Freedom From Religion Foundation sends letter to Bardo
A crowd gathers in front of Fairmount Coffee Co while speeches were given for the coffee shop’s grand opening.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation sent WSU President John Bardo a letter Wednesday, regarding its concerns with a class they say is being held in a religious location.
The letter was written by Christopher Line, a law-school graduate who has worked as a Legal Fellow with the foundation since 2015.
Line said that WSU chemistry professor Dr. Katie-Mitchell Koch requires students in her Physical Chemistry 1 class to meet off campus at Fairmount Coffee Company on 17th Street. He said that the company is affiliated with the Lutheran Student Center and that the shop contains religious decorations.
“The coffee shop is filled with bible quotes and other religious iconography,” Line said in the letter.
Line said that the school violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment by requiring students to enter a religious establishment to attend class, “especially when numerous secular locations are available.”
“Requiring students to enter a religious establishment in order to attend class is especially concerning when you consider that 38% of Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 are not religious,” Line said in the letter to Bardo.
The letter calls for WSU to take the “appropriate steps to ensure Dr. Mitchell-Koch will no longer place undue religious pressure on students by requiring them to enter a religious establishment in order to attend class.”
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is a national non-profit organization that promotes the separation of church and state.
This isn’t the first time the organization has challenged Wichita State.
In March of 2015, the foundation, which has more than 150 members in Kansas according to its website, sent a letter to Bardo concerning the employment of a team chaplain for the men’s basketball team.
Allem • Sep 29, 2017 at 11:00 am
I feel like maybe you need to read the article again. This time REALLY try to comprehend
Mike (Ike's brother) • Sep 28, 2017 at 10:02 pm
It’s unfortunate that Christopher Line doesn’t have the mental fortitude to resist a cross that’s in his line of sight. But I get it! You can’t be too careful, a religious idea might slip in your brain when you’re not looking.
I think he’s right…They need to move the entire class to accommodate his suceptible brain. He obviously hasn’t been taught to actively resist the evils of Christianity. Sad!
RussellsTeaPot • Oct 4, 2017 at 10:16 pm
Mike: A person has pointed out a violation of national law. You are then attacking the person who pointed out the violation instead of recognizing the violation of national law. Do you also harass bank tellers who call the police when a robbery is in progress?
Fake Pres. Bardo • Oct 4, 2017 at 11:36 pm
What national law? Congress makes laws not courts. The only national law on WSU are the words that come out of my mouth and the money I spend.
KBOR will back me up
As always,
Fake Pres. Bardo
RussellsTeaPot • Oct 5, 2017 at 1:07 am
Fake Pres. Bardo: The Establishment Clause, as modified by The 14th Amendment. Congress passed that amendment, for the record.
So The Establishment Clause is applicable in relation to government organizations and educational institutions accepting money and endorsement from the government, even if you don’t wish it to be the case.
Fake Pres. Bardo • Oct 7, 2017 at 12:53 am
Well golly gee willikers,
Looks like im going to have to get put a starbucks in grace memorial hall.
#Coffee#Inovation#SpendMoney#MakeAdministratorsRich
As always,
Fake Pres. Bardo
free from pretentious jerks • Sep 28, 2017 at 9:19 pm
If the business is promoting their congregation, then yes it is undue pressure. If not, which there is no advocating their church as I have been in the coffee shop before then there is no issue. It looks like Christopher Line is an ambulance chaser in the making.
Ike • Sep 28, 2017 at 8:21 pm
This has to be one of the most atrocious articles I have ever read. This is why I will not be donating to Wichita State, The Sunflower is trash. Sad!
Fake Pres. Bardo • Sep 28, 2017 at 6:30 pm
Fake Foundation!
This is great innovation! Having class at a coffee shop! What a great improvement! Coffee is becoming the staple of WSU.
As always,
Fake Pres. Bardo
Come on • Sep 28, 2017 at 10:06 pm
Dude, this bit is lame.
Fake Pres. Bardo • Sep 30, 2017 at 8:19 pm
There is no document that grants anyone the freedom from religion.
As Always,
Fake Pres. Bardo
Allem • Oct 1, 2017 at 4:46 pm
That depends on how you define “freedom from religion.”
RussellsTeaPot • Oct 4, 2017 at 10:12 pm
“Just as the right to speak and the right to refrain from speaking are complementary components of a broader concept of individual freedom of mind, so also the individual’s freedom to choose his own creed is the counterpart of his right to refrain from accepting the creed established by the majority. At one time it was thought that this right merely proscribed the preference of one Christian sect over another, but would not require equal respect for the conscience of the infidel, the atheist, or the adherent of a non-Christian faith such as Mohammedism or Judaism. But when the underlying principle has been examined in the crucible of litigation, the Court has unambiguously concluded that the individual freedom of conscience protected by the First Amendment embraces the right to select any religious faith or none at all.”
—-Justice Stevens for the majority, Wallace v. Jaffree
Fake Pres. Bardo • Oct 4, 2017 at 11:09 pm
Courts can change their mind.
As always,
Fake Pres. Bardo
RussellsTeaPot • Oct 4, 2017 at 11:30 pm
Fake Pres. Bardo: They can, but not if they wish to remain fair and equitable. I’m sorry to hear that you wish to malign the religious rights of fellow citizens.