2008 Woodie Awards
Professor's pre-class prayers elicit complaint from parent
Administration 'looking into' situation, maintains that Marist is inclusive for all
Keara Driscoll
Issue date: 11/30/06 Section: News
Otte said she intentionally prays five minutes before the class begins, giving those students who do not wish to join in the prayer the opportunity to not be present.
Students in Otte's Monday and Thursday Biopsychology class said that Professor Otte explained in the beginning of the school year that praying before class was her personal choice and that no one was obligated to participate or remain in the room during that time if they felt uncomfortable.
Junior Matthew Reid said Otte made her intentions clear the first day of class, and that it is easy enough to avoid the prayer if he so chooses: "I am not religious, but I still feel that Professor Otte's prayer is not offensive…I mean, if something offends you on T.V., change the channel."
Additionally, Reid mentioned that while he is not religious, he has never felt pressured to be involved in Otte's prayer. "I can just show up right when class begins," said Reid. Reid clarifies that he enjoys starting off his week with Otte's prayer, stating that it is a generalized voicing of hope for the well-being of the world and each other.
Otte said that her act of praying "allows students an opportunity to get centered…it gives students a few seconds to stop moving and focus." She says that the prayer is an extension of herself as a teacher to her students, and that she intentionally made the prayer inclusive so that all students can feel comfortable joining her, if they so choose.
Twenty of Otte's students expressed concern over a possible dismissal. None said that the prayer before class made them uncomfortable or offended them.
"It doesn't have any effect on the way she teaches her classes," said junior Erica Dickens.
John Keenan, a sophomore, said that he was "outraged" by the complaints against Otte, and that her success as a teacher should be enough to keep her on campus.
Other students felt that Marist's religious history was made obvious across the campus, and that Otte's prayer is an extension of that history.
Students in Otte's Monday and Thursday Biopsychology class said that Professor Otte explained in the beginning of the school year that praying before class was her personal choice and that no one was obligated to participate or remain in the room during that time if they felt uncomfortable.
Junior Matthew Reid said Otte made her intentions clear the first day of class, and that it is easy enough to avoid the prayer if he so chooses: "I am not religious, but I still feel that Professor Otte's prayer is not offensive…I mean, if something offends you on T.V., change the channel."
Additionally, Reid mentioned that while he is not religious, he has never felt pressured to be involved in Otte's prayer. "I can just show up right when class begins," said Reid. Reid clarifies that he enjoys starting off his week with Otte's prayer, stating that it is a generalized voicing of hope for the well-being of the world and each other.
Otte said that her act of praying "allows students an opportunity to get centered…it gives students a few seconds to stop moving and focus." She says that the prayer is an extension of herself as a teacher to her students, and that she intentionally made the prayer inclusive so that all students can feel comfortable joining her, if they so choose.
Twenty of Otte's students expressed concern over a possible dismissal. None said that the prayer before class made them uncomfortable or offended them.
"It doesn't have any effect on the way she teaches her classes," said junior Erica Dickens.
John Keenan, a sophomore, said that he was "outraged" by the complaints against Otte, and that her success as a teacher should be enough to keep her on campus.
Other students felt that Marist's religious history was made obvious across the campus, and that Otte's prayer is an extension of that history.
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 6
Reenie Menditto
posted 11/30/06 @ 1:43 PM EST
You have got to be kidding!!!!!! What next? Will Christmas be banned from the Marist campus? (Sounds like the stretching activity could go next...it may offend a parent of a student who doesn't believe in excercise. (Continued…)
kathyrag
Kathrag
posted 12/05/06 @ 8:07 PM EST
Ditto ... I couldn't have said it better myself.
kathyrag
Maureen Gray
posted 12/05/06 @ 8:22 PM EST
Professor Otte is an exemplary professor practicing her Christian faith at Marist. As a parent looking at colleges for my daughter, I would prefer a college that instills Catholic values & beliefs rather than one persecuting teachers practicing their faith. (Continued…)
Paul T. Hurley
posted 12/08/06 @ 4:05 PM EST
Maybe this college should change it's name to Madeleine Murray O'Hare College and not defame the name of Our Lord's Mother.
Mykkii
Mykkii Millott
posted 12/09/06 @ 8:32 PM EST
This is absolutely dim-witted! Margaret Calista, please stand up for something! Going through the Social Work program at Marist, we had an "exit interview" of sorts with the 'teaching team' and do you remember what we said?! We felt violated, used, abused, treated as sub-human because of the "team effort" that WASN'T used and claimed to be! The ABSOLUTE LEAST that the Behavioral Sciences department can do is offer a moment of clarity, focus and ease of tension for a bunch of young adults, who, in all honesty, are going to be heading out in the world to do God's work! They aren't going to be paid thousands of dollars. (Continued…)
Ray Batista
posted 5/03/07 @ 10:29 PM EST
I think the situation was handled immaturely. The parent should have approached Professor Otte privately herself instead of chastisizing her anonymously and making a public show of it; whatever the resolution was. (Continued…)
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