Oklahoma | Liberty Walk

Oklahoma Wesleyan University Announces Plans for Construction of the Keating Institute

(PRWEB) October 14, 2011

Oklahoma Wesleyan University (OKWU) today announced a $ 2 million commitment from Chesapeake Energy Corporation to construct The Keating Institute. The institute will honor the former Governor and his wife for their exemplary service to the state of Oklahoma and will be devoted to the study of free enterprise, constitutional liberty, the rule of law, federalism and Judeo-Christian values. The Keating Institute will house the Oklahoma Wesleyan School of Business, which will be renamed The Chesapeake Energy School of Business. The new institute, which will be moving forward on construction immediately, will also include a “scholars in residence” program and an annual colloquia series.

“Chesapeake is honored to support such a noble cause and is particularly proud to recognize Frank and Cathy Keating for their leadership and commitment to our state and country,” commented Aubrey K. McClendon, Chesapeake’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “We fully embrace the creation of an institute where students will learn to better understand the Constitution, the right to a free enterprise economy, the imperatives of government transparency, the uniqueness of humanity and the importance of public service.”

The mission and goals of The Keating Institute will be to promote ethical leadership, the ideals of free market economics, the spirit of entrepreneurship, the superiority of capitalism, the priority of constitutional liberty and unconditional trust in God.

“We are truly thankful for donors like Chesapeake Energy Corporation,” said Dr. Everett Piper, OKWU President. “This gift will not only be of obvious benefit to Oklahoma Wesleyan University but to our entire community and all of Oklahoma. Clearly, our culture needs to revisit the ideas of freedom, liberty and liberation that are implicit in ‘self-evident truths’ of our Constitution now, perhaps, more than ever.”

Oklahoma Wesleyan University is a recognized educational leader in the state of Oklahoma and beyond. OKWU has received national recognition from U.S. News and World Report, Forbes.com, and CBSNews MoneyWatch both for its excellent academic reputation as well as its missional integrity. The university is a four-year, Christian university of the liberal arts and sciences that is accredited by the North Central Association. OKWU also receives professional accreditation from the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), and the International Assembly of Collegiate Business Education (IACBE). It is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) and boasts national championship athletic programs in men’s and women’s basketball as well as baseball. Perhaps most important, OKWU is known for its bold and clear mission which emphasizes the Primacy of Jesus Christ, the Priority of Scripture, the Pursuit of Truth and the Practice of Wisdom.

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Religious Freedom Under Attack in Oklahoma

Washington DC (PRWEB) March 4, 2009

This morning, the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), the oldest Sikh American civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States, called upon members of the Oklahoma State Senate to prove that religious freedom is state policy in Oklahoma. This demand comes on the heels of the passage last night of legislation (HB 1645) in the Oklahoma House of Representatives that would “strictly prohibit” individuals from wearing “head scarves” and “head garments” in driver’s license photographs. Members of the House voted 88-8 in favor of the measure.

According to an editorial in a local newspaper, the legislation was introduced by Oklahoma Rep. Rex Duncan in response to news that a Muslim woman was allowed to wear a hijab in her driver’s license photograph at her local Department of Motor Vehicles. Because the proposed law forbids all headcoverings, the religious rights of observant Sikhs who wear religiously-mandated dastaars (Sikh turbans) are in jeopardy. Observant Jews, Muslims, and Christians are also affected, as are other individuals who are required to wear religious headcoverings.

Founded in South Asia by Guru Nanak over 500 years ago, the Sikh religion is the fifth largest religion in the world, with more than 25 million followers worldwide and approximately 700,000 adherents in the United States. The dastaar is worn by observant Sikhs as a reminder of their relationship with God and their obligation to promote the Sikh belief in universal equality.

When SALDEF contacted Rep. Duncan on February 27, 2009 to express concern and elicit clarification about his motives, his office denied having knowledge of the issue. Now, SALDEF is working alongside the ACLU of Oklahoma and other coalition partners to persuade the Oklahoma State Senate to ensure that a religious exemption is carved out of the proposed legislation.

“We look forward to educating Mr. Duncan and his colleagues about religious freedom,” said Rajdeep Singh Jolly, Legal Director of SALDEF. “We also call upon all religious communities, civil rights organizations, and concerned citizens throughout the nation to demand that the government of Oklahoma clarifies its commitment to protecting civil rights in the 21st century.”

For additional information on a similar issue in Minnesota, click here:

Minn. Muslims Oppose Bill Banning Hijab on Driver’s Photos.

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, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

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Oklahoma Wesleyan University Announces Plans for Construction of the Keating Institute

Religious Freedom Under Attack in Oklahoma

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