Coach Gene Chizik has intentions of including a Chaplain on his football staff and AD Jamie Pollard agrees "...he (Coach Chizik) contends student-athletes are under a lot of pressure and need access to spiritual guidance." (as quoted by the Des Moines Register) Approximately 100 faculty members at Iowa State decided that they would sign a petition to protest this right. According to the Des Moines Register, "Faculty members behind the petition said hiring a chaplain is improper at a public university given the separation between church and state." This of course is referring to Thomas Jefferson's letter to the Danbury Baptists and NOT the Constitution of the United States. IT prohibits the federal legislature from establishing a religion or prohibit free exercise of religion which hiring a team Chaplain obviously does not infringe upon. A team Chaplain helps student-athletes handle stress, improve their morals (less crime), thus improving their chance for a successful career at and beyond Iowa State. By signing this petition you are in favor of supporting Iowa State Football, and its right to improve its program and its players, and overall, Coach Chizik's decision to hire a team Chaplain.