Christian student suspended for arguing with Muslim teacher - 'Obviously Rollins College has an agenda when it comes to Religious Freedom'

'It was surreal and degrading.'

Marshall Polston, a Christian and a student at Rollins College in Florida, was stunned when his professor claimed the crucifixion was a hoax and none of his disciples believed he was God.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Polston told the Central Florida Post his Muslim Humanities instructor, Professor Areeje Zufari, was harboring anti-Christian beliefs and delivered a lecture portraying Christ's crucifixion wasn't real.

"It was very off-putting and flat out odd," Polston explained. "I've traveled the Middle East, lectured at the Salahaddin University, and immersed myself in Muslim culture for many years. Honestly, it reminded me of some of the more radical groups I researched when abroad."

It was at this point that Polston decided an intervention was necessary.

He challenged Professor Zufari's statement. In response, she failed him on a major essay and refused to explain why he was given a 52 percent.

"I was upset, understandably," Polston explained. "I've never gotten anything less than straight A's, so I was really interested in figuring out how to possibly improve or at least understand the grade."

According to the Orlando Sentinel, Polston wrote an email to the professor after receiving the failing grade, which, in part, read: "Quite frankly the grade you assigned to me exposes your true agenda which is to silence me in class."

He added, "You're one of the most incompetent professors I have ever seen in my life."

When interviewed Tuesday, Polston said he felt he was the victim of religious discrimination and claimed, "I made absolutely no threats."

While Polston reeled from the sudden failed paper, Professor Zufari was reporting him to the school's "Dean of Safety," where she claimed she was forced to cancel her class as Polston's presence made her feel "unsafe."

She claimed the email from Polston was concerning, adding to a list of complaints she already filed against him.

Injunction records revealed an email Zufari wrote in early February concerning Polston, with the subject line reading, Problem student. "His attitude is contemptuous."

When he learned of the email, Polston wrote another to his professor.

"Since you've decided to carry a blitzkrieg out against me, I may have to speak up in regards to your extreme bias and not necessarily to the class but to the dean," he wrote. He added he would contact "national media personalities that I'm good friends with" or take legal action.

Zufari claims to have been extremely concerned for her safety following that email and canceled class. Later that evening, an unnamed Rollins College associate dean claims to have been on her way to let students know there would by no class when she noticed Polston and decided to discuss his email, the dispute with Professor Zufari, different religions and other topics.

She claims he mentioned guns several times in the conversation but wrote an email to Ken Miller, Rollins' assistant vice president of public safety, saying: "At no point did he threaten anyone openly, but I was very uncomfortable by his continued reference to guns, generalized categories of people by religion and his obvious nervousness and disdain for the professor."

Zufari's classes were on hold for a brief time but when they resumed, Polston claims she began lecturing her students on the application of Sharia Law.

He also claimed another student, who allegedly revealed a preference to live according to the Quran in previous group discussions, made a shocking comment.

"He stated that a good punishment for gays, adulterers, and thieves was the removal of a certain body part, as determined by Sharia law," Polston recalled. "It took a few seconds for me to realize that he actually said that, especially after what this community has faced with the tragic loss of life at Pulse."

In response to the unnamed student's statement, Professor Zufari merely joked and said the student was "in time-out" for a few minutes, or a similarly light-hearted comment.

One student, who spoke under anonymity, admitted they reported the incident to the F.B.I, believing it was better to speak out about what could be nothing than ignore a potential red flag.

The same day, Polston was summoned to the Dean of Safety's office to discuss a possible suspension for making the college campus "unsafe."

"They made it clear that they had not gotten a report about what the student said, and were more concerned about the danger I was causing to the campus," Polston described. "What danger? A difference of opinion in a college classroom is nothing out of the ordinary and certainly not dangerous.

"It was surreal and degrading. The bad grade was upsetting, but they were literally refusing to acknowledge the dangers posed by someone who advocated chopping off body parts on campus."

Days later, Polston was suspended.

The letter, dated March 24, explained Polston was deemed to have violated "The Code of Community Standards."

Furthermore, Polston was told he could no longer contact Professor Zufari for his remaining time at Rollins College.

The Professor claimed she was forced to file a police report with the Winter Park Police Department when Polston allegedly appeared in her classroom to harass her, but Polston insists he was traveling with his grandfather in Daytona Beach for the opening of Embry Riddle College's MicaPlex during the same time as her class.

As evidence of his whereabouts, Polston provided a receipt from a restaurant in Orlando's Dr. Phillips area and even video surveillance footage of him purchasing food with a timestamp revealing he could not have been in her classroom.

"I will be releasing witness statements shortly proving I could not have been where Professor Zufari said I was Thursday night," he stated, adding, "It's shameful that she lied to the police."

When news of the situation broke in Florida, many spoke out against the school's policy and the professor's decisions.

Central Florida faith leader Peter Vivaldi commented: "Obviously Rollins College has an agenda when it comes to Religious Freedom. Apparently freedom of speech is not allowed on campus, unless it offends Christian beliefs."

The situation is currently under investigation but Rollins College is not known for its acceptance of Christian freedoms.

In 2013, college officials removed a Christian group from its campus for their beliefs and refusal to allow non-Christian students to serve as leaders for their club. Later, they were told they could no longer hold private Bible studies in their dorm rooms.

Please pray for a peaceful conclusion for the conflict of interest case. It currently remains unclear who is telling the truth but the situation remains under investigation.

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