While the University of Maryland was still embroiled in a controversy about whether or not to allow a porn film to be shown on campus the school’s senate voted on Monday to eliminate the invocation from their commencement ceremony.

 

The senate which is comprised of students, faculty and staff voted 42-14 to abolish the prayer, which is a longstanding feature at most colleges and university commencements cross the country.

 

Senate chair Kenneth Holum told the Washington Post that this action was an attempt to be more sensitive to believers and non-believers and that many on the campus had “felt excluded or marginalized” by the prayers that have been given in the past and consider them to be Christian in nature.

 

The vote doesn’t automatically mean that the school will drop the commencement prayer as it must be approved by University president C.D. Mote, Jr.  Mote’s office told the Post that they received the recommendation late in the day and didn’t have a comment at this time.

 

Mote probably doesn’t have the guts to reject the senate’s recommendation so when he signs off on this proposal it will be a dark day in College Park.

 

As a graduate of the University I am deeply disappointed on how they have handled the porn issue and that they are even remotely considering dropping the commencement prayer.  I was hoping that my alma mater would avoid falling into the politically correct trap but apparently my optimism was not to be rewarded.

UPDATE: President Mote took the unusual step and rejected the senate’s recommendation.  For now my faith is restored.

 

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