Lawmakers in Tennessee and a group of students and faculty at the state's flagship university are at odds over whether or not an holiday party guideline was warranted or not.
The University of Tennessee's (UT) Office of Diversity and Inclusion posted to its website what came off as advice for how to throw an inclusive holiday party. The notice resulted in two state lawmakers to calling for Chancellor Jimmy Cheek's resignation, according to WATE 6.
"Holiday parties and celebrations should celebrate and build upon workplace relationships and team morale with no emphasis on religion or culture. Ensure your holiday party is not a Christmas party in disguise," read part of the note.
But a group of students and faculty at UT posted an online petition titled "Stand With Cheek," opposing the resignation demands. The Knoxville News Sentinel noted the petition had hundreds of supporters as of Friday morning.
"Although some in the legislature may not realize that UT is a place for all student, Chancellor Cheek and Vice-Chancellor (Rickey) Hall have made this a priority," reads the petition. "Over his time here he has worked to make this campus a place where students who are the majority and the minority can call home."
Bonnie Ownley, a professor at UT and the president-elect for the school's faculty senate, told WATE 6 she felt the inclusive holiday party note was appropriate for a public school.
"I think we're a public institution and we're not supposed to be promoting one religion over another," she said.
U.S. Rep. John J. Duncan Jr., one of those who called out Cheek, told The Sentinel and Fox News the UT chancellor's actions were an "extremist" and "ridiculously overboard" attempt at political correctness.
UT released a statement Thursday addressing the backlash over the note, stating the school does not have a policy for inclusive holiday parties and do not ban certain religious or cultural décor in faculty offices.
"First let me say that we honor Christmas as one of the celebrations of the season. We are in no way trying to dismiss this very important Christian holiday," Cheek said in the statement. "As a diverse campus, we do promote ways to be inclusive of all cultures and religions. I am disappointed that our efforts to be inclusive have been totally misconstrued."
