(Greenville, NC) — East Carolina University officials are telling students to ignore a chemistry professor’s ban on mentioning God in the department’s graduation ceremony. The professor sent an email to graduating students last week telling them to prepare “family friendly” statements for the chemistry department’s recognition event. He also wrote, “You can’t thank God.” ECU’s provost sent her own memo to chemistry students this week, telling them that religious references “of any type” will not be restricted.