Every year, the Associated Students of Walla Walla University (ASWWU) holds an election to fill its presidential seat. Ross Gurule, despite being more than qualified to run for the position, was pulled out of the race by the university’s administration and denied his right as a student to be a candidate. The reason for his disqualification was based on his being in a same-sex relationship. While Walla Walla University upholds Seventh-Day Adventist principles, this action is no less than discriminatory and fails to uphold the core teachings of Seventh-Day Adventism as a Christian denomination such as love, compassion, and tolerance.

Therefore, by signing this petition, individuals agree that Ross Gurule was unjustly denied his right to run in the ASWWU election and should be returned to the race as the presidential candidate.

As students, faculty, and community members of Walla Walla University and its campuses, we believe that every student has a right to participate in this community, including organizations such as ASWWU, holding campus events, and engaging in the discussion of what it means to be an Adventist on this campus. We recognize that despite the disagreements we face, we all have an obligation to uphold a standard of unconditional love for everyone, regardless of our opinions or beliefs about one another. Because of this, we as a community call for the governing bodies of the university to prioritize transparency and develop clear policy that specifies the limits of the university’s right to discriminate. In the process of clarifying these policies, we seek to establish safe spaces and opportunities for queer students to advocate for their own beliefs and values. Such policies must reflect the University’s previously stated goal to “accept LGBTQ+ students…[and] step away from the ‘don’t be seen or heard framework,’” as written in a document entitled Mission Presentation Summary by President Emeritus John McVay in 2023.