University doubles down on Chick-Fil-A ban, Dean resigns

Rider University, a private university in Mercer County, New Jersey is in the headlines again for banning Chick-fil-A from their campus. Rider University was making news with its original decision to overrule a student vote via survey back in November 2018. The fast-food chicken franchise is just not woke enough for the school administrators.

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The student body voted in favor of the delicious chicken sandwiches and waffle fries being brought in for sale on campus in the first of what became a two survey process. When the results of the first survey were tallied, with Chick-fil-A a winner to become a restaurant provider, a second survey was sent out to the students. This time, though, Chick-fil-A was not listed as a choice. This is how the dissatisfied administrators decided to control the voting process. If the choice was so offensive, why was it put on the first survey?

The reason for shunning Chick-fil-A was as you probably guessed. It’s all about the franchise’s incorporation of Christian beliefs into the operation of the chain. Anti-Christian bigots claim it isn’t about limiting religious freedom, critics say, it’s about protecting LGBTQ patrons. An email was sent out across the campus expressing enforcement of progressive values at the expense of those on campus who voted in favor of the franchise.

“Chick-fil-A was removed as one of the options based on the company’s record widely perceived to be in opposition to the LGBTQ+ community.”

A November 2018 email announcement to the campus said the restaurant chain’s corporate values “have not sufficiently progressed enough to align with those of Rider.”

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As you might guess, some of the faculty was upset by this explanation. One dean contacted the administrators and asked for an apology. because she was offended by the school’s description of the corporation’s values. Cynthia Newman, dean of the College of Business Administration was not given an apology and instead, the university doubled down on their decision. An email was distributed to university staff with talking points on the decision and lack of an apology. So, Newman has resigned as dean but will stay on with the university as a professor beginning in September.

“I felt like I had been punched in the stomach when I read that statement because I’m a very committed Christian,” Newman said in a video interview with Campus Reform, conservative higher education blog which initially reported her resignation. “Chick-fil-A’s corporate purpose statement is to glorify God, to be faithful stewards of all that’s entrusted to them and have a positive influence on everyone who comes into contact with them. And I would say that mirrors my personal beliefs perfectly.”

“I couldn’t put myself in a situation where I would in any way be seen complicit when an affront to my Christian values had been made,” Newman told Campus Reform. “No one group’s opinions, values or beliefs should be elevated over anyone else’s. We should be able to respectfully disagree when it comes to values and ideologies.

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The trope that this isn’t an attack on religious freedom is nonsensical. This all began in 2012 when Chick-fil-A’s founder, S. Truett Cathy spoke out against same-sex marriage because of his religious beliefs. He also contributed to groups opposing gay marriage. The idea that this endangers the LGBTQ community is a way to punish the founder’s business practices. The franchise closes on Sunday so that his employees can spend time with their families, and yes, maybe even go to church. The individual Chick-fil-As don’t discriminate with customers. No one is turned away for personal beliefs. The only one being discriminated against is the founder.

The franchise doesn’t want to be involved in public debates about politics

“We have no policy of discrimination against any group, and we do not have a political or social agenda. More than 120,000 people from different backgrounds and beliefs represent the Chick-fil-A brand,” the restaurant chain said.

“We have no policy of discrimination against any group, and we do not have a political or social agenda. More than 120,000 people from different backgrounds and beliefs represent the Chick-fil-A brand,” the restaurant chain said.

Rider University is failing to educate its students. Universities are supposed to be places for the free exchange of ideas and teaching young adults to form opinions after listening to both sides of an argument. The students didn’t look at Chick-fil-A and see LGBTQ oppression. They see tasty fast-food and voted to bring it on campus as a food option. Why should those students have to change a vote because some woke university administrator was triggered?

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Have you noticed how friendly and polite the employees at Chick-fil-A are, by the way? They are the best. Whatever employee training Mr. Cathy put in place is working wonderfully.

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