It Pays to Complain!

Paul Keller, a Life Member of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, has halted the practice of featuring religious songs at graduation ceremonies at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. The violation has been going on for at least 15 years, possibly much longer.

Paul, a continuing student who attended the mid-term graduation ceremony, noted that at that December ceremony, the chancellor "talked about diversity."

The choir then ironically sang two religious songs, including "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," in which the words had been changed from "his truth is marching on" to "my god is marching on."

In a prompt letter to the dean of students, Paul noted: "Those of many different religions (e.g., Native American, Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, different Christian sects) and of no religion were in the audience and were disgusted. Even those of a similar religion were offended because this is supposed to be a state school, not a fundamentalist bible college.

"If the choir director wishes to continue selling his particular religion on state time, then he should be fired or resign and move to a Christian fundamentalist college. He is replaceable. He can sell his prejudice on his own time, but not at work using the mechanisms of the state, such as the UW-Stout choir at graduation, to do so.

"Graduation is for all of the students, not for the choir director. It should be inclusive to all citizens and not be exclusive on the basis of religion.

"I understand that this has been going on for many years, which makes it even more wrong and offensive. Tradition is not an excuse for abuse. Slavery was a 350-year-old tradition in the United States.

"All graduation songs, music and symbols should be religiously neutral. Secular songs which celebrate educational achievement would be more appropriate because educational achievement is what graduation is about. Graduation is not about anybody's religion or god. All official UW-Stout functions should be religiously neutral."

Paul reports that he followed up the letter with an email every few weeks. Thanks to his persistence, both songs, "Battle Hymn" and "The Lord Bless You and Keep You," were canceled for the spring graduation ceremony in May.

"I am also a student and followed the formal channel of complaint, which probably gave the complaint more weight," Paul adds.

It pays to complain!