Update on Hate Crime from President Upham

http://www.cgu.edu/News/displaymain.asp?dir=/News/Current_News/04_12_05_Update_on_Hate_Crime_from_President_Upham.htm ^

[britishtim]

Dear Colleagues: Today the Claremont Police Department issued a news release concerning progress toward solving the recent crime involving a visiting professor at Claremont McKenna College-a crime of vandalism and theft that was deemed a hate crime. I wrote to you regarding this situation last week. In its news release, the Claremont Police Department reported that:

“The Claremont Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation have completed their investigation into the alleged hate crime on the Claremont McKenna College campus. During the course of the investigation, two eye witnesses came forward who positively identified the victim as vandalizing her own vehicle. Additionally, interviews with the alleged victim revealed inconsistencies in her statements regarding the incident.

Based on this information as well as other information revealed during the investigation, the Claremont Police Department will present its findings to the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office for review.”

While we are pleased that progress is being made in the investigation, it is important for all of us to let law enforcement agencies-the FBI as well as the Claremont Police Department-continue their work, and for the judicial system, rather than the court of public opinion, to run its full course.

Whatever the ultimate outcome, I remain heartened with the outpouring of support we saw last week on our campus and throughout the Claremont Colleges for the values of inclusiveness, tolerance, and diversity. As a university, we are committed to taking concrete steps to make CGU a place where all people feel welcome and included, regardless of their race, gender, culture, religion, sexual orientation, or nationality. I look forward to reporting to you on our progress. As always, I welcome your comments on how we can build a better community.

Steadman Upham, President

[writer33]

"During the course of the investigation, two eye witnesses came forward who positively identified the victim as vandalizing her own vehicle."

Yep. It's an election year. They're doing it to themselves. Sad, isn't it?

[britishtim]

The Claremont Colleges have been deluged with various multicultural seminars recently in response to this supposed hate-crime. I wonder if the tolerance and diversity extends to conservative views that regard the concept of "hate crimes" like Orwell's "thought crimes" in 1984.

[SC Swamp Fox]

The only surprise here is that it's being reported.

[Loyal Buckeye]

"Whatever the ultimate outcome, I remain heartened with the outpouring of support we saw last week on our campus and throughout the Claremont Colleges for the values of inclusiveness, tolerance, and diversity."

The only thing the good president omitted is assimilation. Wonder why? ;-)

[Blood of Tyrants]

If there aren't enough hate crimes to prop up the liberals' agenda, they go out and commit some!

[WL-law]

This is so common its about to become a "dog bites man" type of story, whereas "real" hate crimes seem to be the exceptional cases.

Still, the hate-crime industry must have a "product" to sell, so this is how they manufacture it.

[WL-law]

FROM THE CLAREMONT COLLEGE SITE:

A Message from President Upham on Recent Events:

By now, you may have heard about a serious incident that happened at The Claremont Colleges on Tuesday, March 10, 2004. The car of a Claremont McKenna College faculty member was seriously vandalized and spray-painted with racial and anti-Semitic epithets. This despicable incident gained wide exposure in the media.

The action, defined officially as a hate crime by Claremont police and the FBI, was the latest in a series of deeply disturbing events that have taken place on the Claremont College campuses since the first of the year. The series started with the theft of a cross from the Pomona College art gallery by undergraduate students from three of the colleges. The cross was taken to the Harvey Mudd campus and set ablaze.

The cross burning is a deep affront to our minority students and faculty, and to everyone associated with the colleges. Ironically and sadly, the students - athletes on campus before the return of students for the spring term - say they did not fully realize the symbolism of the event. A judicial conduct board is currently hearing their case, and the students face a variety of sanctions, including expulsion.

In the weeks that followed, African-American posters have been defaced at Claremont McKenna College and Scripps. There have also been threats made to gay and lesbian students, again, at the undergraduate colleges. These senseless acts violate the very principles that guarantee the free flow of ideas in an academic community.

Please be assured that I have joined with the presidents of the other Claremont Colleges in taking firm steps to deal with this situation. First, we are working to find and punish the perpetrators. More importantly, we are using this teachable moment to help all of our students, faculty, and staff to think about the sources of hatred and racism that separate people today in America and around the world. We have been challenged to further examine ourselves as individuals and as an institution to determine what additional steps can be taken to foster a greater community of diversity, acceptance and equality.

Classes were canceled the day after the car incident to signify to the entire Claremont community that business could not go on as usual in the face of such vicious acts of hatred and racial intimidation. We convened a community forum that allowed us to share ideas and discuss how racism, anti-Semitism, and intolerance weaken our society and threaten the very foundations of freedom we enjoy as Americans. Many more activities are planned, and I am hopeful we can find greater understanding in these conversations.

As a member of the CGU community I wanted you to know about these incidents and be aware of our serious concerns. I welcome your thoughts, ideas and comments.

Sincerely,

Steadman Upham
President

[speedy]

Seems like Steadman Upham is less concerned about what is apparently another case of a self-inflicted "hate crime" than he is about continued support for "inclusiveness." Which appears to include support for fraudulent victim status. Better to be a fake victim than to never be a victim at all. What could we expect from someone named Steadman Upham? Sounds like a minor character from "Upstairs, Downstairs" or a PG Wodehouse story.

[WL-law]

Sincerely, Steadman Upham
President

Isn't that Oprah's boyfriend?

[Jim_Curtis]

Liberal Professor may have inflicted "hate crime" upon herself in order to further her ideology.
---
Hopefully she starts a trend and the self-inflictions are fatal.

[WL-law]

MORE STUFF:

Permanent Group on Tolerance, Fairness, and Diversity

Dear Colleagues,
I thought you would be interested in knowing that during our two-day meeting of the CGU Board of Trustees last week, the subject of racial intolerance, anti-Semitism, hate crimes, and hate behaviors ted the discussions. Every trustee expressed deep concerns about the origin of such behavior. They asked the question, “How could acts of racial intimidation and hatred emerge in the calm and privileged environment of the Claremont Colleges?”

Trustee Matthew Jenkins, an African-American who has experienced the sting of racial intolerance throughout his life, spoke eloquently and forcefully in board committee meetings and in front of the full board about racism and its origins. Using a powerful reverse metaphor, he said that if corn is planted on the sidewalk, it will not grow no matter how much it is fertilized and watered. But if corn is planted in a fertile field, it will sprout and flourish. He then compared the environment of the Claremont Colleges to the fertile field. He said bluntly that racist and anti-Semitic acts would not have happened unless the environment at the Claremont Colleges provided nourishment for them to exist.

Dr. Jenkins is right. Incidents of intolerance have occurred because we have allowed the conditions that sustain racism and anti-Semitism to exist. Eradicating these conditions must become a priority of everyone associated with CGU and the other Claremont Colleges. This is not a job for someone else to do. Rather, each one of us needs to examine our own actions, fears, and motivations in light of this recognition.

The Board of Trustees of Claremont Graduate University responded to this recognition in a profound and meaningful way. On Friday, the board took action to create the Permanent Group on Tolerance, Fairness, and Diversity composed of trustees from every working committee of the board. The board chose not to set up a separate diversity group, but to embed the activities of the Permanent Group into every board committee. We believe this action will begin a process of renewed concern at the very top of the university to advance programs and actions that encourage, sustain, and expand tolerance, fairness, and diversity.

In his remarks to the board, Dr. Jenkins urged us to view the events of the winter term as an opportunity. He urged us not to dwell on the events or to think we have solved the problem if the perpetrators are apprehended. Instead, he urged us to use this opportunity to recommit ourselves to making Claremont the kind of community in which we all want to live. No more powerful or appropriate sentiment could have been expressed.

As always, I welcome your comments and thoughts on this subject.

Steadman Upham, President

[Publius6961]

Again?
I don't expect this to show up in my local press (must be a hate crime to report fraud, now), but certainly this happens often enough to merit keeping track of the mentally-challenged. This is never a high IQ activity.

[hellinahandcart]

Indexing.

[churchillbuff]

racial and anti-Semitic epithets.

IT'S MEL GIBSON'S FAULT, I TELL YOU!!!!!

[Sci Fi Guy]

Yep. It's an election year. They're doing it to themselves. Sad, isn't it?

Just wait until abortion clinics start reporting death threats...in swing states...about two weeks before the election. (happened before)

[PolitBase]

But if she really hated herself, that would make it legit, right?

[VOA]

Liberal Professor may have inflicted "hate crime" upon herself in order to further her ideology.

Hmmm...wonder if the "victim" is looking to win the "Rigaberta Menchu
Liberal Liar of The Year" award...

[churchillbuff]

From the LA Times of last week:
...
professor, Kerri Dunn, a white woman who is converting from Catholicism to Judaism, spoke Tuesday night before at a forum at Claremont McKenna on racial intolerance. ..."
Apparently this is the lady who spay-painted intolerant statements on her car. SURE HOPE THE POLICE AREN'T IN A TOLERANT MOOD!

[writer33]

"Just wait until abortion clinics start reporting death threats...in swing states...about two weeks before the election. (happened before)"


Yep. Desperation 101 is what its called.