Conservative Davidson College Alumni Push Back On Efforts To Increase Religious Diversity

An email co-signed by 11 prominent Davidson College alumni was sent this week to graduates criticizing the college's move to improve diversity and what they called "political correctness" on campus.

But that message did not originate from the college which never authorized the release of alumni email addresses.

The open letter came in response to recent moves to increase religious diversity on the school's board of trustees and in the president's office. In January the board voted to remove requirements that the president be a member of the Christian faith and that at least 80 percent of the board be active members of a Christian church. 

The changes didn't sit well with the co-signers, which included Republicans like former North Carolina Governor Jim Martin and Rep. Greg Murphy. They fear that a future non-Christian president and potentially a non-Christian board would be unable to live up to the faith component of the college's charter. They claim the changes and the process have caused many alumni to discontinue their financial support.

On Wednesday, Davidson College sent a message alerting graduates to the errant email and reaffirming the school's commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive governing body in keeping with the college's religious heritage.