Spring Arbor University cancels partnership with Lansing Community College
By Todd A. Heywood-Capitol Correspondent
(Issue 1519 - Between The Lines News)

LANSING-- Spring Arbor University has notified Lansing Community College to tell the third largest community college in Michigan, that the partnership between the two schools is over before it ever got off the ground.

"They felt, based on the language in the contract, they would have to relinquish some of their rights as a Christian institution," said Dr. Stephanie Shanblatt, chief operating officer for the University Center for strategic partnerships at LCC.

SAU has been under pressure since it fired a transgender professor earlier this year. In addition, the university has an antigay policy as well as a policy allowing them to tell unwed pregnant students where they can live.

LCC has policies preventing discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, as well as gender identity and expression. The college sent a letter to the SAU weeks ago laying out the legal expectations for SAU were they to join in partnership with the college. This included following Lansing's Human Rights Ordinance, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity and expression.

"It was clear LCC thought it should follow its policy," Shanblatt says.

In a press statement, the VP of Communications for Spring Arbor, Tim Johnson, said SAU could not sign the agreement because it would "relinquish" their rights as a "Christian university," in doing so.

"It's unfortunate that the students of LCC will now be unable to benefit from the diversity that would have come from including a top-tier Christian university at the center," he wrote.

Dr. Julie Nemecek, the transgender professor fired by the university earlier this year, says the move is good. "They knew that if they were in Lansing, they would have to change their core values."

"It is disappointing that SAU would choose to position itself in that way and further alienate many of it's students and staff," says Drew Hinkle an openly gay student at SAU. "It's unfortunate they can't abide by the law in the city of Lansing."

LCC says once it receives the formal letter it will meet and discuss it, and possibly respond. In the meantime, they will begin the search process for a replacement partner for the University Center. The University Center is an educational center designed to bring four-year and graduate level programs to the community college campus, making them less intimidating.

Current partners are Northwood University, Sienna Heights University, Western Michigan University, Ferris State University, Central Michigan University, U of M Flint, and Lawerence Tech.

Soulforce visits Spring Arbor
Off-campus visit requested by students
Laniaya Alesia Hoofatt
Issue date: 4/26/07 Section: Features

On April 21 the Soulforce riders arrived across the street from Spring Arbor University in the community park pavilion. The group, who supports freedom for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people from religious and political oppression, met with SAU students, faculty and community members during their off-campus visit.

"I am excided that Soulforce decided to come and share in discussion on faith. They did not come to push their views, they came to share their stories and open up dialogue with everyone that is here in attendance," said Drew Hinkle, President of Students Aligned for Equality (S.A.F.E.).

Soulforce is comprised of 33 young adults who separate into two buses, one westbound and the other eastbound in order to address the issue of homosexuality and the church. Their goal is to challenge the Christian Church to live up to its name.

"I feel that being gay and being Christian is not exclusive," said Robin Reynolds, Soulforce Rider from Valdosta, Georgia.

Members of S.A.F.E held a barbeque for the Soulforce riders and the individuals that attended the event. Burgers, veggie burgers and hotdogs were all on the menu. While the food was being cooked, the Soulforce riders had a chance to talk to everyone who attended.

Attendees broke up into small groups, where riders spoke to students and faculty. This paved the way for a variety of conversations to take place, and each rider seemed genuinely interested in the stories that students shared while at the same time sharing their own. This time seemed foster great conversations on Christian faith, the church and school policy.

"We come to talk and share stories engage in dialogue," said Rachel Loskill a Soulforce rider from East Lansing, Michigan.

"There is a lot of suffering happening feeling rejected and were here to affirm you," said Jarrett Lucas, Co-Director of Equality Ride East Bus and Young Adult Director of Outreach.

After the discussion time the riders started their presentation. They started with a worship song. Lyrics such as 'Joy inside of my world where love is moving me' were sung throughout the pavilion.

After the song, Hinkle spoke. He described how many of the students wanted more than a Facebook group, they wanted to meet in person and organize. He briefly described the harassment some students endured, the Federal Mail Investigation and the Julie Nemecek issue. He then explained S.A.F.E was not allowed to post flyers, or hand them out on campus to promote the event. The group resorted to Facebook, a popular website, using their flyer ads to get students to come and engage in dialogue.

Joanna Nemecek then spoke about her struggle in coming to an understanding about John, her husband, becoming Julie. After prayer, crying, searching scripture, she decided that she would stay married to Julie.

"Her brain was born that way and I need to love her for who she is," Nemecek.

There was a presentation with a "Gender Gumby" where riders drew different lines of definition regarding their given gender, how they see themselves and how society sees them. Angel Collie, a rider that identifies as transgender, talked about how a person sees themselves and how that idea can fluctuate with how the person feels.

There was a presentation called "The Transgender Umbrella" where they discussed the different terms that were acceptable in the community, such as transitional, cross dresser, inner sex, gender-bender, androgynous, MTF and FTM. Then they spoke on the terms that can be used to harm someone, such as "transvestite."

Robin Reynolds a Soulforce Rider from Valdosta, Georgia briefly spoke on how many groups were previously oppressed, trying to distinguish their struggles from those who are LGBT.

The Soulforce Equality Ride had been planned for months in advance, starting in October. The directors of Soulforce sent letters to colleges and universities in order to open up dialogue with administrators to see if they would be able have access to the campus and its students. Although Spring Arbor University was not originally on their list of schools to travel to, several members of the Spring Arbor University community wrote letters requesting they come visit the school. Since Soulforce had not been in conversation with SAU administration, they visited off campus to meet with the students, faculty, and community members that wanted to discuss the recent events on campus and university policies.

"You find that schools administrators will do many things to minimize presence… even actually threatening the students with discipline," said Jarrett Lucas, Co-Director of Equality Ride East Bus and Young Adult Director of Outreach.

Soulforce Equality Ride visits Spring Arbor University
By Todd A. Heywood
Originally printed 04/26/2007 (Issue 1517 - Between The Lines News)

SPRING ARBOR - The East Coast team of Soulforce Equality Ride met with students, faculty and community members in Spring Arbor Saturday afternoon. Joining the 25 activists were about 20 students and community members.

Spring Arbor refused to allow the activists on campus, so the group met across the street at Township Park for four hours.

Across M-60, troopers from the Michigan State Police, deputies from the Jackson County Sheriff's Department and officers from Spring Arbor Township patrolled the campus of this conservative Christian university. Spring Arbor students say they heard administrators tell student leaders Soulforce came to Christian universities to "embarrass" the universities with "megaphones," and plans to get arrested.

However, Soulforce had already promised they would not enter the campus and they didn't. They spent the afternoon having a barbecue picnic, tossing a football, playing on the playground equipment and discussing transgender issues with the gathered students and faculty.

They did promise they would be back next year.

"Spring Arbor will definitely be on the list," Katie Higgins, co-director of the Soulforce team, said. "We want to continue this conversation."

After a careful and rousing chorus of Om Shanti, the group launched into what organizers called a dialogue.

Drew Hinkle, an SAU student who is openly gay, told the gathered Soulforce team what LBGT and ally students have endured in the last months while attending SAU, including harassment of students who attended a bowling event recently. "Apparently you're not allowed to bowl with gay people," Hinkle said. "They think we're intolerant of their religious perspective."

Joanne Nemecek, wife of Julie Nemecek the transgender professor recently fired by Spring Arbor, joined the group and spoke as well. She told the story of her struggle to accept Julie, and her struggle with God, which she says was resolved when she prayed. "I told God I didn't love the whole person,"she said. "I turned it all over to God, and God turned my heart right around."

She spoke of seeing the "fingerprint of God" in all people, and finding an amazement at God's diverse creation.

Soulforce arrived without incident and left without incident. They added the stop to the Equality Ride after a concerted letter writing campaign to bring them to Spring Arbor. The university was between a stop in Ohio and the group's next stop in Grand Rapids, where they will attempt to dialogue with students, faculty and staff at Calvin College and at Cornerstone University.

Censoring mail
Originally printed 04/12/2007 (Issue 1514 - Between The Lines News)

Letters to the editor

I suppose National Geographic and Star magazine are against the rules as well (At Spring Arbor)? Wouldn't want people thinking or seeing inappropriate images. Spring Arbor is crazy if they can ban "Out" an alternative magazine. I can't believe they think that they can go through an individual's mail. If they can't act as a post office, they should just end the service all together. Our brilliant leader, President Bush was trying to pass a law that would allow the government to look at other peoples mail. It's weird to think who might be thought as a terrorist or what would be considered terrorist activity. I seriously doubt there is a conspiracy against Spring Arbor. Thus they shouldn't be opening any mail not addressed to them. I do hope more students at Spring Arbor stand up cause they are doing nothing wrong.

Frank Vaca
Holt, MI

Student newspapers pulled
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
By Chad Livengood
clivengood@citpat.com -- 768-4918

For weeks, officials at Spring Arbor University have hoped the story about a fired transgender professor who filed a discrimination claim would go away.

Last month, the administration took matters into their own hands, removing from racks about 500 copies of the Crusader, a university-funded student newspaper. The issue included a story about the university's settlement with Julie Nemecek.

The papers were confiscated on the morning of March 23 -- a day after being placed at sites around campus.

Five days later, administrators gave the student editor-in-chief the option of getting the papers back -- but only if the Nemecek article was cut out. Rebecca Eve Schweitzer complied, taking the scissors to 75 copies for redistribution. The rest were thrown out voluntarily.

"It was frustrating," said Schweitzer, a Sterling Heights senior. "But I was happy to get the rest of the issue back because there were a lot of good articles."

University officials declined to answer questions about their action, but issued a statement saying Laniaya Hoofatt's article, "Settlement reached in Nemecek issue," contained inaccurate and incomplete information.

"The student newspaper is a legal entity of the university and as such has an obligation to adhere to the highest standards in reporting and journalistic integrity," the statement read.

The statement did not specify what was deemed inaccurate.

The article reported a settlement had been reached in Nemecek's equal employment opportunity complaint and that the terms were not disclosed.

It also included statements from the former John Nemecek that appeared on a blog posted by her son, myfathershe.blogspot.com.

The student editors acknowledge the story misidentified Nemecek's wife as Pam. The former professor's wife's name is Joanne.

That error could have been corrected in the next edition, said Mike Hiestand, attorney and legal consultant for the Student Press Law Center in Arlington, Va.

"That's why you have correction space in a newspaper," Hiestand said. "You do mess up on occasion."

But pulling the paper off the racks and ordering a student editor to self-censor seems to cross the line of ethical treatment of the press, he said.

"It may be legal, but it certainly is not the right thing to do," said Hiestand, who deals with similar issues at private colleges across the country.

It particularly rankled the student editors that Crusader stories on Feb. 8 and 15 about the Nemecek issue and the national press attention it has received were never called into question.

"We didn't get in trouble for that at all," Assistant Editor Aaron Mueller said.

The university has never had a prior-review policy, where administrators review material and have the right to edit and pull stories before publication. Such policies are common at other private colleges and high schools.

"It really is unclear to us what we can get away with and what we can't," Mueller said.

The Crusader's media board of directors -- consisting of students, professors and other campus constituencies -- will meet later this spring to discuss the issue, said Wally Metts, co-adviser of the newspaper and chair of the communications and media department.

"They're a great group of kids and they care about the community," Metts said.

Spring Arbor University erred in treatment of faculty member
Friday, March 30, 2007
Kalamazoo Gazette
By Maxine Thome

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW), the largest professional organization of social workers with more than 150,000 members worldwide, has firm policies regarding the ethical treatment of people who are of diverse gender expression or identity. As executive director of the NASW-Michigan Chapter, which represents more than 7,500 social workers from all across the state, I am writing to express our deep concern over the unethical and dehumanizing treatment and eventual firing of a transgender professor at Spring Arbor University.

The NASW policy on gender identity issues is clearly set forth in ``Social Work Speaks,'' and among other guidelines, its requirements include the following:

1. NASW ``promotes proactive efforts to eliminate psychological, social and physical harm directed toward transgender people and to portray them accurately and compassionately.''

2. NASW ``supports the development of programs within schools'' that ``educate students, faculty, and staff about the range of gender diversity.''

3. NASW ``endorses policies in the public and private sectors that ensure nondiscrimination, that are sensitive to the health and mental health needs of transgender people, and that promote an understanding of gender expression and identity issues.''

4. NASW ``encourages the repeal of laws and discriminatory practices that impede individuals from identifying with and/or expressing (their) gender.... in all areas of the public arena, especially employment.''

Spring Arbor University includes satellite educational facilities in 14 communities across Michigan. Students and community members learn not only by attending classes at Spring Arbor, but also by observing the actions of the school's administration.

When President Gayle D. Beebe and the Spring Arbor Executive Team removed Professor Julie Nemecek from her position as Dean of Adult Learning and severely curtailed her ability to perform her professorial duties, subsequently dismissing her from the university, they set a particularly poor example, not just for Spring Arbor students, but for the citizens of Michigan as well. Rather than teaching from a Christian perspective, they taught from a perspective of unfounded fear.

Whether Julie Nemecek is a woman, a man, or a transsexual, one thing is certain -- her gender is clearly female. She has always been a female, and this is confirmed by her health providers. No administrator, whether at Spring Arbor University or at any other such institution, can refute her gender status as a woman without risking a charge of practicing medicine without a medical license -- nor should they be able to challenge her status. Ethics, and even simple good manners, require that Julie Nemecek be treated with the same respect as any other faculty member who identifies as a woman or as a man.

I urge Spring Arbor University's administration to stop demanding that Julie Nemecek come to campus in men's clothing, when she is clearly a woman -- this is a very strange request, and would only be acceptable if you were to require all of your female faculty and staff to wear men's clothing at work. I further urge Spring Arbor University to return this fine professor to her job, both as a faculty member and as a dean.

President Beebe, how would you maintain your dignity and self respect if you were required to come to campus dressed as a woman, while knowing that you are a man? What your administration has required of Julie Nemecek is no less reprehensible than this.

I call upon the administration of Spring Arbor University to set a better example for their students and campus communities throughout Michigan. You may just have enough time left to use this as a learning experience for your administration, and thus as an example of a genuinely enriching educational process occurring at Spring Arbor University.

Maxine Thome is the executive director of the Michigan chapter of The National Association of Social Workers.

Opening student mail, federal crime?
By Todd A. Heywood
Originally printed 3/29/2007 (Issue 1513 - Between The Lines News)

SPRING ARBOR-- When Drew Hinkle ran into Kim Hayworth, the Director of Student Services at Spring Arbor University saying she needed to talk with him, he was leery. LBGT students fear being called in by this department because it is the department charged with punishment for students who break the rules.

When Hinkle, who is an out gay student, arrived at Hayworth's office, he was stunned to be handed a copy of Out Magazine that had been intercepted and opened. Hayworth told Hinkle it was okay for him to get Out Magazine and have it. However Hinkle says he was told they would prefer he have it delivered somewhere else.

Out Magazine arrives in a black plastic sleeve, much like pornography, which is against the rules for students at SAU to have or view.

Jamie also says a friend of hers who received packages from home also suffered from opened mail.

Officials from Spring Arbor University refused to return phone calls and emails on this situation.

U.S. Postal Inspector D. L. Carter says opening mail is a federal crime. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is the law enforcement arm of the United States Postal Service.

"The fact that they are a Christian college gives them no right or privilege to open first class mail that is not addressed to them directly," he said. "Absolutely it is a violation of federal law to open first class mail. It is protected by the sanctity of the seal."

Carter says it is important to report the cases of mail tampering to his office. Calling it a "hate crime" based on the description provided by BTL of the incidents of Hinkle and Jamie's friend, who were singled out for mail searches because they were perceived to be gay or lesbian.

Any one who has been a victim of mail tampering at Spring Arbor University is asked to call Carter at (313) 226-8122 or online at USPS.com.

Contract between LCC and Spring Arbor up in air
Settlement on transgender case offers no resolution
By Todd A. Heywood
Originally printed 3/22/2007 (Issue 1512 - Between The Lines News)

LANSING -The settlement between Julie Marie Nemecek and Spring Arbor University, the conservative Christian university south of Lansing which fired Nemecek last month for being transgender, may not resolve the ongoing concerns Lansing Community College has about a proposed partnership between the two entities.

LCC, Michigan's third largest community college, announced last year that it would partner with SAU to provide classes at a new multimillion dollar University Center Building at LCC. LCC officials say the contract has been on hold since the story of Nemecek, as well as anti-gay and other repressive policies of the organization have come to light.

"We are still investigating the relationships with our partners and how our policies align, including those of Spring Arbor," says LCC spokesperson Tess Brown. "Our equal opportunity and nondiscrimination policies are clear, and we are looking at it to see if contracting with an outside agency like Spring Arbor would violate our policies."

Brown says the situation is being reviewed by outside legal counsel.

Nemecek, who began her transition in 2003 when she came out to her wife Joanna, was an associate dean of adult studies at Spring Arbor, and had been there 16 years when the University chose to fire her. In a letter to students, SAU President Gayle Beebe wrote that Nemecek's gender issues were not within the Christian faith. The University, Beebe argued, had to take a stand in order to protect it's Christ-centered education.

Nemecek sued in federal court, and on Monday settled with SAU for an undisclosed financial amount. She says she is looking at other teaching opportunities and wants to pursue diversity training opportunities.

Spring Arbor University put out a press statement saying the settlement was "mutually satisifactory." It says on its website it takes the relationships with outside organizations like LCC very seriously and will continue to work to keep the partnership.

Nemecek said in an email to BTL,"I still do hope, as I said before mediation, that LCC looks carefully at any relationship with SAU."

Fired Spring Arbor University Transgender Prof reaches settlement
Will not return to SAU classrooms
Originally printed 03/15/2007 (Issue 1511 - Between The Lines News)

Online update from Between The Lines Newspaper

DETROIT-- Julie Marie Nemecek has reached an agreement with the conservative Christian University that fired her last month. The federal mediation resulted in a "mutually satisifactory" resolution. Exact terms of the resolution, or the mediation process are sealed by agreement by both parties, however, Nemecek says she will not be returning the SAU classroom. She says she is now seeking a teaching post elsewhere, and may focus some time on lobbying efforts and diversity training.

Spring Arbor professor's journey to womanhood
By Todd A. Heywood and Wire Reports
Originally printed 03/08/2007 (Issue 1510 - Between The Lines News)

SPRING ARBOR
Julie Marie Nemecek always knew there was something different about her growing up. Something she could not quite put a finger on.

That was before Julie, though. That was when she was John.

"I remember when I was in fifth or sixth grade it was made clear to me I could not hang out with the girls during recess," Nemecek told the Lansing Community College Gay Straight Alliance. "So I slipped into macho mode."

That mode lasted for most of Julie's 55 years, until 2003 when she was cruising the internet and discovered information about being transgender. "Oh my gosh, that's me. That's me," she told the students she remembered thinking. When her wife, Joanne, of 35 years returned home from a trip, Julie told her.

"We spent five or six weeks reading and praying and crying,"Julie says.

Joanne, 55, didn't know if she could stay in the marriage, especially when John wanted to transition further into living as a woman. She thought John's lifestyle was sinful but eventually changed her mind after learning more about his condition.

"The person I love and care about the most is Julie. This is the right thing to do. I gave up the fight," said Joanne, who sometimes catches herself referring to Julie as "he" or "him." Julie says she's attracted sexually to Joanne.

Julie was diagnosed as transgender in December of 2003 and immediately shared the diagnosis with her immediate supervisor at the conservative Christian university where she worked, Spring Arbor University. What followed after, she says, were a series of more and more repressive actions, including a slash in her salary of twenty percent, restrictions appearing on campus, and even directing her not to identify as an employee of Spring Arbor University.

When she was spotted at a local grocery store wearing a Spring Arbor University t-shirt, university officials took action and informed her that her contract would not be renewed.

"If we allow you to continue these appearances that manifest your current transgender circumstance, we open ourselves to questions of inconsistency in upholding our Christian beliefs," Randy Rossman, the school's Director of Human Resources, wrote Oct. 26, 2006.

Five days later, Julie filed an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint against Spring Arbor University, which receives some public money to educate students. Soon thereafter, her world changed when the Jackson Citizen Patriot wrote about her plight.

Since then, the world has turned upside down, and Julie has become a cause celebre for her fight against the university. She says she has no regrets, and says she is at peace with her decision to go public.

"Joanne and I were talking one evening and we both realized we had this tremendous peace," says Julie. She says her faith is what has provided that peace.

She was a Baptist minister, ministering to churches in Chicago and Grand Rapids before going to Spring Arbor sixteen years ago. Coming out as transgender caused her to lose her relationship with the Baptist church she and Joanne had attended regularly, and in which Julie had served filled-in minister duties for. They just weeks ago, joined a Presbyterian church in Jackson, as Julie and Joanne.

Julie says her three adult sons, ages 31, 28 and 25, have been very supportive. Her eldest son is a Baptist minister in northern Michigan, and he did a sermon about the situation, then invited his congregation to join him for a conversation on transgenderism. Julie says the congregation responded by meeting with her son and his wife for over two hours.

"They rallied around him, and supported him," says Julie.

"My middle son gave me a hand written note thanking me," she says. "That he now understood the person I was, and that was part of what helped him become the person he is."

Julie says she has that note hung up by her desk. Beside a cartoon which reads "I got to be me, because everyone else is already taken."

Julie says her parents and sister are also supportive. "My sister calls me the sister I never had," Julie says with a laugh.

Her story has been subject to dozens of news reports and articles, and Gary Glenn president of the American Family Association of Michigan has stated support for Spring Arbor's actions.

"We believe it's their decision to make as a private Christian institution," said Gary Glenn of AFA. "This is an adult role model for teenagers whose parents thought by sending them to a Christian school they were not likely to be exposed to such lifestyle choices and emotional problems."

Julie's response is simple. "The organization he represents is anti-homosexual which he seems to equate with TG/TS. Another sign of religious ignorance and unwillingness to learn," Julie wrote in an email. "I am confident that if Jesus were at our mediation on Tuesday that he would be sitting on my side of the table and holding my hand."

Mediation for transgender professor with Spring Arbor University
Originally printed 03/08/2007 (Issue 1510 - Between The Lines News)

DETROIT -- Julie Marie Nemecek, 55, a transgender woman suing her employer the conservative Christian university Spring Arbor University met with Spring Arbor officials and a federal mediator for over 7 hours Tuesday, says Nemecek in an email update.

Nemeck's case is making national headlines as she pursues maintaining her professor's position at the University south of Jackson. The University informed her she would no longer have a position at the end of spring semester because of her transformation from the Rev. Dr. John Nemecek to Julie Marie Nemecek. The university claims her gender identity transformation was not Christian.

"We met in mediation for 7.5 hours today (just got home) and will resume again on Monday at 10 a.m. Some progress but no resolution yet," she wrote Tuesday night.

Trans firing may cause Lansing Community College to sever partnership with Spring Arbor
By Todd A. Heywood
Originally printed 03/01/2007 (Issue 1509 - Between The Lines News)

EDITOR'S NOTE: Todd A. Heywood is a former Trustee of Lansing Community College and is currently suing the college Board of Trustees in Ingham County Circuit Court for allegedly violating the Open Meetings Act.

LANSING - A lucrative partnership between Lansing Community College and the embattled Spring Arbor University may be in jeopardy due to SAU's recent firing of a transgender employee.

LCC officials confirm the state's third largest community college is considering ending a proposed partnership between the two organizations because of SAU's recent firing of Julie Marie Nemecek, who is transgendered, and a series of repressive policies, including an antigay policy.

The proposed partnership would have allowed SAU to offer classes and degrees at a new multimillion dollar building at LCC's downtown campus. The new building, dubbed the University Center, is paid for with state dollars and matching funds from a recent millage passed by LCC district voters.

"It is fair to say the College is considering not going forth with the draft contract," says LCC spokesperson Tess Brown.

SAU was one of eight universities selected through a formal proposal process to be partners with LCC in the University Center. Others include Western Michigan, U of M Flint, and Central Michigan University.

In exchange for advertising, marketing and space, the partners would pay $25,000 in annual fees as well as rental rates for specific uses in the building. The partners would then offer four-year and post-graduate degree studies at LCC, addressing what officials say is a problem with two-year to four-year transfer students's fear of the larger environment of a four-year university.

Questions began swirling shortly after a Jackson newspaper ran the story of Nemecek's contract with Spring Arbor University, which will not be renewed this June because she is transgender.

As first reported last week in BTL, LCC has policies preventing discrimination on the basis of gender identity and expression and sexual orientation. An investigation by BTL now reveals that SAU is not only dismissing Nemecek for being transgender, which the university contends is not "Christianâ" but also uncovered written anti-gay policies.

Spring Arbor's Student Handbook, available on the university's web site, has a code of conduct for the "Christian Community," which includes the following statement:

"4. All students regardless of age, residency or status are required to abstain from cohabitation, any involvement in pre-marital, extramarital and same gender sexual relationships."

Further in the document the University lists possible punishments for violating the Code of Conduct. For "Immoral Sexual Conductâ" a first offense will result in suspension or dismissal from the university, a second offense will result in dismissal. A first offense for possessing pornography or sexual harassment could result in just probabtion.

"I find it ironic you can look three times," says Sean Kosofsky, director of policy at Triangle Foundation, "but you can only touch twice."

It is unclear if SAU would remove a student for stating he or she was homosexual. SAU refused to return numerous phone calls and emails on this matter.

Lansing City Attorney Brigham Smith says the SAU policy is a "conceivable" violation of the city of Lansing's newly minted Human Rights Ordinance, and says anyone who has been a student at the current SAU extension site could have standing to ask the city to act against SAU on the matter.

"The city could regulate that conduct in the city," Smith told BTL in a phone interview.

Smith also says the act of firing Nemecek for being transgender would be a violation, and if Nemecek ever worked in the Lansing office, she could have standing to file a complaint.

Whether LCC would be in violation of the ordinance is a more complicated legal question, Smith says. But he is concerned that it would indeed be a violation, and says he is prepared if a case is brought, to look at it.

LCC is not waiting around for that to happen though.

Dr. Judith Cardenas, president of LCC, told BTL in an exclusive interview on this matter, that she is concerned about the situation. A letter sent to Trustees last week says she has asked for a legal opinion as to whether or not SAU violated the terms of the proposal, which include adherence to LCC's equal opportunity and nondiscrimination policies.

"We are doing our due diligence on this," she says. "So that if we have to end this relationship, we can. And I will make that recommendation if it is necessary, that's my job as president."

Cardenas says the questions the actions of SAU have brought forward are important. "We are using this situation as an opportunity to have a conversation with all the partners on this issue, as well as many more. The attention on this matter has merely sped up the timeline for that dialogue."

She said that on Friday she called SAU Vice President Dr Betty Overton Atkins about this situation, but received a troubling response. "She acted very surprised at our concern and told me she had not received any calls from other partners about the situation. She didn't understand the difference (between LCC and other partners) reactions."

Based on that conversation, Cardenas says, the college is awaiting the outcome of an EEOC arbitration meeting between Nemecek and SAU on March 6 before making any final determinations.

But Cardenas is clear the partners who will eventually use LCC's building are more than just tenants. "The collaboration level has to be different. They are touching the lives of our students on our campus. They have to create a more inclusive environment."

"I am concerned that we appear not to be committed to our policies," says Cardenas. "But I want to be clear that we are committed to those policies and will not do anything that will interfere with the dignity or respect of our students."

Transgendered professor fights to keep her job
by Sharon Gittleman
Originally printed 2-15-2007 (Issue 1507 - Between The Lines News)

SPRING ARBOR - Julie Nemecek, 55, would like to keep her job as an associate professor of adult studies, teaching business and communications at Spring Arbor University.

The university wants her gone.

Why?

"Spring Arbor University has faced situations in the past where the actions of faculty members have been in direct conflict with the ideals we uphold," writes a spokesperson for the University in a release sent to BTL. "While it is not our practice to discuss the details of personnel matters, we can confirm that Spring Arbor University has made the decision to not renew John Nemecek's contract after the Spring semester."

"John" Nemecek is Julie Nemecek, a transgendered woman.

"I have a diagnosis of gender identity disorder," she said.

Nemecek first came to terms with her status in 2003, 15 years after she'd come to work for the university, which describes itself as an evangelical Christian institution.

She'd learned about GID, through her own research and from meetings with therapists, endocrinologists, her family physician and a Christian counselor, she said.

"My sense of self is entirely feminine," she said. "Gender identity disorder is the sense of self conflicting with your body."

Nemecek said scientific research has uncovered the genesis of GID. Everyone starts out in the womb as females. Sometime around the eight or 12th week, our bodies are washed with testosterone, transforming some fetuses into males.

"With people with gender identity disorder, the wash is not complete," she said. "There's a part of your brain connected with your sense of gender identity. For people with the disorder - that part of the brain matches the opposite birth sex."

When Nemecek shared her condition with the university in late 2005, she said their initial response was positive. She said they advised her to "be careful what you do at work in the classroom."

Then the restrictions became more aggressive, she said.

"They were, 'don't come to campus,' 'don't talk to anybody about this,' 'see a Christian counselor,'" said Nemecek, an ordained Baptist minister and a member of a Presbyterian church. "They wanted me to teach online classes."

The axe came down when she wore a Spring Arbor University T-shirt to the grocery store.

University officials told her she was violating a term of her contract by identifying herself as a Spring Arbor employee, she said.

Nemecek filed an Equal Employment Opportunity complaint.

At the end of December, the university informed her they'd decided not to renew her contract, which expired at the end of May, she said.

"Their position is because I have followed the medical advice - the hormones, I am in violation of some biblical standards," she said.

According to the release sent by Spring Arbor to BTL, the university expects faculty members to model Christian character as an example for its students.

That mandate is a critical part of the fabric of Spring Arbor University, is clearly communicated to students, faculty and administrators alike, and is protected by the U.S. Civil Rights Act and supported by the Michigan Civil Rights Commission, wrote the University spokesperson.

"We approach all situations like this with grace and in all cases work with the individual to give them the opportunity for restoration," the spokesperson wrote. "However, if they choose to persist with activities that are inconsistent with the Christian faith, we have a responsibility to take further action."

Nemecek is fighting to keep her job, with a mediation session between the parties scheduled for March 6.

She has a good case, said her attorney Randi Barnabee.

"I understand Spring Arbor may have some difficulty with the situation, but if they accept federal funds, they are subject to federal law," she said. "Federal law says its illegal for an employer to discriminate against a person if that person fails to meet the employer's sex stereotypes. That's the way the law has been interpreted."

Some Spring Arbor students recently organized a rally and a panel discussion to show their support for Nemecek.

Nemecek's status isn't a moral or religious failing; it's a medical issue said rally organizer, Drew Hinkle, 21.
"Julie has been there for over 15 years. Her faith and values are the same," he said. "She's the same person religiously."

Nemecek's conflict with the university is a big issue for students and faculty, he said.
"We're not trying to tear the school down," he said. "We're hoping to encourage the school to make the right choice."

Nemecek said she was touched by the student's efforts.
"I was very moved," she said.

Many individual's negative reaction to people with GID stems from ignorance of how the condition arises, said Nemecek.

"Part of it is they equate it with some kind of sexual perversion when it has nothing to do with sexual orientation or sexual gratification," she said.

She hopes to hear good news when her mediation session is completed.

"Believe it or not I'd like to keep working there," she said. "I enjoy what I'm doing and I'm good at it. I really like the Christian environment. I'd like to help them understand gender identity disorder more. If I ride out into the sunset, there's no one left to talk to them."

Christian College Fires Transgendered Professor
By Roselyn James
Associated Content

Spring Arbor University fired Julie Marie Nemecek after she was diagnosed with Gender Identity Disorder. Her employment will be terminated effective June 1 when her contract expires.

The college, located in Michigan, is affiliated with the Free Methodist Church and has about 1400 students currently enrolled. "Jesus Christ as the perspective for learning" is the concept promoted on their website.

Ms. Nemecek, an ordained Baptist minister and Evangelical Christian, announced her intention to transition from John to Julie in December 2005. She has worked for Spring Arbor University for 16 years and at the time of her announcement, she was Associate Dean of Adult Studies.

Spring Arbor University President Gayle Beebe called Ms. Nemecek into a meeting. Also in attendance was Dean Natalie Gianetti and Nemecek's wife Joanne, to whom she has been married for 35 years. Joanne is studying to counsel transgendered individuals and she fully supports her husband.

The meeting didn't go as well as the Nemeceks had hoped. In an attempt to protect their image and accommodate their employee, Spring Arbor University restricted Julie Nemecek to teaching online classes and cut her salary 20 percent. The college banned her from graduation ceremonies and from representing the college while dressed as a woman.

The university watched Ms. Nemecek closely. After appearing in public wearing a Spring Arbor College t-shirt along with makeup and earrings, she was notified that her contract will not be renewed when it expires in May.

Spring Arbor University works hard to maintain its reputation. Divorce, drunkenness, and other behaviors considered sinful by the church is forbidden. Upon being hired, employees sign an agreement stating that such behavior can result in termination of employment.

Julie Marie Nemecek is fighting her dismissal. Her attorney, Randi Barnabee, has filed a discrimination claim with the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in Detroit. She is seeking unspecified damages and a reinstatement to her former position.

Julie Marie Nemecek is not alone in her fight. Staff and students who support Ms. Nemecek want to know how gender identity violates biblical principles.

On Monday, February 12, the Spring Arbor Gay Straight Alliance held a rally to support Ms. Nemecek and to educate the community about transgender issues. The rally was a day long event during which they showed "Transgeneration," a film documenting the lives of four transgendered individuals.

Students gathered on campus sidewalks. They carried signs that asked: "What would Jesus do?"

Julie, dressed as a woman, told them, "There is no sin in living in joyful celebration for how God has made you."

While the students marched, supporters of the university gathered at the Spring Arbor Free Methodist Church to pray for the community.

The college claims the right to fire Ms. Nemecek based a Bona Fied Occupational Qualification, which allows them to hire only Christian employees.

In response, Barnabee states that Spring Arbor admits students of every faith and that not all their employees are Christian. The university also receives government funds that prevent them from discriminating based on gender.

Mediation on the complaint is scheduled for March. Nemecek plans to file a federal lawsuit if the mediation fails.

SOURCES:
"University Firing Transgender Prof", Jackson Citizen Patriot, February 4, 2007
URL: http://www.mlive.com/news/jacitpat/index.ssf?/base/news-20/1170587131125380.xml&coll=3&thispage=1

"Gender Change Costs Dean a Job", Inside Higher Ed, February 6, 2007
URL: http://insidehighered.com/news/2007/02/06/springarbor

"Rally Backs Transgender Prof", Jackson Citizen Patriot, February 13, 2007
URL: http://www.mlive.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news-20/1171384646174100.xml?jacitpat?NEJ&coll=3&thispage=1

Professor's plight heard worldwide Nemecek getting lots of attention after story appeared in newspaper
Saturday, February 10, 2007
By Steven Hepker

shepker@citpat.com -- 768-4923

People worldwide are reading, writing and talking about Spring Arbor's Julie Marie Nemecek in the wake of her unveiling last week in the Citizen Patriot.

"They are blogging me in England and Portugal," Nemecek said amid the whirlwind of press coverage and Internet exposure.

John Nemecek is a 55-year-old transgender Spring Arbor University professor in transition to becoming a woman, Julie Marie.

Leaders at the Christian-based college deemed it unholy behavior. Nemecek's contract will not be renewed this spring, after 16 years.

Nemecek is an ordained Baptist minister and associate dean of adult studies. He has been married to a nurse, Joanne, for 35 years. They have three grown sons and say their love has grown during this transition.

Nemecek said she does not plan sex-change surgery, known as gender reassignment.

Family and friends have been digesting Nemecek's gender evolution for more than a year. Most are accepting Julie in stages.

University leaders cut Nemecek's salary and duties in 2006 and ordered her not to appear as a woman on campus or in related situations. She was accused of violating the revised contract on at least four occasions, such as wearing earrings at a golf outing.

University President Gayle Beebe issued a statement that administrators attempted to work with Nemecek and offered her "opportunity for restoration."

After filing a discrimination complaint against Spring Arbor University, Nemecek decided to come out in the Citizen Patriot.

The stories triggered plenty of talk locally. Discussions are a blend of science, religion, ethics and the cultural view of transgenders.

The story spread exponentially through news services and the Internet. Nemecek has been overwhelmed by e-mails, letters and calls from around the world, and a crush of media requests.

"The amount of support has been overwhelming," Nemecek said Thursday at home with Joanne.

Julie Marie continues to teach online undergraduate and post-graduate classes from home. She designed the university's Internet education programs in the early 1990s, helping online classes grow from six to 90.

Letters to the Citizen Patriot mostly support Nemecek. Many say this is a chance for the university to show its Christian heart and practice its commitment to diversity.

Beebe responded to the initial stories with separate messages to faculty and to students.

Beebe issued a protocol for dealing with the media and reiterated the university's position that Nemecek's actions are "inconsistent with the Christian faith."

Others also side with Spring Arbor University's stance that a transgender professor detracts from Christian teachings and the college image.

"I got one nasty call, from apparently a truck driver who was traveling through the area," Nemecek said. "Someone sent me a very negative letter, anonymously."

Julie and Joanne prayed and searched their hearts and the Bible, and concluded God does not command transgender persons to live conflicted lives.

"It is not some kind of sexual perversion and not anti-Christian," Nemecek said of the continuing steps toward looking like she has felt inside most of her life.

Nemecek was diagnosed with gender identity disorder and has been undergoing hormone therapy and counseling. Part of the protocol involves dressing as a woman, wearing jewelry, nail polish and makeup, and a female wig.

She attended a faculty meeting Tuesday on campus, not dressed as a woman. "I would be fired," Nemecek said.

More than 120 students and alumni have signed onto a "We Support Julie Marie" group on the FaceBook Web site launched by student Drew Hinkle.

Nemecek's youngest son, Joshua, even started his own blog at blog.myfathershe.com.

Gay rights groups have also taken up the cause, condemning Spring Arbor University and offering words of encouragement to Nemecek.

"People assume that if your are transgender you are gay, and that is not the case," Nemecek said. "We do share a common sense of discrimination."

The university maintains it is guaranteed federal and state civil rights to require that faculty are Christians. Nemecek agrees with that. But there is no right to discriminate based on gender, she said.

Nemecek, who legally becomes Julie Marie on Feb. 23, wants to keep her position, but as a woman. She cannot envision a compromise in which she returns as John.

"To some extent, it would be more painful than before," Nemecek said.