A group of Wheaton College alumni threatened to withdraw support from the college after it deleted a social media post congratulating alumnus and newly confirmed federal government appointee Russell Vought following online protests.
The group of Wheaton-affiliated individuals warned in their petition to the famed Illinois college’s board of trustees that the institution had been drifting from its Christian mission in a “subtle, creeping, but real” way. The petition appeared to follow the college’s deletion of its congratulatory post highlighting the Feb. 6 confirmation of alumnus Vought in a 53-47 senate vote as the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
“[O]ur complaint is that Wheaton has repeatedly capitulated to the spirit of our age—placating bad actors while sidelining those who bear a more faithful witness,” the petition read, going on to list concerns over “unbiblical pedagogies” such as critical theory, the use of LGBT terms and identities, the stifling of conservative views and other issues.
The petitioners said that many of their number had privately spoken with the college president, Philip Ryken, and the college’s trustees but felt “compelled to publicly air these concerns and take additional steps in the hope of seeing necessary change. We are not doing this out of anger, frustration, or spite, but out of deep love for Wheaton College.”
They committed themselves to “[c]easing all financial support to the college, [d]eclining to recommend Wheaton to prospective students and their parents,” and disseminating “examples of institutional drift.”
Some 327 alumni and current students and 95 parents, grandparents and friends have signed the petition as of the time of this report.
Wheaton College rebuked for removing post congratulating alum in Trump admin: ‘Caving to the mob’ https://t.co/Su64q3dwOL
— The Christian Post (@ChristianPost) February 12, 2025
“Wheaton College congratulates and prays for 1998 graduate Russell Vought regarding his senatorial confirmation to serve as the White House director of the Office of Management and Budget!” ran the now-deleted Feb. 7 Facebook post, according to The Wheaton Record.
Over 1,190 alumni signed an open letter shared by the outlet that was in opposition to Wheaton College’s “affirmation” of Vought. The letter emphasized his co-authorship of Project 2025, which they considered “to be antithetical to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to the mission of Wheaton College.” President Donald Trump’s campaign team distanced itself from the project during the 2024 campaign.
Wheaton College deleted its congratulatory post Feb. 8 and issued another in its place. (RELATED: Trump Appointee’s Alma Mater Deletes Congratulatory Post After Receiving ‘Hostile Comments’)
The college’s authorities said in the new post that the initial one was “something we would typically do for any graduate who reached that level of government. However, the political situation surrounding the appointment led to a significant concern expressed online. It was not our intention to embroil the College in a political discussion or dispute.”
The college said it “does not make political endorsements” but its “focus is on Christ and His Kingdom.”
Many protested online against the college’s new statement, alleging that the college had capitulated to the initial protests. Vought reacted to the new statement with one word, “SAD!”
Wheaton College said its removal of the initial post was not an apology in a statement to Fox News Digital. “The social media post led to more than 1,000 hostile comments, primarily incendiary, primarily unchristian comments about Mr. Vought, in just a few hours. It was not our intention to embroil the College or Mr. Vought in a political discussion or dispute. Thus, we removed the post, rather than allow it to become an ongoing online distraction.”
Hillsdale College, a fellow Christian liberal arts college, insisted it would not delete its congratulatory message to Vought.
This article was originally published at dailycaller.com
