Great news! Telling folks what you think about issues in a respectable, precise manner does get their attention and often persuades them to do the right thing.
I just found out that President Hays of Southwestern Oklahoma State University issued a statement and clarified policy for his staff on this matter. My letter to him in response is pasted below...
"Dear President Hays,
I am very pleased to have read your recent statement (pasted below) and thank you for clearing up the confusion regarding Christmas on your campus. It is great when I hear of such great leadership such as yours that responds so properly to a situation such as this.
'The university does not have a policy that bans the word ?Christmas? or Christmas decorations. However, some supervisors or department leaders within the university who meant well may have suggested to employees that caution should be taken with respect to Christmas decorations. One thing led to another and the result was that some mistakenly assumed that Christmas decorations were being prohibited. I have met with various staff members to get to the bottom of the matter and have also had a pleasant discussion with Mathew Staver, Founder of Liberty Counsel.
The university will continue to follow the law and to respect the right of all its staff members. Thus, the university will follow the general principles set forth by the courts regarding the display of religious symbols and/or Nativity scenes.... In applying this general rule to the university, if a Nativity or other religious symbol of the holiday is displayed in a place open to the general public (like a lobby), the university will include secular symbols of the holiday in the nearby context. However, employees in their cubicles or offices may personally display a Nativity or other religious symbol of the holiday. In such a setting, the employee need not include secular symbols of the holiday. Employees have always been and continue to be permitted to greet one another with the greeting ?Merry Christmas? or ?Happy Holidays.? The decision is up to each employee.'
Thank you again for your prompt and proper response in this matter!
