New Jerse/Nevada (Face2News)
Upset Hindus are urging for apology from The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) in Ewing for its student newspaper stating “Hinduism is an unforgiving religion”.
It was highly inappropriate and insensitive for the newspaper of a “Top Public College” funded by tax dollars and student fees (many of whom were Hindu) to belittle Hinduism, world’s oldest and third largest religion with about 1.1 billion adherents and a rich philosophical thought; distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed said in Nevada today.
Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, urged New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education Zakiya Smith Ellis to launch an enquiry into it; TCNJ Trustees Chair Susanne Svizeny and President Dr. Kathryn A. Foster to offer a formal apology to the Hindu community; and TCNJ to withdraw January 29 (Spring 2020 No. 1) print edition of “The Signal” from various campus locations and remove the objectionable feature article from its online edition.
Such an unwarranted and derogatory statement against a religion coming out of a public educational institution was really shocking for the hard-working, harmonious and peaceful Hindu community; which had made lot of contributions to New Jersey, USA and society in general; and continued to do so; Rajan Zed added.
Is this how TCNJ accomplishes its Mission of developing “responsible citizens”, Vision of serving “as a national exemplar of public higher education”, Values of "treat each other with civility and respect" and “committed to building a diverse and inclusive community"; Zed wonders.
Rajan Zed further said that Hindus were for free speech and artistic expression as much as anybody else if not more. But faith was something sacred and attempts at trivializing it hurt the devotees.
The feature-article, which begins with “Hinduism is an unforgiving religion”, written by "Nation & World Editor" of award-winning “The Signal” (among the oldest collegiate weeklies, since 1855) is dated January 27, 2020. Emmy Liederman is Editor-in-Chief.
“Highly selective” awards-winning TCNJ, on 289 tree-lined acres, enrolls about 7,400 graduate and undergraduate students and offers over 50 programs.
There are about three million Hindus in USA. New Jersey reportedly has the highest percentage of Hindus in the nation.