The SGA senate passed legislation on Oct. 27 criticizing Milligan and calling for cutting ties between the two schools over Milligan’s alleged dismissal of a professor because of their sexual orientation.
The legislation, SSR-20-006, reads:
“A resolution that condemns Milligan University for its abhorrent stance toward its handling of LGBT issues and calls on the [ETSU] leadership to cut select partnerships including but not limited to athletic events and use of the University monies that are paid to Milligan.”
The ETSU SGA senate had 22 out of 24 senators in attendance and voted 17-5 in favor of the proposition.
Prior to the vote, senators on both sides of the issue voiced their opinions during debate. It was moved and passed twice to extend the time for a total of 30 minutes of debate, a much longer than normal time given to one topic.
The Stampede spoke with Seth Manning the morning of the meeting. Manning is the executive vice president of ETSU’s SGA and the sponsor of the legislation. Manning described the issue as a moral and legal one.
“Really, this comes down to a legal issue. ETSU is a Title VII and Title IX funded institution and so we have to protect students on the basis of sexual orientation,” he said. “When we have students who are LGBT and they’re having their money go to bring Milligan in to play athletics events or really any funding going to Milligan, that sets a dangerous and, in my opinion, illegal precedent. It sets ETSU up for a lawsuit.”
Milligan officials question that interpretation, however.
“I am not aware of any legal or regulatory interpretation of Title IX that would cause ETSU to be out of compliance due to any type of relationship with Milligan,” said Brent Nipper, Milligan’s Title IX coordinator. “Including athletic events or contests between the two schools, given that Milligan is operating within the legal parameters of a religious corporation under the First Amendment.”
Manning stated that the ETSU administration would have 14 days after the legislation passed to come to a decision on where it stands. He also said that if the vote had not been in favor of the legislation it would have been dropped from the table completely.
Joe Smith, ETSU chief of communications, told the Johnson City Press after the SGA senate vote that the resolution is nonbinding.
“As with any action involving the SGA, this resolution will go through the appropriate review processes,” Smith said. “At this time, the Office of the President has not had time to review the final version of the resolution that was passed.”
In a written statement to The Stampede, Milligan President Bill Greer said, “Milligan and ETSU have enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship for decades. Both schools have always respected one another’s missions and the differences that inherently exist between a public institution like ETSU and a private, faith-based institution like Milligan. It is unfortunate that these differences can quickly become polarizing in today’s climate, but I remain hopeful that our schools will continue to partner in our efforts to provide this region with diverse educational choices.”
Milligan’s SGA did not have a comment on the situation at this time.