IU Law School profs threaten lawsuit if Christmas tree not removed. [FReeping requested.]

12-04-03 | Teacher317

[Teacher317]

As if I need this just as classes end and the run-up to Finals begin.

I'll take pics of the offensive display tomorrow. The TV news folk have been by taking their shots, and this story is starting to get some play on blogsites Hoosier Review, The Collegiate Network, Lawren Mills

[Teacher317]

I'll be posting a few of the MANY emails that have been flying around the school for the past few days.

[Keith in Iowa]

I saw let that Prof replace the Angel atop the tree...as in stick it up his arse...

[Paladin2]

Those people need to embrace some real diversity for a change.

[Teacher317]

It all started with a raflle for a 65 POUND chocolate Santa (you gotta see this thing! I'll try for pics tomorrow night), and the usual Christmas decor, which apparently has never caused THIS much of a fuss.

The mass e-mail that was sent out by the Dean has conveniently missed my inbox (or never made it in, although I am still on the proper lists for that), but from the reply e-mails, it missed many others as well.

Some offer a festivus pole, others want the poinsettias removed, and yet more wonder where the Tree is in the Bible.

[Lawgvr1955]

"We wish you a Merry Winter Festival, we wish you a Merry Winter Festival, we wish you a Merry Winter Festival and a Happy New Year." Don't know, it just doesn't have the same feeling to me. To H#ll with IU, I am going to celebrate Festivus. Do you think they will let me put up the aluminum pole?

[Teacher317]

One of the more ardent e-mails, that says quite a bit of what is going on behind the scenes...

It is shocking to know the administration of this law school does not give "two figs" about what an overwhelming number of students and faculty think. (I have received emails from several faculty members and can verify that many professors oppose the removal of our martyred Christmas tree.) Instead of welcoming dialog, the administration quickly chose to chill our right to expression, a right most dear to a republican democracy, by telling students who inquired to cease commenting and communication. I have trouble placing my confidence in an administration when it does not lend an ear to what the professors and students believe are viable alternatives. The administration may have made a good choice, but we may never know because of its secretive tactics. Respectfully, [a friend of mine]

[Gritty]

You'll quit if it's not removed?

Go ahead, Perfesser. Make my day!

[ReagansShinyHair]

read later

[Hamilton2]

Please check with Bill O'Reilly's site. There are a group of attorneys who are fighting these legal assaults against Christmas for free.......I think it is called the Alliance Defense Fund.

[Teacher317]

My favorite post so far (and there has been MUCH humor, like wanting plush Justice Rehnquist dolls for presents):

I think if a MINORITY of students want the tree back up, we have a chance! Minority rule, Majority no rights.

[Texas_Jarhead]

The ADF is correct.

[Teacher317]

http://www.foxnews.com/oreilly/ ?

I see nothing about ADF Alliance Defense Fund

[Teacher317]

Well, if I continue to fail to find the profs involved (and post their e-mail addresses), I'll just post the dean's address. This is his first year (he's from Australia), but in the past the administration was always strong enough to keep the tree up.

[bboop]

You should contact FIRE -- ie, www.thefire.org. They are a feisty group of LAWYERS and PROFESSORS who fight for this sort of thing, and they have been tremendously effective. I bet they will take on your case. Foundation for Individual Rights in Education. They have won some cases around this area (LA) and have given notice to the University Presidents et al. that students actually have FREEDOMS. Novel concept. I bet they will have good advise if nothing else.

[Liz]

Ready to FReep, but where are the links, email addies, and so on?

[muawiyah]

Of course the Christmas Tree is not welcome. You will notice that it is decorated exactly like Europeans used to dress up the sacrificial human victim.

Any lawyer would be offended to have a "substitute sacrifice" hanging around. After all, they rarely pay any of their bills.

[Kirkwood]

IU can kiss my annual donation goodbye.

[curmudgeonII]

I'm under the impression that there are [or were] two sites for the IU School of Law. Is this assinine behavior coming out of Bloomington or Indianapolis?

[kitkat]

It's your three year anniversary on FR. Congratulations.

[Always Right]

What a sad day, I guess Bloomington is trying to oust Ithica as the City of Evil.