Controversy over MLK speaker averted

RENSSELAER, Ind. (WLFI) - A potential controversy appears to be diffused at St. Joseph's College, over the beliefs of a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day speaker.

At St. Joseph's College in Rensselaer, a Martin Luther King Junior Day program begins, like many things, with a prayer. But not everyone at the Catholic college agreed with the school's choice of speaker.

"Late last week, it was brought to my attention that there was a blog posting on a web site that called into question the appropriateness of Doctor Wingfield's presentation," said Father Jeffrey Kirch, religious advisor to the president at St. Joe's.

Sociologist Adia Wingfield said she was invited to speak at St. Joe's a couple of months ago. She came to Rensselaer from Georgia State University in Atlanta, joining dozens of students and faculty members in a march before her presentation, in memory of Doctor King.

Just a few days ago, concerns about Wingfield's position on abortion started showing up in several Catholic and religious blogs , with some of the college's students leaving comments like, "I am ashamed to call myself a Puma," and I "am deeply saddened by this turn of events." Rumors circulated that a small group of students would gather for a prayer vigil while Wingfield spoke.

"I think everyone has a right to their own opinion," Wingfield said of the rumors. "And they are obviously well within their rights to exercise their thoughts and their beliefs and views. That's part of who we are as a society."

College officials also said students had the right to protest on campus. "When students feel passionate about a situation or a concern that they have, they have every right to have a prayer vigil, to offer their own understanding of what the situation is about," Kirch said.

A post on the Cardinal Newman Society Blog described Wingfield as an "abortion rights activist." However, Wingfield said she doesn't consider herself an activist, saying she has opinions, "but I think everybody does."

"I would say that my opinion is, criminalizing certain medical procedures, specifically abortion, isn't necessarily the best way to reduce the likelihood of it happening in a society," Wingfield said.

Wingfield's pro-choice beliefs are what had some expressing anger in the blogosphere, despite the fact that her presentation had nothing to do with abortion.

One anonymous poster on the blog Creative Minority Report wrote, "The point is her values don't align with ours nor the colleges [sic] and her presence suggests a supporting of those opposing views."

But when it came time for Wingfield's presentation, there were no opponents to be found.

Wingfield's talk on race's role in the 2008 presidential election went on without interruption, and she said she hoped she would leave people with one message: "As we think about, not only presidential elections, but everyday life and everyday areas where we see racial inequality, gender inequality, class inequality, any kind of inequality, I think we should be working to try to minimize that as much as possible in this society."

A college spokeswoman said information about a prayer vigil in protest of Wingfield's talk was mainly rumors via Facebook.