University Faculty Object To Oath Requiring Them To Uphold North Dakota's Constitution

North Dakota University System faculty are required to sign an oath stating that they will uphold North Dakota’s state constitution. But not all of them agree with the constitution, especially with the part that defines marriage as between one man and one woman. So now some faculty want the matter addressed:

The University of North Dakota Senate has passed two resolutions to do just that:

The first resolution asks university officials to include a line in job advertisements which states, “As a condition of employment, the University of North Dakota requires United States Citizens to make an oath or affirmation of support (to) the Constitution of the United States of America and to the Constitution of the State of North Dakota.” The motion called for a link to the constitution to be included, as well.

The second resolution urged UND officials to review the policy and include a statement in that oath that an individual has the right to object to language in the constitution related to separation of church and state.

Frankly, it’s a little strange that faculty members would be required to sign a loyalty oath to the state and national constitutions. It’s not like these people are judges. Or law enforcement officers. Or elected officials. They don’t make policy. They don’t enforce laws. Requiring this sort of oath seems silly.

A simple fix to the problem would be to simply top requiring the oath, don’t you think?