Larycia Alaine Hawkins, an associate professor of political science at Wheaton College, was placed on administrative leave (aka suspended) after she donned a hijab to show support with Muslims as part of her “Christian Advent devotion.”
As Larycia told to the Chicago Tribune, the idea was to wear the hijab for only one day to model to her students how people might embody solidarity. But the more she thought about the gesture, the more she felt “honored to be in solidarity with her Muslim sisters.” Larycia, who seems to be a pretty devout Christian, explains that Christian and Muslim theology are both very similar.
Wheaton itself is a college very familiar with acceptance and understanding–the college was founded by abolitionists in 1860. But their reasoning for suspending Larycia is a little suspect. The administrative leave (pending full review) was handed down because the college claimed it is questioning the theological implications of Hawkins’ actions.
“Wheaton College faculty and staff make a commitment to accept and model our institution’s faith foundations with integrity, compassion, and theological clarity,” the college said in a statement “As they participate in various causes, it is essential that faculty and staff engage in and speak about public issues in ways that faithfully represent the college’s evangelical Statement of Faith.”
If you ask me, which you sort of did by reading this article in full, someone from the college’s board of trustee didn’t take too kindly to woman wearing a hijab at a Christian college.
WATTBA
Wheaton College Professor Suspended For Wearing Hijab
