# UNC 0, Ignorance 1 **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 20, 2002, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unc-0-ignorance-1/119991 "2002-07-20T18:20:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2002, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unc-0-ignorance-1/119991/141 "2002-07-26T15:17:58Z")
Thanks for an informative post, **Jodi**. I guess the plaintiffs would have had more of a chance than I thought. (Still, it’s a shame that the school didn’t figure this out beforehand and make an informed decision either to assign a different book or to stick to their guns. Wishy-washiness just teaches the students they can get out of doing assigned work if they squeal loudly enough.) **Double Darren** , a couple of other posters have already asked you to supply evidence of UNC’s “anti-Christian bias,” and I second this request. You may be interested to know that, out of of 50 religious [student organizations](http://carolinaunion.unc.edu/activities_orgs/index.html) on campus, over 35 are based on some flavor of Christianity, while only half a dozen or so have names that suggest they are dedicated to another religion. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2002, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unc-0-ignorance-1/119991/142 "2002-07-26T15:36:01Z")
I don’t see how the administration of the university could’ve foreseen that the incoming class wasn’t interested in learning. ---
**Author:** ![wireless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f14d63/32.png) [@wireless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wireless)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2002, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unc-0-ignorance-1/119991/143 "2002-07-26T17:42:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Double Darren \* > **… I question what type of book it is and describe (or try to describe) that the book may not include the um, most interesting parts of the koran. If the students had word of this, then they are correct on this fact alone, not to mention that if a theological christian book was forced on the students there would be no question that it would be shot down. That you can’t deny.** So, EVEN IF (I say “IF,”, not knowing anything about it) it were the case that the text omits certain passages or context (as if there is only _one_), thereby imparting a certain pro-islam bias (which seems to be DD’s real concern here), it’s better to do the equivalent of sticking your fingers in your ears and singing “LALALALALA-I-CAN’T-HEAR-YOU-LALALALALALA” than actually read the book and have an informed discussion about it, thereby raising or “exposing” that issue? And another thing, re: fear of proseletizing- (Note: this is a general and largely hypothetical question, _not_ directed at DD.) If someone’s religious belief - _whatever/whichever_ it might be - is, in their view **the** belief, shouldn’t it be able to withstand a little challenge from some other belief? I mean, if your belief is so strong/superior, how can it also be so vulerable/weak? Is your faith that fragile? ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2002, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unc-0-ignorance-1/119991/144 "2002-07-26T20:08:04Z")
Given **Jodi’s** point about the school putting itself in a legally uncertain situation, I can understand offering an alternative assignment. It annoys me, but I can understand it. However, I’m flabbergasted that it only needs to be a 1-page touchy-feely “why my religion makes me ignorant” paper. Why not instead require a student to do a 5-page research paper on, for example, the history of religion-based conflict in the Middle East? The paper would need to cite three sources. An alternate assignment should never be more easier than the main assignment. Doing so, especially in a case like this, encourages religious hypocrisy. Not something that a school can do, constitutionally speaking. 😉 Daniel ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2002, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unc-0-ignorance-1/119991/145 "2002-07-26T20:37:17Z")
> [@](#): > > An alternate assignment should never be **more easier** than the main assignment. You did that on purpose, didn’t you? ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2002, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unc-0-ignorance-1/119991/146 "2002-07-26T20:54:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Homebrew \* > \*\*You did that on purpose, didn’t you? \*\* Yeah! It make’s me sound more smarter! (Apologies on all three counts) Daniel [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unc-0-ignorance-1/119991.md?page=7)