Update: Controversies at Soka University in California

February 28, 2003

Source: The Associated Press

On February 28, 2003 The Associated Press reported that "nearly two years ago, Soka University [in CA] was touted as a Buddhist-inspired experiment where learning to make money was less important than promoting world peace and everyone from the president to the student had a say about the school's future... Now a handful of students and a quarter of the original 20 faculty members have left or will leave by June amid allegations of sectarianism and secrecy at the private liberal arts college founded and operated by Soka Gakkai Buddhists, The Orange County Register reported Friday... About a dozen of the 200 students have left the campus, a former art professor and library director have sued alleging religious discrimination, and four employees in key administrative and faculty roles have resigned since the campus opened in August 2001, the newspaper reported."