Debate Over Religious Speech Unfolds at Mott Community College
An internal investigation found no First Amendment violation, but trustees raised a new question about alleged religious literature on campus.
FLINT, Mich. — Mott Community College President Shaunda Richardson-Snell publicly denied allegations of proselytizing this week, saying her comments at a campus event reflected her personal beliefs and were not intended to coerce or convert anyone.
Richardson-Snell addressed the controversy during a Feb. 23 board meeting, days after trustees delayed issuing a formal statement. She was accused of asking a guest speaker at the college’s 33rd annual Peace & Dignity Observance on Oct. 13 whether he had “accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior,” according to a complaint referenced by MLive.
The guest, Wayne Wilson, is a co-founder of the Peace & Dignity Observance and a Native American boarding school survivor. Wilson’s mother, Celia Perez Booth, told MLive the interaction triggered post-traumatic stress for her son. She said Richardson-Snell and an attorney later contacted Wilson and sent him a declaration asking him to acknowledge that the conversation was private and that he was not offended. The declaration was not signed.
Support my independent journalism by becoming a paid subscriber if you haven’t yet done so. I rely on paid subscribers to keep this work going.
Richardson-Snell denied attempting to convert Wilson or anyone else.
“I do not induce others to convert,” she said at Monday’s meeting. “In fact, it’s quite the opposite. The Christian belief is that every individual has free will.”
Carey DeWitt, the board’s interim attorney, said an internal investigation concluded in December and found no violation of the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause or Free Exercise Clause. He said the board requested additional training for the president and trustees to ensure compliance moving forward.
Trustees unanimously approved a formal statement Monday affirming the constitutional right to freedom of religion while emphasizing the college’s responsibility to maintain an inclusive environment for people of all faiths or none.
During the same meeting, Trustee Art Reyes raised a separate allegation that Richardson-Snell may have distributed religious literature in her official capacity. DeWitt said the new claim has not been investigated and recommended an independent review, according to reporting by The Detroit News.
Trustee John Daly also alleged that Richardson-Snell attempted to influence or “contain” the complaint by contacting Wilson before informing the board. Daly said he first learned of the complaint Dec. 27 through an anonymous email referencing a letter from Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
In an interview Tuesday, Katherine Bussard, executive director and chief operating officer of Salt & Light Global, a faith-based nonprofit focused on religious liberty, defended Richardson-Snell and said the president asked questions but did not attempt to convert anyone
“She actually only asked questions,” Bussard said. “She didn’t even make a statement. And there certainly was no attempt to convert or to induce someone to change their beliefs.”
Bussard said the event itself was religious in nature and was hosted on campus.
“This was a religious event,” she said. “It just happened to be a Native American religious event.”
She also said public employees do not “check their faith at the door.”
“You don’t cease to become an American citizen just because you accept a government job,” Bussard said. “American citizens have rights, including the right to the free exercise of their faith.”
Addressing the definition of proselytizing, Bussard said that even asking someone about their faith is protected speech, depending on the context.
“Proselytizing or asking someone to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior is not illegal,” she said. “It’s still protected by the First Amendment.”
Broussard said she believes Richardson-Snell is being unfairly targeted.
“It definitely feels like she’s being targeted,” she said, adding that Michigan ranks near the bottom nationally in protections for religious liberty.
She pointed to a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Kennedy v. Bremerton School District, which held that a public high school football coach had a First Amendment right to pray on the field after games.
“The U.S. Supreme Court actually ruled that his private religious speech was protected by the First Amendment,” Bussard said. “Respect for religious expression is indispensable to life in a free and diverse republic.”
Richardson-Snell concluded her remarks Monday by urging the campus community to refocus on students. The scope of the internal investigation and whether any disciplinary action was taken have not been publicly disclosed.
It’s always interesting to me how it’s okay for people with different ideologies to ask questions or even demand compliance, but a Christian is immediately labeled some sort of abuser, racist, or prejudiced.
What the bloody hell did she even ask the question for? I highly doubt it had to do with his presentation. She was rude and out of line. It's absolutely none of her business what religion he practices or doesn't practice for that matter. Did she not know he was a survivor of Native American boarding schools. He should be given a metal for surviving. Those schools were run by Catholic nuns who tortured those children trying as they put it to beat the savage out of them. How many didn't survive? Those horrible 65 schools operated in this country from 1819-1969 At least, 973 children across those 417 schools died. Of what you might ask. They died from disease abuse, or neglect and that does not account for the unmarked graves. That woman needs to apoloogize and mean it and get a written reprimand. She does not belong in the position she is in. Her prejudice is showing.