How to get Emory to Rescind Award to Anti-gay Activist?

September 22, 2013 1:17 PM

Emory University is planning to give a distinguished alumni award to H. Eddie Fox, who has been leading the fight against the inclusion and equality of gay Methodists in the Methodist Church (among other accomplishments). Students/staff/faculty are currently mobilizing to have that award rescinded. We have less than a week left. What is the most effective way to pressure Emory to rescind that award?

Dean Love, of Emory's Candler School of Theology, has confirmed that although the recommendation came from the Candler Alumni Board, she approved it and she would have the authority to rescind it.

posted by andoatnp to Education (6 answers total)

The two areas where you can put pressure on the university are in bad publicity and alumni donors. For publicity you probably want to reach out to LGBT groups and if possible groups of gay Methodists, and then make it clear that there will be a protest saying that Fox is not welcome. Also get the local media involved if you can and use social media to full effect. Wordpress is good for throwing up a quick informational site, and some memes that you can try to go viral with. Are there any LGBT recipients of the distinguished alumni award? That may be a powerful weapon if there are.

For donor pressure you really need to work the alumni. Messages from alumni are powerful pressure on a college; as soon as you're off campus they see you as a potential donor. You said you got Chik-Fil-A off campus, I think that any links you have with LGBT and allied alumni would be your natural targets here. Get a standard message together that your campaign wants alums to send to the university - make it respectful but very clear that this is not acceptable.
posted by graymouser at 2:25 PM on September 22, 2013 [1 favorite]

For bad publicity, don't forget local TV stations and newspapers. Maybe also PFLAG?
posted by easily confused at 4:18 PM on September 22, 2013

The most significant problem with going after H. Eddie Fox is that he represents the official view of the United Methodist Church, i.e. that homosexual acts are incompatible with Christian teaching. An argument could easily be made that giving such an award to any United Methodist would constitute promoting the church's anti-gay message. A similar problem would come from giving an award to any practicing Roman Catholic, Mormon, or Muslim.
posted by hworth at 5:23 PM on September 22, 2013

Devote everything you have to building a legal, peaceful demonstration by as many people as popssible. Then another one. And another. Of course tell the press about them. No guarantees, but this is the best thing you can do.
posted by LonnieK at 5:28 PM on September 22, 2013

Wealthy universities ultimately speak only one language: $$$. If you can find some influential donors, or even small-time donors, willing to threaten to withhold future gifts, that would send a serious message.
posted by threeants at 5:46 PM on September 22, 2013 [1 favorite]

I am a United Methodist pastor (who did not attend Emory/Candler, and who also disagrees with the church's stand on homosexuality, marriage, and ordination). IMHO, threeants has it. You have to hit them in the pocket books.

I would also perhaps suggest that they remember this, and ask themselves, once again, which side of history the university wishes to be on.

Good luck. I hope and pray this goes well for you.
posted by 4ster at 7:20 PM on September 22, 2013