The Associated Students of Walla Walla University (ASWWU) is—as it sounds—a student organization on campus.
ASWWU elects 20 ‘senators’ who have regular meetings to discuss ways to improve the University Campus. With some exceptions they are a predominantly left-leaning ‘political’ group. They follow Robert's Rules of Order, and vote on various issues. According to the ASWWU website, the current president of the Senate is Wils Haffner, and the president of ASWWU is Eric Welch.
In January of 2020, the ASWWU senate met and debated issue S.R. 3 – Protection for LGBTQIA+ Persons at WWU. What is that? It is a ‘bill’ sponsored by Joshua Peinado and Hayden Sherill—calling for greater LGBTQ inclusivity at Walla Walla University.
These student representatives are calling for Walla Walla University to delete offensive language from the Student Handbook in two categories. The offensive language: referring to marriage as a union “between a man and a woman.”
Sexual identity statement
Affirmation of Seventh-day Adventist teachings
We are founded on Christian teachings and values as understood and appreciated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, which teaches that sexual relationships are to be protected and celebrated in the context of a committed marriage between a man and a woman (Genesis 2:23-25). Walla Walla University supports this conviction through its policies and requires faculty, staff, and students to reflect this conviction in their behavior.Sexual Standards Policy
Walla Walla University, as a religious institution owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, formulates policies for students that reflect the conviction that marriage is “a lifelong union between a man and a woman” (from the “28 Fundamental Beliefs”). In keeping with this conviction, we expect students to refrain from premarital and extramarital sexual relationships. Only couples united in a legal marriage between a man and a woman will be acknowledged as married in the policies of the university.
The ASWWU student group requested—in S.R. 3—on January 18, 2020, that the University remove the words “between a man and a woman” and the reference to the Seventh-day Adventist 28 Fundamental beliefs.
To the University’s credit, they have not capitulated to the puerile demands of these students. The WWU Student Handbook still refers to marriage as a life-long union between a man and a woman. In this they are to be commended, and we cheerfully do so.
Commentary
It is strange credulity when students of a Christian University object to biblical principles codified in their student handbook. A Christian lives by the standards of the Word of God, rejecting the world’s standard (1 John 2:15—17). To do less is to admit that you are not a Christian, and do not support the Word of God as the standard for a Believer.
These students should leave this Christian college if they are hostile to the Word of God and its truth about human sexuality. Or they should be expelled.
The University set themselves up for this kind of challenge in two ways. One is this ambiguous language in their Student Handbook:
“Every student at Walla Walla University has human rights, which are rights inherent to all human beings. They are inalienable, and they recognize the intrinsic dignity in every person regardless of nationality, place of residence, sex or gender identity and expression, national or ethnic origin, color or race, religion, language, sexuality, class, neurodiversity, or any other status, group affiliation, or characteristics.” This attempt to be inclusive opens the door for the school to be challenged by the gay mob.
The second way that the University has set themselves up for challenge is by accepting federal and state funds, thus obligating them to conform to federal interpretations of morality and non-discrimination, including non-discrimination interpretations of Title IX.
We agree—WWU should rewrite their Student Handbook. They should remove the part about gender identity & expression and insert a stronger commitment to true biblical sexuality found in the Word of God. Tell the world, “We are not for sale, and our commitment to the Word of God is not for sale.”
You will be hated by the woke mob, however you will receive a new measure of respect from all over the world. People value that kind of courage and are looking for examples of it today. More importantly, God will be honored, and you can stand before Him on That Day, perhaps hearing these words “Well done, thou good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord” (Matthew 25:23).
The bottom line. When students claim that biblical values undermine human value, decency and worth, you can know that they are marching to the beat of the Prince of this world (John 14:30), not the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). Such callow claims are utter nonsense; biblical values affirm the value of life and safeguard our moral decency and intrinsic worth, through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ who condemned sin in the flesh (Romans 8:3-4).
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“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15-17).
