A Florida college student says he was suspended from class for speaking up over a controversial classroom assignment.
Ryan Rotela, a student at Florida Atlantic University, says his course instructor told students to write the name Jesus on a piece of paper and then put the paper on the floor and stomp on it.
Rotela, a Mormon, said he was offended by the task and refused to participate.
When he went to university officials to complain, he says he was then suspended from the class.
"I'm not going to be sitting in a class having my religious rights desecrated," Rotela said.
A non-profit group has offered Rotela legal help if he pursues the issue.
Rotela says he wants -- and is waiting -- for an apology from the university.
Officials say the instructor was just following an exercise in a textbook used in the course. They say the exercise was supposed to encourage discussion among the students about different cultures.
Ryan Rotela, a student at Florida Atlantic University, says his course instructor told students to write the name Jesus on a piece of paper and then put the paper on the floor and stomp on it.
Rotela, a Mormon, said he was offended by the task and refused to participate.
When he went to university officials to complain, he says he was then suspended from the class.
"I'm not going to be sitting in a class having my religious rights desecrated," Rotela said.
A non-profit group has offered Rotela legal help if he pursues the issue.
Rotela says he wants -- and is waiting -- for an apology from the university.
Officials say the instructor was just following an exercise in a textbook used in the course. They say the exercise was supposed to encourage discussion among the students about different cultures.
