Not only this, but with wealthy conservative donors to these private colleges and universities, there is a trend toward keeping them happy to survive the recent financial downturn. Our local Northwestern College (RCA) has curved back toward a tighter and more aggressive treatment of LGBTQIA+ students.
Not only this, but with wealthy conservative donors to these private colleges and universities, there is a trend toward keeping them happy to survive the recent financial downturn. Our local Northwestern College (RCA) has curved back toward a tighter and more aggressive treatment of LGBTQIA+ students.
For context, Northwestern (origins of Robert Schuyler) is in Orange City, IA and Shelbyville with Dordt College/University in Springfield/Sioux Center. The RCA is considered the most liberal of about 6 reformed denominations in this historic Dutch colony founded directly after the natives were removed. The CRC is considered marginally less liberal. Their big disagreement historically has been over public schools. The RCA is OK with them. The CRC and RCA are so small they have had to unite under one North American administration to share resources and lower costs. They have some ecumenical engagements with each other (pulpit sharing, men and maybe sometimes women clergy) but this is always contested ground. Currently there might be some challenges keeping the Canadians (who think they are the most liberal but not by much) on board!
Both schools compete for the same dwindling pool of ethnic legacy students and others who trend very conservative. The homeschooling parents (who are as organized as a group as the Iowa gun owners/same people) know they have the power to play off the colleges against each other and negotiate deals for their quiverfuls of kids by raking administrators over the coals for this or that slip of Darwinism or lack of hostility to Muslims, gay people, etc. It's completely true and the established reality that the President Business characters in charge and their subordinates will do everything they can to seem and sound as reactionary as the home school moms like, but do they actually believe anything anymore? One wonders.
Not only this, but with wealthy conservative donors to these private colleges and universities, there is a trend toward keeping them happy to survive the recent financial downturn. Our local Northwestern College (RCA) has curved back toward a tighter and more aggressive treatment of LGBTQIA+ students.
For context, Northwestern (origins of Robert Schuyler) is in Orange City, IA and Shelbyville with Dordt College/University in Springfield/Sioux Center. The RCA is considered the most liberal of about 6 reformed denominations in this historic Dutch colony founded directly after the natives were removed. The CRC is considered marginally less liberal. Their big disagreement historically has been over public schools. The RCA is OK with them. The CRC and RCA are so small they have had to unite under one North American administration to share resources and lower costs. They have some ecumenical engagements with each other (pulpit sharing, men and maybe sometimes women clergy) but this is always contested ground. Currently there might be some challenges keeping the Canadians (who think they are the most liberal but not by much) on board!
Both schools compete for the same dwindling pool of ethnic legacy students and others who trend very conservative. The homeschooling parents (who are as organized as a group as the Iowa gun owners/same people) know they have the power to play off the colleges against each other and negotiate deals for their quiverfuls of kids by raking administrators over the coals for this or that slip of Darwinism or lack of hostility to Muslims, gay people, etc. It's completely true and the established reality that the President Business characters in charge and their subordinates will do everything they can to seem and sound as reactionary as the home school moms like, but do they actually believe anything anymore? One wonders.
Ugh... Tighter and more aggressive in what ways? I'd be curious to know.