Posted on 10/14/2002 8:45:37 PM PDT by Truth'sBabyGirl
11:43 PM 10/14/02
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – OCTOBER 13, 2002 Hostile Bucknell administrators publicly defame, intimidate conservative students
For more details, visit www.bucknellconservatives.org
On the afternoon of October 3, 2002, the Bucknell University Conservatives Club released the latest edition of its magazine, The Counterweight, on campus. Within less than 36 hours, the Bucknell administration had begun a swift, partisan, and libelous response to the students’ exercise of their free speech.
A "forum" was called for certain "multicultural" groups to express their concerns with certain articles in The Counterweight. Three administrators were to be in attendance: Richard Ferraro, Dean of Students; Shauna Irwin, Assistant Dean of Students for Multicultural Affairs; and Danielle Smith, Interim Director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs.
Three Counterweight staffers attended, in order to find out why their fellow students were so upset: Charles Mitchell, editor-in-chief of The Counterweight; Denise Chaykun, president of the Conservatives Club; and Michael Boland, immediate past president of the club. The staffers were not invited, but several students did thank them for being there to speak to others’ concerns.
It quickly became apparent that the administrators and students present were upset with two particular articles in The Counterweight, both of which discussed the administration’s questionable actions in two racially-charged incidents last academic year. Many asserted that these articles in the "free speech" issue of The Counterweight were actually "hate speech," although no specific examples of bigotry were given. The mere discussion of these issues, according to many of the angry, shouting students, was in and of itself racist.
After approximately 45 heated minutes, Ferraro, the Dean of Students, spoke up. He asked Mitchell if he would run the two allegedly "offensive" articles again, if he had it to do over, now knowing how upset certain students were. Mitchell commented on the inappropriateness of a University administrator asking such a question in public, but, when pressed by Ferraro and others, answered in the affirmative. Ferraro then declared that he was "sure" that Mitchell deliberately intended the content of The Counterweight specifically to hurt people.
Especially after that exchange, and throughout the forum, the Counterweight staffers were repeatedly threatened by those present. None of the administrators present made any attempt to protect the conservative students or to reprimand those who issued the threats. Irwin also commented that the staffers were "lucky" that the offended students in attendance were "such good kids," or else they would be risking physical harm.
A short while thereafter, Ferraro ordered the conservative students to leave the forum, which was being held in a University building. When they hesitated, shocked that an administrator would do such a thing, he threatened to have Public Safety remove them.
Ferraro has since libelously alleged, in an e-mail sent to everyone on campus, that the Counterweight staffers "crashed the meeting," that they were "asked" (not ordered) to leave, and that "there are some very good people who write for The Counterweight"—thereby implying that some other writers are very bad people. He has also declared that Chaykun "was grinning" while the multicultural students were crying, and has refused to apologize for his conduct.
"Without engaging in a point-by-point debate with the conservative group, we will say emphatically that there were numerous and substantive factual errors in the group's account of the meeting. Finally, we would like to emphasize that Bucknell's commitment to free speech is unswerving; but we also believe unswervingly in civility, a sense of justice, and respect for other individuals and cultures. "
It's funny how the less morality a liberal has behind his argument, the more he will openly display it with loud fanfare. I suppose they figure if they just make their lies big enough they will get away with it...they always have, after all.
Without engaging in a point-by-point debate= Let’s ignore the facts of what happened and make some stuff up. C’mon, we’ll have a blast playing “Bash The White Oppressor”.
With all this "unswerving" support happening, let's have a rational look at it:
free speech=human right, American value, essence of academic discourse;
civility=a nice convention, but highly subjective and ALWAYS trumped by freedom of speech;
sense of justice= code word for socialist thought reform;
respect etc=utter nonsense. Respect freely given to all is the same as universal contempt; if respect is not selective and earned, it is worse than worthless.
Just once, I would like to hear a college bureaucrat understand the difference between a right and a privilege, and which takes precedence when they are in conflict. Just once, I would give a lot to hear them tell aggrieved minority members to sack it up and stop whining; my only consolation is that in the real world these saps will have to grow up or be crushed.
Good luck, and I admire your restraint.
If you would like to be added to the Leftism on Campus ping list, please notify me via FReep-mail.
Regards...
*****
As an addendum to this ping, I would just like to add that, as a former contributing writer to the conservative monthly at my alma mater, and as a person who has personally experienced being called a racist for challenging political correctness and the left wing thought police, I support with the fire of my being the efforts of the staff of The Counterweight and the BUCC at Bucknell. Whatever you do, do not apologize for demanding your right to free speech!
This kills me. They call a forum but neglect to invite members of the publication in question. Lewisburg is my home town, most of my family still lives there. I'd love more details about the two articles - can you direct me to a more specific link from the website or describe them here? Thanks. I see from the link that one of your people is going on O'Reilly - does he know when yet? Ping me to let me know if you could!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.