Seventh-day Adventist college in Maryland is eligible to receive state government funding, a United States court ruled June 26. The decision comes after an 11-year quest by Columbia Union College to gain funding under the Sellinger Program, a state program that distributes grants to private colleges in Maryland.

"Columbia Union College is pleased and satisfied with the results of the decision," said Randal Wisbey, president of CUC, in a statement released June 28.

Columbia Union College cannot be excluded from the Sellinger Program solely because of its religious nature, said a three-member panel of the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals. By denying a grant only on the basis of religion,"the government risks discriminating against a class of citizens solely because of faith," the court said.

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Complete text of Ruling

Direct state funding of CUC would not violate the United States Constitution's Establishment Clause "[b]ecause state aid is allocated on a neutral basis to an institution of higher education which will not use the funds for any sectarian purpose . . .," wrote Chief Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson.

CUC first applied for funds under the Sellinger Program in 1990. In 1992, state officials denied it application on the basis that CUC was "pervasively sectarian"--that the religious and secular purposes of the school were so intertwined that they could not be separated. Thus, the religious purpose of CUC would inevitably be advanced by any government funding, the state argued.

However, a district court ruled in August 2000 that CUC is not fundamentally different from the religious schools that currently receive aid under the program; and so to deny CUC funding would violate the principle of equal protection under the law.

After examining the evidence, the district court said that the Adventist Church "exerted dominance over college affairs" and that hiring and admissions preferences were given to Adventist Church members. But the court also said that the "primary goal and function of Columbia Union College is to provide a secular education even though it has a definite and strong secondary goal to teach with a 'Christian vision.'"

In CUC's June 28 statement, Wisbey reaffirmed the college's commitment to its Statement of Community Ethos, saying, "[W]e value faith in God, we celebrate the goodness of creation, the dignity of diverse peoplesand the possibility of human transformation. Through worship and shared life, we uphold spiritual integrity and are committed to achieving it." --Adventist News Network

ADRA Assists Homeless After Peru Earthquake
The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is mobilizing its emergency team to assist the survivors of the recent earthquake in southern Peru. Numerous aftershocks continue to rock the region, while lack of electricity and damaged roads slow the delivery of relief supplies.

The earthquake's epicenter was located 82 kilometers northeast of the city of Ocoñña, in the Department of Arequipa, and approximately 1000 kilometers from the capital city, Lima, where the quake could also be felt. Affected cities in Peru include Arequipa, Moquegua, and Tacna. The expansive wave of the earthquake was also felt in northern Chile, where it left approximately 50 injured, and in La Paz, Bolivia. According to the Geophysical Institute in the United States, the quake registered a magnitude of 7.9 on the Richter scale. Interim Peruvian president Valentíín Paniagua decreed a state of emergency in the region affected by the earthquake.

In a time span of 72 hours, the earth shook 70 times. Peru, which is located in the "circle of fire" that begins on the American continent and extends to the Asian coast, is one of the most active seismic zones on the planet. In this area 80 percent of the world's earthquakes occur.

The most recent reports say that approximately 47,000 people have been affected. More than 100 people were killed, and at least 1,169 injured. "The people's lives have been turned completely upside down," says Frank Teeuwen, ADRA International bureau chief for disaster preparedness and response. He adds that there is an urgent need for shelter, as temperatures drop below zero at nightfall.

In Moquegua, where first reports affirm that more than 60 percent of the homes had been destroyed, ADRA is activating its network of volunteers and specialists to accomplish a logistic study the centralize consistent help in the donation of warm clothing and tents. ADRA/Peru has mobilized 180 volunteers and is distributing relief supplies to 1,000 families.

One Million Signs Distributed
The Pacific Press Publishing Association reports distribution of more than a million copies of a special issue of Signs of the Times created for responding to the Left Behind books and movie.

Some churches mailed the magazine to entire ZIP codes. Others distributed it door-to-door, or outside theaters showing the Left Behind movie. Request cards for the new "Focus on Prophecy" Discover Bible Lessons and for the book, God Cares, by Mervyn Maxwell were inserted in each magazine.

Kurt Johnson, Discover Bible School director, reports that the Voice of Prophecy has been deluged with more than 1,000 requests per month for the lessons. Felix Castro, director of literature evangelism at Pacific Press, says, "This is the best response we've received from any mailing or advertising."

Egyptian School Ranked Number One
The Zeitoun Adventist Elementary School located in Cairo, Egypt was awarded the highest honor from the Government Educational Zone. With 105 schools in this zone, the Zeitoun School received recognition for top ranking based on students' excellent examination results.

"We are very happy that the government has recognized our school in such a way," says Dr. Hanna Malaka, school principal. "Although our school was always among the top ten for most years, this is the first time we can claim to be number one among 105 schools," she says. "In addition to this wonderful news, we can be very proud that two of our Zeitoun students achieved first and tenth place respectively among the 35,000 students in the zone."

"We are extremely proud of our Adventist school here in Cairo," says Pastor Peter Zarka, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Egypt.

There are 1,244 students in Zeitoun School. Fifty- four percent are Christians from various denominations, and the rest Moslems. The school continues to enjoy good support and appreciation from both parents and students. --Adventist News Review

Arkansas Governor Declares
"Safe Television for All Ages Day"
Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee proclaimed May 8 "Safe Television For All Ages Day" in the state of Arkansas. During a ceremony held at Little Rock on April 11, the Governor praised KSBN, the five-year-old full-power TV station from Springdale, Arkansas, for pioneering this new concept in the television industry since its grand opening on May 8, 1996.

Governor Huckabee presented the proclamation document bearing the seal of the State of Arkansas to Carlos Pardeiro, president of KSBN, who coined the phrase "Safe Television." Pardeiro responded by thanking the Governor for his support, and invited other TV stations in the country include "Safe Television for All Ages" in their regular programming.

"Safe Television", says Pardeiro, "does not contain violence, immorality and profanity. Anyone of any age can safely watch it. Even the commercials are safe. Television can be entertaining, informative and uplifting," Pardeiro continues, without having to use that which degrades the values and principles that have made America so great-the principles of God, family and country."

Strides are being made toward creating a national "Safe Television for All Ages Day," a day where all Americans are invited to support wholesome, family-oriented television.

News Notes