Northwestern College in Orange City claims on its website that its mission is to be a Christian community engaging students in “courageous and faithful learning and living that empowers them to follow Christ.”
It’s a great mission statement, but is it just a statement — or something Northwestern College actually believes?
That’s the question at the heart of a civil rights complaint filed against the college by one of its students.
Savonne Sterk chose to attend Northwestern after graduating from Lynden High School in Washington state. Both of Sterk’s parents went to Northwestern and played sports while attending. Both the volleyball and track coaches were willing to allow Sterk to compete in both sports.
It was a good fit when she started attending in the fall of 2020.
Within the first weeks of school, Sterk decided to major in nursing. For clinicals, Sterk has had to receive a flu shot every year beginning her sophomore year. This year, though, she hoped to be exempt due to her religious beliefs.
“I’ve really grown this past year and know where I stand more,” she said. “In the past couple of years, the fear of not being able to finish nursing because of the flu vaccine kind of stopped me in my tracks. It didn’t let me do what I believe is right to do and the Lord gave me strength to stand up for what I consider to be true.”
So, unlike in previous years, Sterk did not receive the flu shot.
Sterk was scheduled to graduate this spring. Instead, she has to defend her religious beliefs at a religious college.
Northwestern informed Sterk in the fall she would need to receive the flu shot in order to continue her clinical training, which is an essential component of the curriculum and required to graduate from the nursing program.
On Sept. 28, Sterk emailed Dr. Julie Dragstra in the nursing department to inform Dragstra that she has medical and religious reasons preventing her from the shot. Dragstra informed Sterk the next day that only a medical exemption could be granted.
One week later, Sterk submitted a medical note from her doctor stating the flu shot is “medically contraindicated” for her.
“She has a true allergy, as proven by bloodwork, to one of the ingredients in the vaccines, thus should not have to be exposed to the major risk of getting the vaccine,” Dr. Dora Keating wrote in the note.
On Oct. 11, Sterk was told her medical exemption paperwork is “likely insufficient” and required review. Amy Rozeboom, the clinical coordinator for Northwestern’s nursing program, said she would discuss it with Dragstra. Sterk was not allowed to do any further clinicals since her vaccination was incomplete.
The nursing department at Northwestern told Sterk if she successfully obtains a medical exemption from the hospital she would most likely be able to attend clinicals since Avera is purported to have the strictest policy of any clinical training site.
Sterk sought accommodation for her religious views once again on Oct. 31. Sterk wrote:
“Above all, I am a child of God, and as stated in 1 Corinthians 3:17 “If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.” In 1 Corinthians 6:19 it states, “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?”. The Lord has placed me here on this earth for a reason, and I am called to protect my body as it is a temple of the Holy Spirit. I know you may see it as just a flu vaccine, but I see it as not taking care of my body the way the Lord has called me to do. My allergy issue is another reason. I also believe that in the healthcare field, we as nurses are not allowed to force our patients to do something or be treated with something they do not wish to be treated with. I do not feel as though I am given the same choices and respect as patients are typically given. ”
Sterk also shared details regarding the pain and hardship she was experiencing as a result of Northwestern’s discriminatory practices:
“Being a senior nursing student, close to finishing my nursing education, I would be crushed if I was not able to finish my degree because of my health contraindications and personal beliefs with the flu vaccine. I have had many sleepless nights over this issue, and very stressed this past month because of it. I know this is not your intention, I am just telling you where I am at with it. After talking to my parents about this situation, if I am not allowed to go clinicals (even ones where they do not require the flu vaccine) we are considering looking into a lawyer. It is with a heavy heart and tears that I say this, and a very hard decision to make. However, I feel like it would give us clarity and might be my only option of possibly being able to finish nursing school at Northwestern. This being considering, I will continue to look for the Lord’s guidance in my life moving forward, even if it is not what I had planned for myself.”
On Nov. 6, Dragstra informed Sterk she would be unable to attend the clinical training at Promise Community Health in Sioux Center since the vaccine requirement is “still being addressed,” even though Promise Community Health said she could attend the clinical training.
A few days later, Sterk expressed frustration with Dragstra after reaching out to Avera, who informed Sterk that Avera does accept religious exemptions, which contradicted what Northwestern faculty told her.
Dragstra responded that while Avera Sioux Falls accepts religious exemptions, not all Avera sites do — thus a medical exemption is necessary.
Dragstra informed Sterk on Nov. 16 that without an approved medical exemption — or proof of vaccination — Sterk is out of compliance and unable to continue with her NUR 440 clinical hours or any clinical requirements for the spring semester.
Sterk appealed to Greg Christy, president of the college, but he said it is “not possible” to allow students to choose not to have the appropriate vaccines required regardless of the reason — “religious, medical or otherwise.”
“We want to help you finish your academic and athletic career at Northwestern,” Christy wrote. “However, our hands are really tied when it comes to the vaccine issue with the health systems we are able to access.”
Christy finished by stating Northwestern “would like” to help accommodate her request, but it “is really not our call, rather the policies of the various health systems we work with.”
Sterk asked Northwestern for a list of hospitals and clinical placements that may be used for clinical trials in the future on Feb. 8. That request was denied. Dragstra followed up by telling Sterk sites look “very negatively on programs when students reach out to them individually about clinical placement.”
“There are processes in place for requesting sites,” Dragstra wrote. “And this needs to come directly from the school.”
In Sterk’s complaint, she notes Northwestern has denied her educational opportunities and workforce training as a result of her religious beliefs. The college made no effort to accommodate her religious beliefs and its own refusal to accommodate religious beliefs was contradicted by Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls.
According to the complaint, Sterk endured agony and prolonged emotional distress as a result of being excluded from such training. The exclusion of Sterk was based on her religious beliefs and has resulted in delayed completion of her education, which is delaying her entry into the workforce.
The complaint also notes that such discrimination exacerbates Iowa’s healthcare worker shortage.
Sterk has requested the Iowa Civil Rights Commission investigate the complaint. Sterk is hopeful there will be an immediate resolution to address the specific issues and harms she has endured while also making sure Northwestern gains greater respect for religious beliefs and the personal health needs of its student body.
“I believe it’s something that should have more awareness because I know there are other people in similar situations, and even some of my nursing classmates that didn’t want to get this vaccine but felt like they had no choice except to get it in order to finish school,” she said. “I have had a great college experience at Northwestern College for the most part, and am sad that this is an issue. I just want to finish my degree that I am so close to graduating with. I also hope that Northwestern reevaluates its policies regarding the flu vaccine, so that others who are wanting to pursue nursing do not feel like they have to make a choice between a career and their health.”
Sterk will now be taking a fifth year of school to hopefully finish her nursing program next spring. She has also added a Spanish major and a psychology minor while the nursing issue is resolved.
For its part, Northwestern College said it has received notice of the complaint and is responding to the investigator’s questions.
“Northwestern has reviewed its policies and their alignment with state statues and believes it has not violated Iowa civil rights laws,” said Duane Benson, director of marketing and communications.
