By CHRISTY SCANNELL

As a 1989 alumna of Anderson University, I love AU and support its mission both philosophically and financially. That is why I am so troubled by recent events there as covered by The Herald Bulletin.

First, AU’s leaders admitted to not informing students of Michelle Obama’s impending visit by following the “advice of our attorneys” to protect the school’s “not-for-profit privileges,” according to an e-mail I received from President Edwards. In response, I asked Dr. Edwards how schools such as IU or even the private Messiah College (Pa.) were able to openly advertise candidates’ visits on their Web sites without assuming loss of NFP status. I didn’t receive a response.

Now I read in The Herald Bulletin that AU denied the rugby team a significant grant for supplies from the National Guard for reasons that ranged from, depending on who was asked and when, the coach not being an authorized employee to the school not wanting to recruit people for the military to concerns that pacifist donors and church members would be offended. I’m all for finding non-military solutions to problems, but when did it become wrong to suggest the military might be an acceptable career path?

Furthermore, would rugby players or the students who simply saw them in the sponsored gear feel suddenly compelled to run out and join the Guard, as AU’s leaders seem to think? I seriously doubt it.

My fear is that these decisions, while being couched in other concerns, are more about public perception than what is best for students. AU is full of great people who have, for too long, been bullied by a frenetic fringe of pastors and donors who stir up unfounded controversies, causing the school to be fearful and guarded. With that understanding, I hope AU will find a way to put students first always and not give in to intimidation and anticipated aggression.

Christy (Newsom) Scannell is a resident of San Diego, Calif.