A new law in Utah allows students to opt out of coursework that conflicts with their strongly held religious or personal beliefs. This law applies to courses that are part of a college’s general education requirement or are required for the student’s major, and it has sparked debate among educators and lawmakers.
Madelynn Wells, a freshman at Weber State University, recently encountered a situation where she felt uncomfortable with a film assigned in her introductory film studies class. The film, “Pariah,” is a coming-of-age story about a young woman who leaves her conservative family to live as a lesbian. Wells, a devout Catholic and political conservative, didn’t want to watch the film or write a paper on it. She is an example of a student who can ask for an alternative assignment or exam if she feels that the coursework conflicts with her beliefs.
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According to the law, professors are required to accommodate these requests as long as they don’t change the fundamental nature of the course. The law has some safeguards to prevent students from opting out of coursework that is essential to their field of study. For instance, a student can’t claim a moral objection to math in a college algebra course.
Amy Reid, director of the Freedom to Learn initiative at PEN America, a free speech advocacy organization, argues that the law doesn’t help students get the most out of their education. She believes that being exposed to ideas that one disagrees with can make them clearer about what they believe and why. Reid’s perspective is that this law allows students to avoid engaging with ideas that challenge their beliefs.
Wells was able to drop the film studies course and choose a different class to fulfill her general education arts credit. However, if she had needed the course to graduate, she would have had to either accept the assignment or ask her professor for an alternative. This situation highlights the challenges that students and educators may face in implementing the law.
The law is part of a larger trend of efforts to emphasize conservative and religious values in public schools and limit what can be taught about subjects like racial history, gender, and sexuality. It has been noted that about 76 percent of Utah residents are religious, compared to about 49 percent nationwide. Data from the Pew Research Center shows that about 50 percent of all residents are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and another 13 percent identify as members of other Christian denominations.
Michael J. Petersen, a Republican state representative, sponsored the bill after his daughter was assigned to write a letter to a legislator in support of LGBTQ+ rights as part of a master’s degree program. He believes that the law will help students like his daughter who may be uncomfortable with certain assignments. However, some educators argue that the law is unnecessary and could allow students to opt out of important coursework.
Mike Gavin, president and CEO of the Alliance for Higher Education, notes that professors should be able to ask students to take on different perspectives in class, but they shouldn’t be required to take a public stance on an issue. He believes that the law could have unintended consequences and that students need to engage with ideas that challenge their beliefs in order to learn and grow.
Utah’s Religious Landscape
Utah’s unique religious landscape has played a significant role in shaping the state’s approach to education. With a large and devout religious population, lawmakers have sought to balance the need to protect students’ religious beliefs with the need to provide a well-rounded education. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints population has a significant influence on the state’s education system.
Implications for Higher Education
The law’s implications for higher education are far-reaching. Educators will need to balance the need to accommodate students’ beliefs with the need to provide a rigorous and well-rounded education. They will have to navigate the complexities of this issue, and it remains to be seen how the law will be implemented and what impact it will have on students and educators in Utah.
- 76 percent of Utah residents are religious, compared to 49 percent nationwide.
- 50 percent of all Utah residents are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
- 13 percent of Utah residents identify as members of other Christian denominations.
The law has sparked a national conversation about the role of education in shaping students’ beliefs and values. As educators and lawmakers navigate this issue, they will continue to face the challenge of balancing students’ rights with the need to provide a well-rounded education.
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