11,000 Petitions Delivered to CSU on the Loyalty Oath

by Robert in Monterey [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

While Jeff Denhamn chases Communist ghosts, activism on the loyalty oath continues. In response to recent firings of Quaker teachers who needed to alter the oath, People for the American Way delivered 11,000 petitions to CSU Chancellor Charles Reed's office calling for the CSU system to conform to case law and the UC system practice of allowing employees to attach an "explanatory statement" to the oath clarifying its relationship to their religious beliefs. The petition text:

"There's no good reason for Cal State not to let employees express their religious or other objections to signing the state's "loyalty oath."

"Please uphold freedom of religion and freedom of speech by adopting a policy that allows employees to add an explanatory statement to the oath that will allow them to sign it without violating their beliefs.

"This is already common practice at the University of California. You should make it the practice of Cal State."

PFAW Foundation President Kathryn Kolbert explained it this way:

"It is simply beyond irony that a teacher planning an American studies course with a section on the McCarthy era would be required to sign a 'loyalty oath.' Our members are engaged around this issue, and we're committed to seeing it through to the end. This should be a straightforward matter for the University, the protection of religious freedom and free speech. We're hopeful this issue will be resolved soon."

There is no reason for the CSU system to not embrace these calls for reform. The loyalty oath is an anachronism from the 1950s, and while CSU cannot refuse to administer it, they are under an obligation to handle it with respect to Californians' religious freedoms. The recent firings of CSU teachers at the Fullerton and East Bay campuses suggest that CSU needs to change its policies and practices.

You can also sign the petition online - and help ensure religious freedom and civil liberties at the CSU system.