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A “Canceled” Student Strikes Back. Morgan Bettinger’s lawsuit against the University of Virginia deserves close attention.
James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal ^ | September 7, 2023 | Graham Hillard

Posted on 09/08/2023 3:27:52 AM PDT by karpov

On the evening of July 17, 2020, one of two things happened on a blocked thoroughfare in Charlottesville, Virginia. Either Morgan Bettinger, a rising senior at UVA, uttered a threatening and contemptible remark to Black Lives Matter protestors who were barring her way home. Or the young woman made an anodyne comment that was immediately—and perhaps intentionally—misunderstood. A new lawsuit filed by Bettinger asks a jury to find that the University of Virginia, in responding to the incident, violated her rights.

The Bettinger affair—since covered by the New York Post, Reason, The Daily Mail (UK), and numerous other outlets—turns on a single disputed fact. Approaching a group of BLM activists crowding the road on the night in question, the UVA senior pulled over, left her vehicle, and spoke to a municipal worker who had positioned his truck as a protective barricade. As Bettinger tells the story, she remarked jokingly to the city employee, “It’s a good thing you’re here, because otherwise these people would have been speed bumps.” What was heard (or “heard”) by an eavesdropping protestor, however, was something altogether more damning: The assembled activists would make “good speed bumps” for Bettinger’s car.

What happened next will surprise no one who is familiar with the increasing illiberality of America’s universities. Caught in a social-media firestorm (the accusation against Bettinger soon went viral), the University of Virginia issued multiple statements that appeared to take the side of Bettinger’s accuser. UVA also hauled Bettinger before the student-run University Judiciary Committee, which found her guilty of “threatening” the protestors, many of whom were fellow UVA students. Despite a later reprieve, in which the university’s civil-rights office concluded separately that the evidence against Bettinger was insufficient, the university failed to publicize her formal acquittal widely.

(Excerpt) Read more at jamesgmartin.center ...


TOPICS: Education
KEYWORDS: uva; virginia

1 posted on 09/08/2023 3:27:52 AM PDT by karpov
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To: karpov

Even if she did say “good speedbumps” it was still correct. I hope she wins and gets a hefty compensation. Being stupid should be painful.


2 posted on 09/08/2023 3:35:17 AM PDT by Fzob (“The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential)
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To: karpov
But the ultimate crime is "offending" the privileged classes, which are now legion.

It took about 100 years but we in the West are now living in a female-led world.

Get used to it.

3 posted on 09/08/2023 3:55:39 AM PDT by Aevery_Freeman (I choose TRUMP over Tyranny )
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To: Fzob

Calling protesters “ speed bumps” or even “good” speed bumps shows a lot of self control on her part. What’s the big deal? Is the UVA part of reddit?


4 posted on 09/08/2023 3:57:17 AM PDT by Ikeon (i believe in clubs for women and clubs for males. but only when kindness fails)
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To: Aevery_Freeman

No.


5 posted on 09/08/2023 4:06:26 AM PDT by who knows what evil? (Yehovah saved more animals than people on the ark...siameserescue.org)
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To: karpov

BLM not only makes overt threats to riot, burn and kill, but they often have carried out those threats. And yet, they get their feelings hurt by someone suggesting they might get run over, or should get run over, if they block traffic. This reaction by UVA is somewhat disproportionate, to say the least.


6 posted on 09/08/2023 4:19:41 AM PDT by Spok (Trust your instincts, but never your emotions.)
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To: Spok

The new terrorist arm of the DNC.


7 posted on 09/08/2023 4:58:06 AM PDT by Ge0ffrey
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To: karpov

“intentional misunderstanding”, with no push back or scorn, is the bane of this nation’s existence currently. The intentional obtuseness of the victim class needs to be pointed out and laughed at publicly.


8 posted on 09/08/2023 5:11:43 AM PDT by jagusafr ( )
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To: karpov

Curious: How many marriage proposals has she gotten since then.


9 posted on 09/08/2023 5:25:24 AM PDT by VRW Conspirator (Socialism should more accurately be called Sociopathism)
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To: karpov

It’s a public college.

This is far beyond what a public college can do to a student.

Crazy! Sue them for everything.


10 posted on 09/08/2023 6:10:28 AM PDT by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
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