No one should face discrimination because of who they are – but that’s what happened to Rev. Dr. Julie Nemecek when she came out as transgender while working at Spring Arbor University. The University cut her pay by 20% and forbid her from discussing her transition with anyone connected to the University, which at the time included a brother, sister-in-law, and one of her kids.

Andrew Deeb, a transgender man, felt isolated at Spring Arbor University. He said university officials told him he had to live off-campus for the 2013-14 academic year, his third year of college and second year at Spring Arbor. The move presented a financial hardship because Deeb's university scholarship couldn't be used for off-campus housing. He also was not allowed in either the male or female dorms on campus beyond the common rooms or outside of visiting hours. A university administrator "very heavily implied" that he should not use the restrooms on campus.

Caitlin Stout, Spring Arbor University’s “PRISM” LGBTQ leader, was disciplined for “violating school policies” in 2018 after showing support for LGBTQ rights and talking part in a “LGBTQ Walk for Solidarity” Caitlin had been tweeting her support for this walk on Twitter and was an active part of QueerSAU’s Twitter page #SAUspeakout #cuttheclause until Spring Arbor University sent Caitlin a notice letter saying she had “violated school policy” and forced her to delete her Twitter posts and Twitter account.

These title IX exemptions allow Spring Arbor University freedom in “discriminating in discipline, admissions, hiring, and employment decisions, in matters such as employment leaves for pregnancy, childbirth, and elective termination of pregnancy, or on the basis of pre-marital sex, unmarried pregnancy, extramarital sex, or homosexual activity” 

Policies like this alienate and hurt many, while simultaneously failing to produce anything positive. Beyond being discriminative, such actions also conflict with Spring Arbor University's claimed dedication to develop life-long learners. By refusing to admit students that bring more diversity to campus, they oppress current students from having the opportunity to engage in meaningful, thoughtful, loving dialogue with anyone that might challenge their perspective, cause them to investigate further and sharpen their own opinions and beliefs. True life-long learners thrive to be exposed to opinions outside their own.

With these exemptions, Spring Arbor University is institutionalizing discrimination. As recent as 2022 the SAU handbook only defines and recognizes martial relationships as “a man and a woman” scenarios. Discriminating on gender identity/ sexually orientation and un wed mothers. 

2021-2022 - Student Handbook states that:"We view all forms of sexual intimacy that occur outside of the covenant of heterosexual marriage, even when consensual, as distortions of the holiness and beauty God intended for it."
"Students who violate our community standards regarding sexual behavior will meet with an accountability committee and be treated in a loving redemptive manner throughout the accountability process. To that end, the University will offer counsel and support to encourage students toward living lives consistent with the biblical teaching on sexuality." 
"However, we do reserve the right to terminate or deny enrollment of those whose influence upon our community should prove to be in our judgment intractably contrary to the best interests of our students, and commitments to our university and to our Lord. Therefore, Spring Arbor University will not support persistent or conspicuous expressions or actions that are deliberately discordant with birth gender and will address such matters within the appropriate pastoral and accountability processes of the university."

Last year more than 80 percent of LGBTQ students reported feeling unsafe at school last year!!! Spring Arbor University has qualified for the campusPride Worst List because it holds an exemption to Title IX, allowing the college to discriminate against its students on the basis of sexual orientation, or gender identity while still receiving federal funds.

Spring Arbor university is in top 2 colleges recognized among country's worst for LGBTQ+ students
tell Michigan state government officials that this is open discrimination and is not protected under the freedom of religion! Open discrimination while still receiving state funds IS SHAMEFUL!!! Keep our LGBTQ + students SAFE! Do not let another person like Matthew Shepherd be victimized by a university and community that had no regard to LGBT students. Speak up for rights of Equality!!! LGBTQ+ rights needs YOUR support!!!