The following letter was written after a story on this incident appeared on the website of The College Fix.
June 2, 2025
Professor Felix Olschofka
University of Nebraska
Director, Glenn Korff School of Music
WMB 120
Lincoln, NE 68588-0100
Dear Professor Olschofka:
It has been brought to my attention that a serious act of anti-Catholic bigotry was initiated by a doctoral student in your department. Reportedly, the final recital of his music degree took place at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Lincoln. It was a drag performance that viciously mocked the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass; central aspects of it were debased. A video of this event is available on YouTube.
As one who has taught college for many years, and who served on the board of directors of the National Association of Scholars for twenty years, I am well aware of the importance of academic freedom. I am also well aware that academic freedom—like any freedom—is open to abuse. Trashing a world religion surely would qualify.
If an anti-Jewish or anti-Muslim student were to mock their religion, as part of fulfilling course requirements, reasonable people would object. This has nothing to do with the pursuit of truth, the core value of higher education. Catholic students expect the same treatment. That is why those professors who are responsible for sanctioning this blatant example of anti-Catholic bigotry need to be held accountable.
Sincerely,
William A. Donohue, Ph.D.
President
cc: Dr. Jeffrey P. Gold, President, University of Nebraska
Andrew Belser, Dean, Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing
Arts, University of Nebraska
Dr. Barbara Gellman-Danley, President, Higher Learning Commission
Tobi White, Pastor, Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church
Gabrielle Temaat, Assistant Editor, The College Fix
