Faculty at an evangelical Illinois college have asked administrators to stop termination proceedings for a professor suspended last month over a Muslim solidarity campaign, The Chicago Tribune reported Thursday.
Wheaton College’s faculty council, a group of professors elected by their peers, sent a letter to school officials that called for the college to withdraw the suspension of tenured professor Larycia Hawkins and halt termination proceedings.
Hawkins was first suspended in December for writing a lengthy Facebook post announcing her decision to wear a hijab during the Christmas season, arguing that Muslims and Christians “worship the same God.” Wheaton administrators took issue with that language, saying it violated the statement of faith that all faculty must sign. The college initiated termination proceedings against Hawkins in January.
The faculty council expressed “grave concerns about the process” in the letter.
Wheaton students have been protesting Hawkins’ suspension for weeks.
