Irony can be so thick a 2 year old can smell it. Yesterday (Saturday) I decided to visit USF
Tampa campus. I arrived early and was surprised
to find many cars already filling parking lots around the Marshall Center. Seeing no visitor parking , I asked two
people engaged in animated conversation (a white guy and a black guy) about
visitor parking. They turned and asked a
young lady in full Islamic dress. Soon I
came to learn that there was a handful of spaces near by with a pay station—you
simply use a credit card and enter your tag number and obtain a dashboard receipt
for up to 8 hours. I choose 3 hours for a total of about $5.
Now I headed for the center on foot and suddenly thought—What
if the food court in the center is closed on the weekend? I asked a young lady passing by that had in
her face the epitome of optimism and joy. She assured
me that though the court was closed, an Einstein Bagel was tucked away on the side
of the lobby. (I ended up getting a fantastic turkey sandwich and a classic Coke.) On my first entering the building, an Asian male also entering smiled and held
the door open for me. It was kind of
like being in a little heaven.
Absolutely NO ONE I saw, met, or talked with while in the Marshall
Center or nearby bookstore showed even a minuscule hint that a 74 year old
senior citizen somewhat tackily dressed was in any way strange or vaguely to be
found unwelcome. Actually, the opposite
occurred. It was almost like everyone I
met was family—and in a joyful celebration of being free together in the Promise Land.
(Believe me NOTHING was free when it came to food prices.) Yet, there proves to be one exception on campus that I find replete
with irony.
The university for many years has a spacious road along
which are built buildings of faith. There
is an Episcopalian Center and so forth. One Center has special interest for me
and was built when I was a student there in the the mid-60’s. I was President of the Wesley Foundation and was complicit in one of those fraudulent
photographs in which people that would in 5 seconds be pronounced dead if real construction work was being done pose with shovels in hand. Today there is a large Welcome Sign by the building. On the building itself is a mission
indicator. The following words appear: COMMUNITY---MATURITY—IMPACT.
Now here is what I discovered on entering the building the other
day for a first return visit to the building after all these many years. I learned from the young female overseer that
I was not welcome as senior citizen and was given five minutes or so to
hurriedly reminisce and to then be summarily invited to the door.
Kind of weird—especially in comparison to the Christian love
pervasive on the secular side of the university. (I hasten to add that our local UMC church where Connie and I attend is
a friendly and warm place. Maybe it is indeed true as often accused that the Methodist Church is significantly secular.)
Following the two videos below please find some of the policies
of The University of South Florida. Remember
as a State school there is a separation of church and state:
USF Commitment to Honor
The University of South Florida is committed to honor in student development, academic learning, scholarship and research.
As an ethical community, the University of South Florida is
dedicated to the ideals of excellence in student development, academic
learning, scholarship and research. By joining this community, each member is
expected to accept and live these commitments.
I resolve to maintain the honor and integrity of the
university community in pursuit of student development, academic learning,
scholarship and research.
I resolve to respect the dignity and intrinsic value of all
persons.
I resolve to contribute to the progress and greater good of
the community.
I resolve to strive for excellence and discovery for myself,
others, and the University.
Do I hear our Great Creator saying “Amen”!!!
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