MTU Pastafarians harassed

Published by henderob October 23rd, 2007 in General FSM news.

The Michigan Tech University Pastafarian club has been the victim of harassment even before their first meeting. The MTU Lode reports:

Two individuals are currently undergoing disciplinary procedures through the Dean of Students Office after an investigation by MTU Public Safety determined that they posted a threatening message on the door of the President and Vice President of a recently-formed student organization called the Pastafarian Club.

Some background on the MTU Pastafarian club’s leaders:

According to the president of the Pastafarianism Club, Matt Halberstad–who identifies as agnostic–the group is a parody “religion.” But the group’s purpose isn’t to attack religion, and one would be hard-pressed to find a member of the group who truly believes in their parody deity–the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

The vice president of the Pastafarian Club, Steven Wheeler–who is atheist–believes that Henderson’s argument boils down to the main belief of the Michigan Tech chapter of the Pastafarians: creationism, whether or not one believes in it, is not a science, and should not be taught in a science classroom.

I agree with that, but there are people - maybe not in this particular club - who do truly believe in the FSM. Also, I want to make the point that there are plenty of Christians who are members of the Christian religion without truly believing in the deity God/Jesus.

The harassment was hateful, not unlike some of the messages I receive. In part, the message said:

they [Pastafarians] should be shot and hanged from the tallest redwood and then thrown to the raging sea.

The individuals who left the hate messages were caught and are now facing a hearing:

The Bias-Related Harassment and Violence section of MTU’s Code of Community Conduct covers threats due to one’s “race, ethnicity, national origin, disability, religious or cultural identity, sexual orientation, gender-identity or gender.” The penalties for violating the Bias-Related Harassment and Violence section range from disciplinary probation to expulsion.

The outcome of this will be very interesting. Even if the death threats were not meant to be taken seriously, they were still hateful messages directed at members of a religious group on campus. What if the harassment had been instead directed at an Islam club? I strongly suspect the kids would be expelled.

I wonder if the school admins are willing to make the statement that Pastafarians deserve less protection against religious harassment than other mainstream religions.

That said, I don’t think these kids should be expelled. But it would upset me if a Pastafarian organization received less protection than another religious organization (or any other organization).

I guess we’ll see what happens.

Read more about it here.

395 Responses to “MTU Pastafarians harassed”

1. 61 - October 25th, 2007 at 5:51 pm - Pastaronii Says:
   
   

   Just another example of how religious certanty poisens society. These kids are basically just like Hitler in their violent thoughts towards other groups/ organisations. The responsible should be heavily punished not only as an example to other students, but to show them that this is absolutly unacceptable. It is ridiculous that it is those who advertise themselves as non-violent and moral(Christian’s) that did this. I am definatly not the only person who finds this disturbing that 18+ year olds are thinking about lynching and murder.
   I am appalled but also not suprised. The extreme violence that is infecting the minds of religious organisations all over the world (aside from Pastafarions =) is crazy but has been there for quite a long time. Just take a look at the Crusades, Salem Witch Trials, or any one of the other violent religious escapades that they have supported. Many think that violence on the part of religion is over and it belongs in the history books, but this is proof that it still exists and is still a driving factor in the lives of the religious (again minus the Pastafarions becasue we preach and act upon peace, something Christians and Muslims cant attest to). As a plead to my fellow Pastafarions, continue to be good examples in society and remember that your actions reflect upon the rest of your fellow Pastafarion Brothers and Sisters.

   Sincerely,
   a concerned teenager…

   May His Noodle Be Forever Moist!!! RAmen!!!

2. 62 - October 26th, 2007 at 5:22 pm - Bishop Brian Tamaki Says:
   
   

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   * 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
   * 1 cup shredded Muenster cheese
   * 2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
   * 1 clove garlic, minced
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   * 2 Tbsp. chopped chives

   PREPARATION:
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3. 63 - October 26th, 2007 at 8:24 pm - Loch Ness Monster Says:
   
   

   Keep yourselves safe ya hear? We don’t need maytrs.

4. 64 - October 28th, 2007 at 11:25 pm - Kog Kendragon Says:
   
   

   well.. i’m originally FROM the town in question (Houghton Michigan, rep-rah-zent!) and as a pastafarion from that region (i’m now located a couple hours south of there ^^;;) i find myself betting that nothing will come of this, as about a year ago, i nearly got thrown out of a class at NMU for choosing to do a presentation on the pastafarion group on NMU’s campus for a class presentation on a school organization. i had to complain loudly to my professor’s boss in order to force a passing grade, as my presentation fit all the requirements for the project.
   that said, it makes me sad to know that the board of MTU is probably not going to take this offense seriously.

5. 65 - October 29th, 2007 at 3:22 am - Commodore Angryy Says:
   
   

   Why does it not surprise me that Xians are using violence to solve their problems. I’m sick of this shit where they say “if you’re wrong in this life, God will see fit to punish you in the next one”, and yet they pass judgement on us! These bastards are comparing themselves to their own deity! Well guess what, now i can too. I’m saucy and full of energy.

6. 66 - October 31st, 2007 at 4:01 pm - Piave Fan Says:
   
   

   stay strong, my mtu brothers. his divine noodlyness rewards the strong of will.

7. 67 - November 1st, 2007 at 12:12 pm - JC Says:
   
   

   Geez guys,
   There is no evidence that these infantile students believe in me. Only that they are homophobic and mildly retarded.
   Also I’m not sure that the state of MI or the US considers the statement “many believe they should be shot and hanged from the tallest redwood and then thrown to the raging sea.” a threat. It is a statement relating the opinion of some, regardless of the author.
   That being said, I have to tell you now, that I am applying for membership at the MTU campus Pastafarian Club. If the Son of God can be a member then all Xtians should probably follow suit. As a matter of fact I am having tea and matzah crullers with Vishnu, Buddha, Mohammed and Captain Kangeroo this afternoon and will bring them each an application. Flying Spaghetti Monster was invited but has a seriously f***ed schedule right now and he has asked us to pencil him in for sometime in ‘08.
   Peace and RRRRamen.
   JC

8. 68 - November 1st, 2007 at 1:36 pm - Unanimous Cowherd Says:
   
   

   It might be worth pointing out that the “death threats” these two college kids posted are not really much when compared to the ordinary “hate speech” of many christians. Really.

   Most christians I grew up around would not hesitate to describe in great, gory detail the eternal punishment set up for all unbelievers. Endless fire and devils with tongs. Tortures without end. Horrible burning repeated endlessly with no relief for ever and ever. And this message is applied liberally to every single unbeliever — even nominally “christian” folk who didn’t belong to the correct christian sect. If you are the wrong kind of christian (and not just mormon or catholic or lutheran) you were doomed.

   I’m not kidding here.

   So, given this background, can you sincerely say you’re surprised by the the message from these two?

   Would they even see it as hate speech? To them, it was simply telling the “truth”.

   Sad, isn’t it?

9. 69 - November 1st, 2007 at 5:34 pm - Stripper Factory Proprietor Says:
   
   

   It’s depressing, true, but hardly surprising. I’m from rural Georgia, so seeing things such as this…as I said, depressing, but hardly uncommon, though I suspect that one is less likely to see such things further north. The Bible Belt is renowned for its intolerance of nearly everything different-race, sexual orientation, religion…anything you can think of. I’m leaving the southeast for college ASAP, but I have lived here for most of my life-people are very upset about this incident, and rightfully so, but I’m not so much shocked as just saddened.

10. 70 - November 3rd, 2007 at 12:25 pm - Jack D. Martin Says:
    
    

    It seems people are forgetting that these are technically adults. They are not in high school. They are on a college campus. In all likelihood, they are at least 18 years old. Thus, they should be treated like adults. Threatening someone is considered assault in most, if not all states. They should be prosecuted accordingly.

11. 71 - November 4th, 2007 at 1:16 am - swbtmis Says:
    
    

    I think it’s stupid to not critiized a person’s religious beliefs.
    Just because a person wants to believe in some unbelievable, unprovable
    myths, don’t suddenly make them protected from criticism.
    I know people who believe in UFO’s and can quote many of the startrek episodes of the 1960’s word for word.
    Is that any weirder than the beliefs of today’s current religions?
    What about the Aztec’s and sacrificing children?
    How are the masses that pray to the judeo/christian/muslem god
    going to fell when they die and find out it is BAAL the ancient god that is
    really in charge of eternity?

12. 72 - November 4th, 2007 at 12:45 pm - MTU Student Says:
    
    

    swbtmis, we are not try to stop criticism of peoples beliefs, we are merely trying to protect the rights of the members of our groups and keep them free from harassment. An example, if I post anything outside my door relating to pastafarianism, this religious kid comes and tears it down. I would report him, but I don’t want to make a big deal of it. Meanwhile he has all of his religious stuff outside his door (e.g. Jesus fish, cross, WWJD sign, etc.) I should go down there and tear his stuff off the wall.

13. 73 - November 5th, 2007 at 1:34 pm - CastleArrgh Says:
    
    

    Graham Oct 23rd, 2007 at 6:50 am writes:
    I find it disturbing that you’re beginning to talk about this jape as if it were a real religion, one that deserves as much protection as other religions!

    Graham, I think you are insincere in YOUR religious beliefs, therefore your religion deserves no protection. Okay, I don’t actually think that. But I hope it makes you realize the nature of what you are suggesting. WHO gets to judge the sincerity of someone else’s belief systems? Either it’s freedom of religion, or it isn’t. There is no middle ground.

    Yikes! I thought you were pointing out the silliness of unfounded beliefs, not adding to their number!

    To answer that, grasshopper, meditate on the nature of the fun-house mirror.

14. 74 - November 5th, 2007 at 1:46 pm - Wench Nikkiee Says:
    
    

    “talk about this jape as if it were a real religion”
    .
    What is a *real* religion?

15. 75 - November 5th, 2007 at 1:56 pm - Noodly0ne Says:
    
    

    I would watch it, you wouldn’t want to offend the followers of the oh-so-real, Jew-Zombie, son of himself, white guy with funny sandals.

16. 76 - November 5th, 2007 at 2:01 pm - Wench Nikkiee Says:
    
    

    I don’t? :p)

17. 77 - November 5th, 2007 at 2:03 pm - Wench Nikkiee Says:
    
    

    I mean they say “do unto others” and they come here to offend my religion…and so….I assume..

18. 78 - November 6th, 2007 at 2:47 pm - Arrg Says:
    
    

    Just goes to show how many religious nutters take this seriously. If this happened to muslims or scientologists, we’d hear about it.

19. 79 - November 7th, 2007 at 7:18 pm - prsquash Says:
    
    

    Whomever these low brows are, they should be shot with a ball off their own poop!!!! if we had access to time travel, another subject not to be discussed without copious amounts of beer, we should send them back to the time of the crusades!!!

20. 80 - November 7th, 2007 at 7:19 pm - prsquash Says:
    
    

    What ever dudes!!! see my comments above!!!

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