Exhibit

 No.  38  
 
Elizabeth  Overhauser  
Graduate  Reference  Librarian  
Louisiana  College  Library  
1140  College  Drive  
Pineville,  LA  71359  
 
PO  Box  4847  
Pineville,  LA  71361  
 
 
Testimony  before  the  Louisiana  College  Faculty  Affairs  Advisory  Committee  
 
Wednesday,  May  4,  2011  
 
 
I  am  here  today  to  speak  on  behalf  of  Rondall  Reynoso.    His  March  7,  2011  letter  that  
instigated  his  dismissal  has  been  called  into  question.    With  this  testimony  I  intend  to  
corroborate  some  of  Mr.  Reynoso's  statements  that  the  administration  believes  are  false.  
 
 
Regarding  a  spirit  of  fear  among  the  faculty  of  Louisiana  College:  
 
I  believe  that  Rondall  Reynoso  has  been  treated  wrongly  by  the  administration  of  this  
college  in  their  decision  to  dismiss  him,  withhold  his  salary,  and  terminate  his  benefits  
without  following  the  due  process  agreed  to  in  the  Faculty  Handbook.    When  I  spoke  of  
these  concerns  to  my  boss,  I  was  told  that  the  next  step  would  be  to  raise  the  issue  with  
the  Office  of  Academic  Affairs,  preferably  Dr.  Wade  Warren.    I  was  told  that  if  I  did  so,  it  
was  likely  that  I  would  face  negative  repercussions,  possibly  including  losing  my  job.    My  
boss  did  not  say  that  it  would  definitely  happen  to  me,  but  he  did  say  that  there  was  
precedent  for  such  consequences.  
 
I  scheduled  a  meeting  with  Dr.  Warren,  Assistant  Dean  of  the  College,  in  hopes  of  
meeting  with  him  to  discuss  my  concerns.    We  met  this  morning,  and  he  referred  me  to  
the  VPAA  himself.    I  have  not  yet  scheduled  a  meeting  with  Dr.  Searcy.  
 
I  am  faculty  member  in  good  standing,  I  had  a  positive  annual  review  this  year,  and  I  was  
sent  a  letter  saying  that  I  will  be  offered  a  contract  for  next  year.    Despite  these  facts,  I  am  
still  nervous  about  standing  here  today  to  speak  on  behalf  of  Rondall.    Multiple  people,  
including  my  boss,  have  told  me  that  people  who  speak  in  this  type  of  situation  are  
usually  dismissed  right  away.    Given  the  example  of  a  faculty  member  being  banned  from  
campus  and  stripped  of  his  email  address,  salary,  and  health  insurance  without  the  due  
process  outlined  in  the  Faculty  Handbook,  I  don't  know  that  I  trust  the  administration  to  
uphold  their  end  of  my  own  contract.    Indeed,  I  fear  they  will  not.  
 
As  an  information  specialist,  I  have  a  great  deal  of  background  in  copyright  law.    I  
recently  read  the  undated  copyright  policy  on  the  Academics  page  of  the  LC  website,  and  
I  was  horrified  by  it.    The  policy  essentially  gives  the  college  president  carte  blanche  to  
claim  copyright  of  any  work  created  with  the  help  of  any  campus  resource.    If  that  policy  
had  been  included  in  the  faculty  handbook,  I  probably  would  not  have  joined  this  faculty;  
it  was  not  included  in  the  faculty  handbook  that  I  agreed  to  in  my  contract.    In  fact,  my  
intellectual  property  attorney  told  me  that  the  policy  would  not  stand  up  in  court  because  
copyright  belongs  to  the  creator  unless  it  is  expressly  signed  away.    I,  and  other  faculty  
members  that  I  have  talked  to,  fear  that  the  administration  might  use  this  policy  to  claim  
rights  that  they  legally  do  not  have,  and  that  our  only  recourse  might  be  a  court  of  law.  
   
I  realized  these  fears  were  well  founded  when  I  heard  that  the  administration  had  
confiscated  a  painting  by  an  LC  student.    The  painting  was  taken  without  permission,  
photographed,  and  distributed  via  email  without  giving  credit  to  the  artist.    This  is  a  clear  
violation  of  copyright.    When  the  student  asked  that  the  painting  be  returned  
immediately,  she  was  refused.    The  incident  could  have  been  reported  as  a  theft.    I  was  
advised  not  to  raise  the  issue  because  the  painting  was  taken  as  supposed  evidence  
against  Rondall  Reynoso,  and  I  wouldn’t  want  to  appear  to  be  on  his  side  lest  I  be  
summarily  dismissed  as  he  was.    I  did  my  best  to  comfort  and  counsel  the  student,  and  
dropped  the  issue  when  the  painting  was  finally  returned.    
 
I  am  firmly  committed  to  the  truth  laid  out  in  the  Baptist  Faith  and  Message.    I  
scrutinized  the  document  carefully  before  signing  my  contract,  and  Dr.  Aguillard  and  I  
discussed  it  at  length  during  my  interview.    I  made  it  clear  at  that  meeting  that  while  I  
wholly  endorse  the  Baptist  Faith  and  Message,  I  do  not  always  agree  with  the  methods  
that  some  people  use  to  defend  those  beliefs.    As  an  example,  I  told  Dr.  Aguillard  about  
my  mother,  who  is  a  lesbian  and  had  been  living  with  her  partner  for  the  last  sixteen  
years.    I  told  him  that  I  no  longer  take  a  defensive  posture  toward  the  gay  community  as  I  
once  did.    Instead,  I  try  to  fight  my  way  into  their  lives,  showing  them  love,  professing  my  
own  faith  in  Christ  when  the  opportunity  arises.    I  share  the  gospel,  using  words  only  
when  necessary.    I  stand  and  defend  my  faith  as  needed,  but  I  take  Christ  as  my  example  
and  refuse  to  draw  the  sword.    In  the  meeting,  Dr.  Aguillard  assured  me  that  the  tenets  of  
faith  laid  out  in  the  Baptist  Faith  and  Message  are  the  criteria  for  employment  here,  and  
that  as  long  as  I  agree  with  that  document  in  full,  I  would  be  welcome  here.  
 
Last  January,  the  president's  chapel  focused  on  standing  and  fighting  the  enemy,  using  
abortion  and  homosexuality  as  examples  of  the  insidious  evil  that  we  must  defeat.  In  his  
chapel  message,  the  president  used  music,  images,  and  rhetoric  to  clearly  equate  standing  
to  fight  evil  with  marching,  protesting,  and  pursuing  specific  political  agendas.  He  said,  "I  
think  I  can  speak  for  the  faculty  when  I  say  this:  Me  and  our  faculty  at  LC  are  ready  to  go  
to  jail  if  that's  what  it  takes  to  speak  up  for  the  Biblical  truths  that  we  stand  upon  in  this  
place."1    I  certainly  agree  that  abortion  and  homosexual  practice  are  sinful.    I  think  we  
should  indeed  stand  against  the  devil.    I  think  we  should  indeed  fight.    But  I  do  not  
believe  we  win  the  battle  by  protesting,  marching,  yelling,  or  getting  fiercely  partisan  
politically.    That's  just  my  personal  opinion,  and  it  has  no  bearing  on  my  belief  in  the  
Baptist  Faith  and  Message.  Again,  I  fully  believe  in  the  Baptist  Faith  and  Message.    Yes,  I  
would  rather  go  to  jail  than  deny  my  Savior.    But  I  left  chapel  that  day  feeling  angry  and  
misrepresented.    It  seemed  that  the  president  was  aligning  the  college  and  faculty  with  a  
political  agenda  that  goes  far  beyond  the  Baptist  Faith  and  Message.    It  seemed  to  me  that  
the  president  was  questioning  whether  people  who  disagree  with  this  political  agenda  
have  genuine  faith  in  God.    I  felt  personally  attacked.  
 
At  the  time,  I  was  so  upset  that  I  spoke  to  my  boss  and  to  the  Human  Resources  
department.    It  seemed  to  me  that  LC  was  actually  asking  more  of  me  than  just  agreeing  
with  the  Baptist  Faith  and  Message.    I  felt  as  though  this  was  misrepresented  to  me  in  my  
original  interview  with  Dr.  Aguillard  and  in  my  contract.    And  I  feared  that  if  the  
President  found  out  I  did  not  agree  with  his  interpretation  of  "standing  and  fighting"  that  
I  would  lose  my  job.    Shannon  Tassin  assured  me  that  I  was  not  officially  beholden  to  Dr.  
Aguillard's  interpretations.    However,  I  am  concerned  that  I  will  face  hostility  now  that  
my  difference  of  opinion  has  been  made  known,  and  I  do  believe  that  the  LC  
administration  misrepresented  itself  to  me.  In  truth,  a  person  must  hold  religious  
ideologies  beyond  those  of  the  Baptist  Faith  and  Message  to  be  embraced  by  this  
community.      
 
Do  all  of  these  examples  constitute  a  "spirit  of  fear"  among  the  faculty?    I  confess  that  it  
has  been  a  struggle  for  me  to  operate  within  a  spirit  of  power,  love,  and  sound  mind  
rather  than  fear  at  Louisiana  College.    There  is  a  spirit  of  fear  here.    Long  time  members  
of  the  LC  faculty  have  told  me  that  I  have  reason  to  fear  the  consequences  of  raising  these  
issues.  I  have  been  told  that  individuals  who  do  not  conform  are  only  welcome  here  if  
they  hide  their  opinions.  This,  in  and  of  itself,  is  evidence  that  there  is  a  spirit  of  fear  
among  the  LC  faculty.  
 
 
Regarding  the  spirit  of  fear  among  students,  the  inconsistent  availability  of  
effective  student  helps,  and  the  notice  of  reduced  academic  rigor  by  students:  
 
I  work  closely  with  many  students  in  my  job  as  a  librarian.    Some  of  them  are  student  
workers,  some  are  library  patrons.    I  develop  relationships  with  many  of  these  students,  
and  interact  with  others  only  once  or  twice.  
 
The  student  body  is  well  aware  of  most  of  what  goes  on  in  the  faculty  and  administration  
here  at  LC.    Rumors  spread  quickly,  and  stories  from  older  students  get  passed  down  to  
                                                                                                               
1  Aguillard,  J.    (2011)  “Will  you  stand  and  fight?”  Video  retrieved  from  

http://wildcats.ehclients.com,  quote  is  from  47:45.  

newer  students.    Last  fall,  a  group  of  freshmen  told  me  that  the  administration  has  
stripped  the  student  government  of  most  of  its  power.    They  claimed  that  students  used  
to  be  represented  in  the  decision-­‐making  process  of  the  college  as  a  whole,  such  as  sitting  
in  on  Board  of  Trustee  meetings.    They  did  not  believe  that  their  voices  were  heard  by  the  
administration,  citing  examples  of  students  who  were  not  allowed  to  finish  their  degrees  
after  raising  concerns  with  the  Dean  of  Students.    And  they  were  upset  about  being  
assigned  only  unimportant  tasks  such  as  "making  sure  there  were  enough  garbage  cans  in  
the  quad."      
 
Some  students  have  told  me  that  they  do  not  trust  that  the  administration  of  the  college  
is  always  looking  out  for  their  best  interests.    They  fear  repercussions  if  they  raise  too  
many  questions.    One  student  told  me  this  week  that  he  used  to  investigate  what  went  on  
in  the  administration,  but  since  he  saw  what  happened  to  other  students  he  is  now  just  
holding  his  head  down.    It  is  easier  to  ignore  the  problems  than  to  transfer  somewhere  
and  have  to  start  over.    He  does  not  want  to  be  named  or  give  his  own  testimony  lest  he  
lose  the  option  of  finishing  his  senior  year.  
 
 A  'spirit  of  fear'  does  not  depend  on  facts:  it  is  a  belief,  an  inkling,  a  feeling  that  things  
might  go  very  wrong.    Whether  or  not  the  beliefs  of  these  students  are  true,  there  is  
indeed  an  underlying  spirit  of  fear  among  them.    
 
In  my  job,  I  work  with  many  students  on  all  aspects  of  their  research  and  writing  
processes.    I  can  testify  that  many  students  are  in  obvious  need  of  remedial  writing  help  
because  I  see  their  papers  on  a  regular  basis.    However,  there  is  no  writing  lab  on  campus  
to  send  them  to.    Informal  math  tutoring  often  takes  place  in  the  library,  with  older  
students  helping  younger  students  along.    I  think  this  is  great,  but  the  tutors  are  almost  
always  unpaid.    Students  that  are  not  connected  to  this  informal  network  go  without.    
According  to  the  student  handbook,  only  PASS  students  are  guaranteed  extra  help.    The  
current  student  handbook  states,  “Limited  individualized  tutoring  in  various  academic  
subjects  is  offered  to  LC  students…”    To  access  this  help,  students  must  contact  the  PASS  
office.  Not  all  of  our  students  that  need  help  require  all  the  services  and  expenses  of  the  
PASS  program,  and  many  are  unaware  of  the  possibility  of  extra  tutoring.    In  any  case,  
they  may  not  receive  extra  help  even  if  they  ask.    These  students  are  under-­‐served  on  our  
campus.  
 
In  terms  of  academic  rigor,  what  I  have  noticed  the  most  is  that  many  of  the  students  on  
campus  are  truly  ill-­‐equipped  for  academic  life.    I  am  asked  many  questions  about  basic  
functions  of  Microsoft  Office  programs.    In  my  area  of  expertise,  computer  and  
information  literacy,  I  am  constantly  surprised  by  our  students'  inability  to  distinguish  
good-­‐quality  information  from  subjective,  coercive  Internet  drivel.    Even  seniors,  who  
should  know  better,  have  trouble  with  this.    One  student  told  me  that  she  was  
transferring  because  she  decided  to  major  in  psychology,  and  she  didn't  believe  she  would  
be  well  equipped  for  graduate  school  if  she  got  a  psychology  degree  from  LC.  Obviously  
not  all  of  our  programs  are  weak:  many  of  the  seniors  I  work  with  seem  well  educated,  
especially  those  in  nursing,  religion,  and  art.    I  am  not  credentialed  to  judge  individual  
academic  programs,  but  I  do  believe  that  there  is  some  inconsistency  in  the  academic  
rigor  of  our  programs.    Students  think  so,  too.  
 
One  final  word  about  our  students:  Without  talking  to  a  wide  range  of  students  in  an  
environment  where  they  feel  comfortable  telling  the  truth,  there  is  no  way  to  make  a  
strong  defense  of  any  specific  student  opinion.    Without  interviewing  departing  students,  
including  transfers,  there  is  no  way  for  an  administration  to  truly  identify  students'  
perceptions  of  fear  or  academic  rigor.    And  if  fear  does  exist  among  students,  they  are  
unlikely  to  say  so  unless  they  believe  they  can  be  anonymous  or  immune  from  
consequences.  
 
 
Regarding  the  students'  seeing  a  lack  of  honesty  and  prevailing  dishonesty  as  an  
indictment  of  Christ:  
 
I  have  had  many  discussions  with  Jordan  Wade  about  faith.    She  has  been  directly  
impacted  by  the  proceedings  you  are  hearing  about  today.    She  has  told  me  that  her  faith  
is  strong  despite  the  administration  of  LC,  not  because  of  it.      
 
In  regard  to  general  student  opinion,  I  would  like  to  submit  the  following.  There  are  a  
number  of  students  on  campus  who  use  Twitter.    I  keep  an  eye  on  mentions  of  Louisiana  
College  on  Twitter,  and  I  see  the  posts  of  many  members  of  our  student  body,  as  well  as  
those  of  prospective  students.    The  following  is  a  sample  of  relevant  tweets  from  students.    
Please  note  that  in  twitter  vernacular,  the  hash  tag  (#)  is  used  to  track  topics  and  
sometimes  indicate  sarcasm  or  other  emphasis.    At  LC,  many  of  our  students  use  the  
phrase  “on  the  rocks”  as  a  pun,  referring  to  our  college  being  founded  “on  the  Rock”  
(Christ),  the  way  alcoholic  drinks  are  sometimes  ordered  “on  the  rocks,”  and  the  idea  of  
things  being  rocky  (not  going  well.)  
 
From  League_Ready7  :    
"I  mean  slippery  rock.....dude  got  drafted  from  there........man  come  find  Louisiana  
College  ....I'm  sure  its  easier"  
 
From  twfrontmen:    
"I  think  you  are  confused  about  what  is  supposed  to  be  happening.  #classontherocks  
#newtylerperrymovie"  
"Had  i  cared  at  all  about  this  lecture,  your  15  min  departure  from  it  to  debate  how  we  
pronounce  a  name  wouldve  bothered  me  #classontherocks"  
"Do  you  think  that  if  you  say  enough  long  words  and  recognizable  names  that  ill  agree  
with  you?  amen,  amen?  #chapelontherocks"  
""take  off  your  hats  and  turn  off  you  electronics  so  we  can  worship"  i  dont  remember  that  
being  one  of  the  conditions  #chapelontherocks"  
"epic  U2  style  attempt  at  conjuring  emotional  response  and  intellectual  submission  to  
your  version  of  christianity:  check.  #chapelontherocks"  
""Remember  the  lord  in  the  days  of  your  youth."  This  man  did  more  quoting  one  line  than  
the  whole  circus  shabang  before  him  #chapelontherocks"  
"Should  i  be  worried  that  i  just  saw  my  professor  taking  down  notes  from  wikipedia?  
#classontherocks"  
"Ok...slideshow  about  how  its  a  good  idea  to  picket  bigotous  propoganda...makes  me  
want  to  disagree  with  you  even  more.  #chapelontherocks"  
 
From  @alexayounger    
"Please  accept  me  into  your  graduate  program"  
"Welcome  to  Louisiana  College...  Yes  you  are  in  college  but  we  will  treat  you  like  you  are  
in  the  fifth  grade  #chapelontherocks"  
 
From  Dunkin_On_em:  
"da  preacher  talkin  us  living  wid  michael  jackson!!!!  wtf???"  
"I  really  don't  wanna  take  dis  English  test  tomorrow!!"  
 
From  @IhopPoonSampler  
"Im  f*****  4  a  living  after  I  graduate  from  college"  
"I  feel  like  I'm  back  in  highschool  same  s***  I  did  my  senior  yr"  
 
 
Regarding  the  issue  of  nudity  and  art  on  campus:  
 
I  understand  that  Mr.  Reynoso’s  testimony  today  includes  a  defense  of  allowing  the  
creation  of  nude  figures  as  art  on  Louisiana  College’s  campus.    Apart  from  the  defense  of  
such  artwork’s  academic  merit,  I  believe  that  the  creation  of  nude  art  should  be  allowed  
because  it  can  be  a  powerful  ministry  tool,  supporting  the  mission  of  the  college.  
 
Our  culture  is  filled  with  shameful  messages  about  the  human  body.    Some  of  these  
messages  come  from  the  media,  some  come  from  the  church.    A  huge  percentage  of  
young  women  suffer  with  body  image  issues  and  eating  disorders,  including  many  women  
on  our  campus.    I  spent  most  of  my  teenage  years  struggling  with  an  eating  disorder  
because  I  believed  that  I  should  be  ashamed  of  my  body.    As  an  adult,  I  still  struggle  with  
my  body  and  the  scars  of  the  past  that  are  represented  in  my  flesh.    Christ  has  redeemed  
my  soul,  and  through  His  word  my  mind  is  being  renewed  day  by  day.    But  God  is  not  
ashamed  of  the  body.    He  came  in  flesh  and  blood  to  live  and  teach  and  die  for  us.      
   
I  recently  had  the  opportunity  to  view  some  paintings  by  a  very  talented  young  artist.    
Many  of  the  images  were  nude  figures.    The  bodies  bulged  and  sagged  like  bodies  do  in  
reality.    Some  had  been  disfigured  by  surgeries  in  an  effort  to  appear  slimmer,  more  
beautiful.    But  in  these  paintings,  the  bodies  were  beautiful  just  the  way  they  were.    
Viewing  these  paintings  was  like  having  a  veil  lifted  from  my  eyes,  and  I  realized  that  my  
own  body  is  beautiful,  too.    I  am  redeemed,  and  I  do  not  have  to  be  ashamed.    God  used  
these  paintings  to  minister  to  my  heart  and  mind  in  a  profound  way.    Jordan  Wade,  an  LC  
student  who  was  taught  by  Rondall  Reynoso,  painted  them.  
   
No  one  is  forcing  our  students  to  paint  nude  figures.    But  for  some,  such  painting  might  
be  an  avenue  of  ministry.    Disallowing  the  creation  of  such  art  rejects  the  possibility  that  
God  might  use  nudity  in  art  as  a  gift  or  blessing.    I,  for  one,  am  grateful  for  the  art  that  
Jordan  Wade  has  created,  and  for  the  way  God  has  used  it  to  strengthen  my  faith.    Please  
consider  the  value  of  this  type  of  ministry  as  you  consider  whether  Mr.  Reynoso  should  be  
reprimanded  for  allowing  a  student  to  explore  it.  
 
 
A  Final  Word:  
 
Thank  you  for  considering  my  testimony  today.    I  know  that  Rondall  Reynoso  believed  
that  everything  he  stated  in  his  letter  was  true.    I  believe  it  was  true  as  well.  
 
I  am  very  concerned  that  by  giving  this  testimony  today  I  may  lose  my  job.    I  humbly  ask  
that  those  of  you  on  this  committee  consider  yourselves  witnesses  of  my  sincerity  of  
heart.    My  desire  is  that  truth,  justice,  mercy,  and  love  would  be  upheld  within  our  
Christian  community.    I  desire  that  Louisiana  College  would  be  a  place  where  Christ  is  
glorified  not  through  pride  and  posturing,  but  through  a  humble  submission  to  one  
another  as  dearly  loved  brothers  and  sisters  in  Christ.      
 
Father  God,  Jesus  my  Lord,  Holy  Spirit,  I  ask  that  you  grant  wisdom  to  the  committee  
today  and  to  all  those  who  will  be  making  decisions  in  this  matter.    I  ask  that  we  would  
show  great  fruit:  love,  peace,  kindness,  patience,  and  gentleness  toward  one  another.    We  
all  recommit  ourselves  to  serving  you  with  our  hearts,  souls,  minds,  and  bodies  today.    In  
the  name  of  Christ  our  Lord  I  pray.    Amen.  
 
Respectfully  submitted,  
 
 
 
 
Elizabeth  Overhauser  
Graduate  Reference  Librarian  
Louisiana  College  
 
1140  College  Drive  
Pineville,  LA  71359  
 
PO  Box  4847  
Pineville,  LA  71361