campus for classes?

Now a group is mad for another reason. Nothing about this situation was mandatory. Auburn University has a student group that recently saw an interest in students being baptized. Get this the group was as large as 200 students.

In Indiana, cases went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court over students having religious exemptions and even our own Hoosier Justice Amy Coney Barrett went against the students rights for bodily autonomy. It was very disappointing that common sense did not win that battle.

So who exactly decides what a student thinks about an untested shot or a personal decision of faith?

Lets remember we do have Constitutional Rights here and these students are 18 years of age. Why are other groups of people making decisions or acting like they have the right to infringe on their rights of making decisions?

Then add to this mix that a coach was baptizing one of the students. This is now a frenzy for the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Never mind that it was just one that was assisted by an Auburn Coach out of 200 done altogether. That seems like small potatoes don’t it. Yet this being saved and baptized business is a life-changing decision.

Are they afraid of it catching on and being as contagious as Covid?

Personally I am grateful I went to Oakland City University, a Baptist College, where I could openly talk to my professors and fellow students without any fear of any retribution. I talked to aspiring Missionaries who are right now out in the field. I sang with a couple in our College choir who are now overseas with their family. I see updates in our Alumni Quarterly. It’s amazing to know I had classes with some of these people over 10 years ago now.

My College experience was unique because I didn’t start at OCU, i made a wrong left turn before being corrected. I was 18 once and I made what I thought were the right decisions after all I did get a Music Scholarship, but you learn from your mistakes.

I always thought College was about adventure and trying new things. Exploring the world a bit as a young person and finding out where I as a student fit. Not being forced to make decisions that could be detrimental to my health especially since there had been no adequate testing done with those shots. Yet these same people who want mandatory shots for all students also want to attack this coach for leading by example.

Who is forcing students to make decisions in College? Which is the worst that could happen a shot without knowing the actual longtime effects or a highly respected leader and Coach supporting 200 students making a personal decision?