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Conservative Davidson College Alumni Push Back On Efforts To Increase Religious Diversity

An unauthorized email was sent to Davidson College alumni in response to efforts to increase religious diversity. Image courtesy of Christopher Record.

An email co-signed by 11 prominent Davidson College alumni was sent this week to graduates criticizing the college's move to improve diversity and what they called "political correctness" on campus.

But that message did not originate from the college which never authorized the release of alumni email addresses.

The open letter came in response to recent moves to increase religious diversity on the school's board of trustees and in the president's office. In January the board voted to remove requirements that the president be a member of the Christian faith and that at least 80 percent of the board be active members of a Christian church. 

The changes didn't sit well with the co-signers, which included Republicans like former North Carolina Governor Jim Martin and Rep. Greg Murphy. They fear that a future non-Christian president and potentially a non-Christian board would be unable to live up to the faith component of the college's charter. They claim the changes and the process have caused many alumni to discontinue their financial support.

On Wednesday, Davidson College sent a message alerting graduates to the errant email and reaffirming the school's commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive governing body in keeping with the college's religious heritage.   

Before his arrival in the Triad, David had already established himself as a fixture in the Austin, Texas arts scene as a radio host for Classical 89.5 KMFA. During his tenure there, he produced and hosted hundreds of programs including Mind Your Music, The Basics and T.G.I.F. Thank Goodness, It's Familiar, which each won international awards in the Fine Arts Radio Competition. As a radio journalist with 88.5 WFDD, his features have been recognized by the Associated Press, Public Radio News Directors Inc., Catholic Academy of Communication Professionals, and Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas. David has written and produced national stories for NPR, KUSC and CPRN in Los Angeles and conducted interviews for Minnesota Public Radio's Weekend America.

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