Last year, a federal judge, the Honorable George Caram Steeh, dismissed a case brought by grad student Julea Ward against Eastern Michigan University. The college expelled her from its graduate program for refusing to counsel a gay client:
"The university had a rational basis for adopting the ACA Code of Ethics into its counseling program, not the least of which was the desire to offer an accredited program," Steeh said in a 48-page opinion.
"Furthermore, the university had a rational basis for requiring its students to counsel clients without imposing their personal values.
"In the case of Ms. Ward, the university determined that she would never change her behavior and would consistently refuse to counsel clients on matters with which she was personally opposed due to her religious beliefs -- including homosexual relationships."
The judge said Ward's "refusal to attempt learning to counsel all clients within their own value systems is a failure to complete an academic requirement of the program."
Backed up with religious right money and pull (in this case the Alliance Defense Fund), Ward is now appealing the decision.
Personally I am of the belief that if Ward wants to receive certification from Eastern Michigan University, she needs to follow the university's program. If she doesn't want to counsel gay patients, perhaps it would be better for her to seek a college which would accommodate her.
But something about this entire thing bothers me. It's a seemingly small thing but it sticks in my mind. Her name is Julea Ward. It is how she was referred to in past court documents and the media.
However, in this re-pushing of her case, several religious right sources - one being the National Organization for Marriage - are referring to her as Julie.
To some people, that difference may seem trite, but to me - a member of an ethnic group who has seen and had to deal with folks coming in trying to convert things about our heritage in a poor excuse to gain appeal to a wider base - the name change is bothersome.
Could it be that the folks handling Ms. Ward's case decided that eliminating the ethnicity in her name would help widen her appeal?
If this is so, perhaps Ms. Ward should stop worrying about Eastern Michigan University and start worrying about those claiming to be her friends.
This woman is a disgrace to the profession I worked in for more than 20 years. I hope she does not win her appeal. Some people, including some in the helping professions, believe someone should not be "forced" to counsel someone who presents with something the counselor or therapist is strongly averse to in some way. I strongly disagree. Therapy is decidedly NOT about the provider. It is about the person seeking help. That is why all of these professions are called THE HELPING PROFESSIONS. This is also why they are not called THE JUDGING, SELF CENTERED PROFESSIONS. If therapists, emergency room doctors, nurses, social workers and such are allowed to refuse treatment to those who have something in their presentation the provider does not agree with, where would it end, refusing to treat a woman with breast cancer who had an abortion 30 years prior? Gimmie a break. This woman needs to find a new line of work. Perhaps a job as a commentator for Fox News.
ReplyDeleteAs for your second point about her name, I am totally in alignment with you Alvin. I would not be surprised at all if that's what's going on here.