Posted on 10/20/2003 8:27:20 AM PDT by goodnesswins
Gonzaga University Declares the Word “Hate” as Discriminatory Administrators Censor Student Flyer
HERNDON, VA – Gonzaga University (Spokane, WA) administration officials censored flyers advertising a Young America’s Foundation organized lecture because the word “hate” was used on the flyer. The flyer in question featured the topic of guest speaker Dan Flynn’s speech, “Why the Left Hates America,” which is also the title of his book. The administration first approved the flyer then rescinded the approval after some professors and students complained of the use of the word “hate.”
In a letter obtained by Young America’s Foundation, Gonzaga’s Office of Student Activities informed the conservative student group that a complaint was made against the group because some feel “the Left Hates…” printed on the flyer was “discriminatory.” The letter did not identify who raised objections to the flyer. The office then told the students that “in the future you watch what information is printed on your flyers.” The office also informed the student group that the complaint would be included in their file.
In a conversation with Gonzaga’s Director of Student Activities, student organizer Paul Schafer was told that the word “hate” is a strong word and that the students shouldn’t hold an event at which a speaker hates someone. The director also told Schafer that many students and faculty members tore down his group’s flyers to bring them to the office to make complaints. The director has so far refused to give Schafer the names of the people who tore down the flyers, which is a violation of Gonzaga’s posting policy. He then compared the speech title “Why the Left Hates America” to an imaginary Caucasian club talking about how it hates black people.
The administration forced the students to change the flyer to reflect that the speech topic is the title of Flynn’s book. If the students did not change the flyer to reflect administration’s opinions, the students would not have been allowed to post their flyers.
“It is obvious,” explains Paul Schafer, “that some members of the Gonzaga administration are putting their personal politics over their job and over the rights of students on this campus.”
Further erosions of students’ free speech occurred when the trustees of Gonzaga University passed new rules on who students can sponsor as a guest speaker on campus. Now the administration must give approval of the topics that speakers will present on campus. According to the new guidelines, university officials may forbid a guest speaker or event if “the speech or event would not constitute a legitimate educational experience or otherwise contribute to the University’s mission,” leaving the student’s expression of thought and diversity of ideas to university bureaucrats. If university officials do not cancel or deny permission to students requesting a guest lecture or event, officials reserve the right to issue disclaimers, require a question and answer period immediately following the event, create programming to counter the ideas expressed at the event, or balance a guest lecture with opposing views during the event.
“Gonzaga University has opportunities to educate their students in many ways,” states Young America’s Foundation President Ron Robinson. “To restrict how student organizations contribute to campus dialogue is overreaching.”
For further information, please call Rick Parsons at (800) USA-1776.
Adrien Katherine Wing, a professor at the University of Iowa College of Law, will discuss "Global Critical Race Feminism" at Gonzaga University's annual Luvera Lecture at 5 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 22 in the Barbieri Courtroom at the GU Law School. The event is free and open to the public. A reception will follow.
Wing – who earned a bachelor's degree from Princeton University, a master's degree in African studies from UCLA, and a law degree from Stanford Law School – teaches constitutional law, critical race theory, human rights, law in the Muslim world, comparative law, and comparative constitutional law at the UI where she is the Bessie Dutton Murray Professor. She specializes in both U.S. and international law, and has published in such fields as constitutionalism in Namibia, South Africa and Palestine; critical race feminism; U.S. gangs; legal decision-making in the Palestine intifada; rape in Bosnia; and women's rights in Palestine, South Africa and Black America.
The author of more than 70 publications, she serves on the Board of Editors for the American Journal of Comparative Law. Wing also has served as a consultant to the United Nations, and for several years served as a constitutional adviser to the African National Congress. Also, she has served as an adviser to the Palestinian Legislative Council relative to Palestine's future constitutional options. Most recently, she advised the Rwandan Constitutional Commission on a post-genocide constitution.
Yeah, Ms. Wing is so far left that she named one of her kids "Che". I can see why Gonzaga wants to keep conservatives away...
Contrary to how some on this forum might interpret the intent or effect of this rule, I am pretty sure that it was enacted to prevent non-University anti-Catholic groups from staging informal gatherings with students (e.g., Planned Parenthood; Pro-Choice Catholic groups, that sort of thing). Note the clear reference to the University's mission--that's the criterion that will be used in such cases.
Wake up America.
I hate when that happens.
FMCDH
Is this anything like Hooters U.?
...nice gonzagas!
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