Written by Tanya Terry
Featured photo-Mott Community College President Shaunda Richardson-Snell, who is was accused of engaging in speech was thought by many to be an attempt to convert someone from one religion to another – in this case Christianity.
Mott Community College President Shaunda Richardson-Snell was accused of allegedly making “proselytizing” religious comments in her capacity as president. This speech was thought by many to be an attempt to convert someone from one religion to another – in this case Christianity.
Among other allegations, during the 33rd Annual Peace & Dignity Observance Sacred Ceremony, Wayne Wilson, a member of the Navajo tribe was allegedly asked by Richardson-Snell if he had accepted Christ.
Members of the public continued to voice that they either agreed with or did not agree with the communications from Richardson-Snell at the Mott Board of Trustees meeting held on February 23.
Mott’s interim board attorney, Carey DeWitt, stated an investigation concluded “no violation of the First Amendment establishment clause or Free Exercise Clause occurred.”
However, discussion of a new allegation that the president handed out religious literature to faculty and students also arose at the meeting.
Flint Resident Kathy Watchorn stated: “Decades of Supreme Court rulings from Engel versus Vitali to Santa Fe versus Doe affirm the same principle. Public institutions must remain religiously neutral, and officials must not use their authority to promote religious belief.”
Watchorn also said: “This is not about whether religious expression is permitted in public life. It is the question is whether the chief executive of a public college can appear to use her official authority to advance a religious viewpoint. When that question is raised, it cannot be minimized or resolved behind closed doors.”
Bill Bain, spoke, introducing himself as a Flushing Township trustee and candidate for state senator for district
He spoke of the Supreme Court decision from 2002 for the case of Kennedy v. Bremerton School District. In it, public school a public school football coach, Joseph A. Kennedy, prayed at the 50-yard line immediately after games. The school district asked the coach to stop and later refused to renew his contract. The coach sued the district for violating his First Amendment rights. Ultimately, the Court ruled in a 6-3 decision that the coach’s conduct was protected by the First Amendment.
Therefore, Bain said if the college was on a “slippery slope” if it were to deny freedom of speech and free exercise of religion.
Bain referred to free speech and the free exercise of religion as “our God-given right,” and stated the 1964 Civil Rights Act also protects religious freedom in private and public employment.
Richardson-Snell spoke saying she never intended to offend anyone.
“I want to make sure that that the indigenous people know that I deeply respect the history and strongly denounce the atrocities that were conveyed that were committed unto them.
Richardson-Snell added: “I went on to say that this event welcomes all people in our community just like our college does. People of all races, all ethnicities, all backgrounds and that it gave us a time for space and reflection…I had the opportunity to to say to those at the ceremony that we celebrate unity without uniformity, and that we celebrate diversity without fragmentation.”
Richardson-Snell said every individual has their own free will to make their own choice or no choice at all, which she also stated she also said at the Annual Peace & Dignity Observance Sacred Ceremony.
Attorney Carey DeWitt said the allegation Richardson-Snell passed out unsolicited religious literature to students and faculty should, at this point, still be investigated by an outside attorney if a written complaint is submitted from someone with firsthand knowledge. This came after Trustee Art Reyes asked Richardson-Snell whether she had passed out such literature and Richardson-Snell did not respond.
As of publication time, the written complaint about the newer allegation was expected to be submitted, according to board members.
