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September 25, 2009

To the Admissions Committee at La Sierra University:

I am wri ting in response to the five concerns that have been stated as the reason for

which I am being held from the opportunity of being a student as La SierraUniversity.

As for th e first concern, it is true that I passed out information without permission

from Pastor Dave Peckham. I made a mistake in the fact that I disregarded and

nearly forgot about his request that I ask permission before handing out any

material on the Church premises. Pastor Peckham and I had a talk immediately

following the incident in the Church parking lot, in which he apologized for

physically attacking me, and I apologized for my mistake. Furthermore, I went to the

office of President Wisbey two days later on Monday to schedule an appointment

with him. I met with both he and Provost Trenchard on Tuesday, and apologized for

my choice to disregard the Pastor's request. Though the President told me that he

doubted my sincerity, my apology still stands, because I have realized and learned

from my mistake. I only ask the Committee to consider why this behavioral charge is

being held against me after I have sincerely apologized concerning the matter, and

was accepted back into La Sierra University during Spring quarter, which began

approximately one month after the incident? Why was I not held from being a

student at that time?

As for the second concern, I believe it is good to ask questions in class. As a student,

my job is to help stimulate thought and inquisi tion for the benefit of the class. It is

true that a question interrupts class, but for the right reason. If a professor states

that evolution is the single unifying explanation of life on earth, and that nothing else

makes much sense,yet we are

also told itis just

a theory, is itnot

my job toask

himto explain this contradiction? Yes, this is academics at its best. Not to stimulate

argument, but to consider and learn what is true.

As for the third concern, I will say that I did leave class early on very few occasions.

To assume that I did it because I disagreed with what was being taught is an

assumption that holds no validity. In fact, when I disagree, I like to ask questions in

order to obtain answers for myself from people who have studied science all their

life. For example, Dr. Lee Greer has been generous in giving me more than an hour of

his time on a number of occasions, in discussing our different views. Though we

disagree, I respect him, as well as the fact that he is studied and convicted in his

views. If I left class early, which I did not do many times, I made an effort to si t in the

far back to prevent my fellow classmates from being distracted, and I left as quietlyas possible. I did this because I respect the right of the teacher to have the full

attention of his students.

As for the fourth concern, a Creation/Evolution seminar was held on campus at Hole

Memorial Auditorium last February. Following Dr. Pitman's presentation, I went

forward and made an appeal asking for student support in promoting a balanced

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presentation of Creation Science and Evolutionary Science in the science classrooms

at La Sierra. This was an invitation. I simply had pieces of paper with space for

students to fill in whatever personal information they would like, so that we could

stay in contact. While I was "petitioning" the audience for their support while up

front, the pieces of paper simply asked for personal information. I never harassed

anyone to get them to sign anything. I asked people to sign it out of their own free

will. Because I am not being allowed to hear the specifics of these concerns, I can

only say this concern is utterly false and groundless, with all due respect. My efforts

have been to promote freedom of thought and inquiry, in handing out educational

DVDs to fellow classmates, as well as simply talking to them about their views in

order to learn.

As for the fifth concern, I have not been allowed to know which University official is

being spoken of, nor have I been allowed to know what I have said that was false,

misleading, or a misrepresenta tion. In a court of law, the deciding body is able to

hear the prosecuting party speak in specifics to the defense party, so that they can

make a decision. In this case, the defense has not been allowed to know what he isbeing accused of specifically, and therefore has no way to defend himself. If such a

process was followed in a court of law, the prosecuting party would have no

foundation for their claims. This is why I have requested that these concerns be

established "by the mouth of two or three witnesses," according to 2 Corinthians

13:1.1 would appreciate the opportunity to hear the specifics of these concerns, so

that I may defend myself, and so that the Committee is able to make a wise and

informed decision.

I hope and pray that you are able to understand that many of these concerns about

my behavior are groundless, and I restate that I am willing to answer to those who

have brought forth these concerns.

Sincerely,

Louie Bishop