A student from Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida claims he was suspended for challenging his Muslim professor’s anti-Christian assertions, including her assertion that Jesus’ crucifixion never occurred.
Marshall Polston, 20, is claiming that his Middle Eastern Humanities professor also told students that Jesus’ disciples “did not believe he was God.”
Polston, a self-described Christian who has toured the Middle East, says he is familiar with the Muslim culture.
“Honestly, it reminded me of some of the more radical groups I researched when abroad,” Polston told the Central Florida Post when asked about his professor’s comments.
“Whether religious or not, I believe even those with limited knowledge of Christianity can agree that according to the text, Jesus was crucified and his followers did believe he was divine... that he was ‘God,’” he said.
“Regardless, to assert the contrary as academic fact is not supported by the evidence,” he added.
Polston said he stands behind his assertions in the Post article, adding that he is very upset that he was suspended for voicing his opinion.
“Our university should be a place where free-speech flashes and ideas can be spoken of without punishment or fear of retribution,” Polston said.
“In my case it was the total opposite. ... I came forward with the story because I know so many other students like me suffer under today’s liberal academic elite.”
The Central Florida Post reports that it tried several times speak with officials from Rollins College and Professor Zufari, but never received any comment back.
Polston claims that after he challenged professor Zufari’s assertions about Jesus and his disciples, professor Zufari filed a complaint with a campus dean, claiming he made her feel “unsafe.”
Following the complaint, Polston received a 52 percent grade on a major essay from the same professor.
“I was upset, understandably. I’ve never gotten anything less than straight A’s, so I was really interested in figuring out how to possibly improve or at least understand the grade,” Polston told the Post.
“I spoke out to the professor about the grade and subsequently the decapitation comments made by the student,” Polston said.
“The statement by the conservative Muslim student met such fear by some that one of the students reported it to the FBI. Later, I was reported by the professor to the dean of campus safety. The situation was surreal. We’ve already had one too many attacks in Orlando and as an avid traveler I realized this was the perfect example of ‘see something, say something.’”
Zufari took the situation much further by posting on the ACLU Florida Facebook page:
“An unnamed student is making my life hell this semester. This one is spewing hatred at me, derailing class, and just sent me a hateful email threatening me...I want to know if there is a way to hold the individual responsible for his harassment and hate speech. Any ideas? Thank you!”
In 2013, the Orlando Sentinel reportedthat “college officials kicked a Christian group off of campus for their conservative beliefs and threatened to pull funding from Christian student groups that would not allow non-Christian students to be in the club’s leadership.”
Later that year, Fox News reportedthat students were told that they could not hold private Bible studies in their dorm rooms.
It seems that the Left loves free speech until you say or do something they do not agree with.