Bismarck Tribune - North Dakota News - College demonstration leads to arrests of three

College demonstration leads to arrests of three

Apr 24, 2007 - 07:54:15 CDT

ELLENDALE (AP) - A demonstration to protest a Trinity Bible College policy against homosexuality led to three arrests Monday, an organizer said.

The three who were arrested had left an area set aside for demonstrators and tried to walk to the school's chapel, said Haven Herrin, an organizer of the Soulforce Equality Ride. The three were charged with trespassing and released after posting $500 bail each.

Herrin said Soulforce is a social justice organization whose members are touring the country in buses visiting colleges and universities they believe discriminate against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students.

She said some schools welcome the group for the sharing of ideas while others, like Trinity Bible College, have barred them from school grounds.

"We come anyway," she said. "We come to support the LGBT students who are silenced on this campus."

Steve Tvedt, a Trinity Bible College vice president, said the demonstrators were peaceful, but he said school officials told them they were not welcome because there was no middle ground for discussion.

"By definition, we understand dialogue to mean both sides would be expected to make some compromise in a position," Tvedt said. "Since that didn't seem to be the case on either side, we didn't feel there was any point in having discussions."

Soulforce was protesting a part of the college handbook that requires all students to refrain from "any form of sexual immorality, including promiscuity, homosexuality, sexual violence, adultery, date rape, premarital sex and all forms of pornography."

Herrin said homosexuality does not belong on the list.

Herrin said the Soulforce group plans to visit Northwestern College in St. Paul, Minn., on Wednesday.

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Comments

Fief wrote on Sep 26, 2007 8:33 AM:

" People feel safe believing that the world is black and white. It saves them from having to think for themselves. Life isn't a straight path. It is a marvelous journey, a winding path where we find our way. Everyone's path looks different. Yet we judge someone if their path doesn't look the same. "

Nita wrote on May 21, 2007 9:00 AM:

" Yeaaaah Trinity !~!. You took a scripturally sound stand. I applaud you! "

Beesh wrote on Apr 24, 2007 1:50 PM:

" TBC in Ellendale is a CHRISTIAN COLLEGE AN SEMINARY!!! Homosexuality is AGAINST THE TENANTS OF CHRISTIANITY!!! Would these loser concede if a bus load of Southern Baptists rolled into San Francisco Universary and demanded that Christians get special treatment? NO WAY! These 'pro'testers are stirring up problems they can financially gain from. "

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