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A Taylor University freshman and a recent grad share their perspectives on Mike Pence chosen to give commencement address. Jenna Watson, jenna.watson@indystar.com

UPLAND The selection of Vice President Mike Pence to give the commencement address next month at Taylor University has created a rift among students, alumni and faculty at the typically low-key, non-denominational Christian college.

The controversy has elicited strong emotions on the private university's 952-acre campus at the edge of the small Grant County community of Upland, about 70 miles north of Indianapolis.

More than 12,750 people many of them students, alumni and parents have signed competing petitions at change.org. One asks the administration to rescind its invitation, the other supports the Pence visit.

The day of the announcement, the faculty voted 61-49 to approve a motion of dissent. The non-binding action expressed "to the board of trustees that the majority of faculty is in disagreement with the decision," according to The Echo, Taylor's student newspaper.

The dispute also spurred a number of organized and impromptu conversations about religion and politics among many of the school's about 2,000 students, staff and administrators.

Fallout has spread far beyond the campus.

The Rediger Chapel Auditorium is seen at Taylor University in Upland, Ind., Monday, April 22, 2019. (Photo: Jenna Watson/IndyStar)

There's been national coverage from media outlets ranging from Fox News to The Washington Post, as well as stories and opinion pieces on numerous education- and faith-related websites.

On campus last week, about half the students asked by IndyStar about Pence's visit declined to comment. Most of those who did talk said they oppose the selection of the vice president to be the commencement speaker, but added they can see both sides of the issue.

They also said the level of controversy at the school has probably been overblown by the national media and outcry from parents, alumni, political insiders and pundits. But there's no question the move has stirred up feelings on the campus.

"Even just between people that don't really take a side on this issue, they're really disheartened and upset by how much conflict and division is on campus," observed freshman David Chinn.

"There's a lot of people working to try and reconcile the two sides with their disagreements. I think we're gradually getting there. Obviously, there's a lot of emotions and very, very strong opinions ... I think that we're gradually getting to a place of understanding, but we're obviously not there at the moment."

David Chinn is a freshman at Taylor University.(Photo: Jenna Watson/IndyStar)

The varying emotions and opinions surfaced almost immediately after Taylor President Paul Lowell Haines announced April 11 that Pence would be the speaker at the school's May 18 commencement ceremony. Haines called it an honor to land the vice president and former governor.

"Mr. Pence has been a good friend to the University over many years, and is a Christian brother whose life and values have exemplified what we strive to instill in our graduates," Haines said in a statement announcing Pence as the speaker. "We welcome the Vice President and his wife, Karen Pence, to this 173-year-old premier institution of Christian higher education, and thank them for their love and service for our nation, our state, and our institution."

The backlash has not deterred the administration.

"Since making the announcement of Vice President Mike Pences upcoming commencement speech, we have received feedback from people on either side of the issue," James R. Garringer, the university's director of media relations, said in a statement to IndyStar.

"Taylor University is an intentional Christian community that strives to encourage positive, respectful and meaningful dialogue. We look forward to hosting the Vice President next month."

Pence will come to Taylor after delivering another commencement address May 11 at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.

Some critics of the selection explained they would not be opposed to Pence speaking at the school under different circumstances. And they stressed their concerns are not because he is a Christian.

What bothers some is way the invitation was handled by the administration, without input from students or faculty. To others, the selection feels like an endorsement of a specific political side and religious philosophy in divisive political times. Still others said they are troubled by Pence's affiliation and support of President Trump, who they don't believe represents the Christian values central to the university's mission.

Freshman Jared Smith acknowledged his concern is not just about Pence's politics or faith.

Jared Smith is a freshman at Taylor University.(Photo: Jenna Watson/IndyStar)

"I haven't seen any evidence that totally disqualifies him from being a reasonable speaker at Taylor nothing that makes it appear that he is not practicing Christian values that would align with Taylor," Smith explained.

He said the announcement seemed to be a "poorly thought out decision." He said those he's spoken with wish there had been "more thoughtfulness and dialog" with students and faculty. Still, he said, the debate on campus has remained civil.

"Inside Taylor," Smith said, "people for the most part have been very reasonable in their discussions. There's a lot of different views, and a lot of different reasons people have for signing certain petitions and not others, or not signing any petition. But generally, people have been very calm and very reasonable."

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Comments attached to the online petitions have been a little stronger.

The petition opposing Pence's visit was started by Alex Hoekstra, a Taylor alum. It had more than 7,060 signatures as of Monday afternoon.

"Inviting Vice President Pence to Taylor University and giving him a coveted platform for his political views makes our alumni, faculty, staff and current students complicit in the Trump-Pence Administration's policies, which we believe are not consistent with the Christian ethic of love we hold dear," the petition says.

Comments include:

Taylor sophomore Sam Jones started a competing petition after Hoekstra's went live online. It is intended as a show of support for the selection of Pence. As of Monday afternoon, it had more than 5,700 signatures.

Taylor University sophomore Sam Jones started a petition in support of having Vice President Mike Pence speak at graduation.(Photo: Submitted by Sam Jones)

"As students and active community members of Taylor University, we believe that the the University's decision to host VP Mike Pence as commencement speaker should be supported," the petition says. "By Pence speaking at this upcoming graduation, Taylor is by no means aligning themselves with the alleged controversial views of the Trump administration, they are simply giving a voice to all opinions and planes of thought."

The petition also includes dozens of strongly worded comments, including:

Jones said he started the petition "to show administration that we didn't want them to rescind the invitation and we wanted to show support" for Pence coming to Taylor.

"I personally like the idea of him coming to speak because he's the vice president of the United States and, regardless of political affiliation, having somebody of that status be able to come to our small campus in the middle of Indiana is a pretty big honor," Jones said.

"Regardless of whether it was Mike Pence or Joe Biden, I would very much appreciate having the vice president come to speak to us. Outside of that, I do believe that Mike Pence holds values that are very much in line with Taylor's values in terms of Christian faith and living out a glorifying life to the Christian faith."

It is Pence's particular take on Christianity that bothers some opposed to him speaking at commencement.

Taylor University alumna Emily Russell said she was frustrated with the school's choice to have Vice President Mike Pence deliver the commencement address.(Photo: Jenna Watson/IndyStar)

"I think one of the biggest errors in the political and religious conversation in America today is this idea that Christianity is one group of people with the same opinions or the same politics or the same life experiences," said Emily Russell, a 2018 Taylor graduate.

Pence represents one specific view of Christianity, Russell said.

"But that is not the only side of Christianity," she said. "And there are enough Christians who feel that his policies do not reflect their values, that they don't think that this is an appropriate speaker for a university that's trying to not only be Christian, but inviting to Christians with varying experiences and opinions."

This isn't the first time Pence's selection as a commencement speaker at an Indiana university has generated controversy. About 100 students walked out of the 2017 graduation ceremony at the University of Notre Dame as the vice president began his commencement address.

The graduation will be in the Kesler Student Activities Center arena on the Taylor campus. Tickets will be required and school officials say there will be ample tickets for all graduates and their guests.

Due to Pence's visit, additional security measures will be in place, including limits ontravel to the campus and parking. School officials say there also will be metal detectors and restrictions on items that can be brought into the center.

Contact Tim Evans at 317-444-6204 or tim.evans@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter: @starwatchtim.

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