At Rollins College near Orlando, Florida, a Christian sophomore was suspended from the private school for challenging his Muslim professor’s assertions that the crucifixion of Jesus never happened and that his disciples didn’t believe in his divinity.
Central Florida Post reported on the ordeal:
Not even a year after Radical Islamic terrorist Omar Mateen killed 49 people at Orlando’s Pulse nightclub, Rollins College officials are punishing a Christian Conservative student who challenged a liberal Muslim professor and radicalized Muslim student during a conversation on the application of Sharia Law.
Marshall Polston confirmed to the Central Florida Post that Professor Areeje Zufari, who teaches a “Muslim Humanities” course at Rollins, has made outlandish claims against him and even filed a false police report.
Early on in the class, Polston said he realized the professor was harboring Anti-Christian beliefs, demonstrated by the professor’s assertion that the crucifixion of Jesus was a hoax and that his disciples did not believe he was God.
“It was very off-putting and flat out odd. I’ve traveled the Middle East, lectured at the Salahaddin University, and immersed myself in Muslim culture for many years. Honestly, it reminded me of some of the more radical groups I researched when abroad.”
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.” Regardless, to assert the contrary as academic fact is not supported by the evidence.
Polston says that he challenged her on this point during a class discussion and after that, Professor Zufari promptly failed him on a major essay and refused to provide input as to why she issued a 52% grade for the essay.
When the class resumed, Zufari began a lesson on applying Sharia Law. That’s when another Muslim student chimed in with some shocking beliefs but received no punishment from the school:
The student, a yet to be identified Muslim male, is said to have showcased a very strict adherence to the Quaran in previous group talks. But this time, he went too far for many students in the classroom.
“He stated that a good punishment for gays, adulterers, and thieves was the removal of a certain body part [beheading], as determined by Sharia law. It took a few seconds for me to realize that he actually said that, especially after what this community has faced with the tragic loss of life at Pulse,” explained Polston.
The Muslim college professor jokingly responded to the student that he was “in time-out” or something to that effect, and should remain quiet for a few minutes. Several students, of both Islamic and Christian backgrounds, thought the teacher should have reported the incident, but the request fell on deaf ears.
One student, who asked to remain anonymous, even reported the incident to the F.B.I., figuring it was better to say something than just ignore it.
“They made it clear that they had not gotten a report about what the student said, and were more concerned about the danger I was causing to the campus,” Polston said. “What danger? A difference of opinion in a college classroom is nothing out of the ordinary and certainly not dangerous. It was surreal and degrading. The bad grade was upsetting, but they were literally refusing to acknowledge the dangers posed by someone who advocated chopping off body parts on campus.”
As of March 24, Polston can’t appear on campus or be any where near Zufari until the end of the academic year, as his “actions have constituted a threat of disruption within the operations of the College and jeopardize the safety and well-being of members of the College community and yourself,” the suspension letter states.
It is noted that the professor also filed a police report stating Polston has already showed up to class despite his suspension to harass her. However, he has presented video surveillance evidence that he was at a restaurant thirty minutes from campus during that class time.
“Our university should be a place where free-speech flashes and ideas can be spoken of without punishment or fear of retribution,” Polston told The College Fix. “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.”
