Posted on 06/17/2004 2:47:41 AM PDT by Hawk44
University of Colorado President Betsy Hoffman broke down and cried this week while explaining her remark about how a pejorative word referring to the female anatomy could be used as a term of endearment.
Hoffman had been talking Tuesday morning to editors and reporters at the Durango Herald.
An editor asked her about a newspaper story on her use of the C-word while she was giving testimony in a deposition.
Her testimony stemmed from a question asked by one of the lawyers in a federal lawsuit filed by three women who alleged they were sexually assaulted by CU football players and recruits in December 2001.
One of the lawyers was questioning Hoffman about a claim by former CU place- kicker Katie Hnida, who said her football teammates referred to her by the C-word.
Hoffman told the lawyer that the term was a swear word. But when asked if there was any possible polite context for the word, Hoffman testified that the word could be used as a "term of endearment."
The CU president, a medieval scholar, told the Herald that she was thinking back to the 14th century poet Geoffrey Chaucer.
According to the newspaper, Hoffman said, "I was immediately sorry." She said that the lawyer "kept pushing me. He was very nasty."
"I knew as soon as I said it that it would come out in the papers," Hoffman told the Herald. "I should have said, 'Read Chaucer's The Miller's Tale. "
About that time, Hoffman began to cry.
"She just pretty much broke down in tears," said Bryan New-some, the Herald's day city editor. "It was kind of somber. Seeing somebody cry is never pleasant."
Hoffman stepped outside the room for a moment, regained her composure and resumed the interview, which had been intended to be about public financing of higher education in Colorado.
After later reading the depositions, Newsome said he could understand why Hoffman was upset.
"But at the time, I was a little surprised to see a college president break down in tears."
The flap over the deposition drew a full range of reaction from CU regents and one of the commissioners who recently investigated CU's athletic department.
Commissioner Jacqueline St. Joan said she felt Hoffman "put her foot in her mouth," with her remarks on the C-word.
"I see it as a combination of siege mentality and academic myopia about the real world," St. Joan said.
Regent Susan Kirk, however, said she felt it was inappropriate to take out of context Hoffman's brief reply within a deposition.
"I know the president would never disparage women," Kirk said.
Regent Pat Hayes said she thought the controversy over the C-word was "almost a non- story story."
Regent Jim Martin said he understood the context of Hoffman's remarks and the reference to Chaucer but added that he found Hoffman's reply "totally inappropriate."
"That is a vulgar word. She could have just admitted that," Martin said. "To dig in her heels only further tarnishes the reputation of this university."
Straight out of the feminist handbook. When caught doing or saying something completely wrong, illegal or offensive - start crying to get out of any responsibility for it. Then wipe your tears away, and resume feminist rant about wanting to be considered totally equal regarding all privileges.
Because..
She said that the lawyer "He was very nasty."
He was a big old mean and nasty lawyer, he was a brute. And he made me cry. I hate him, I hate him, I hate him.
*crosses arms & pouts*
Berkeley East is trying to live up to its standards.
No, the "C" word is crybaby.
My first thought was whether she was implying that the football players are quoting Chaucer to one another. Now that would be news!
I had no idea that CU's football team had so many mideval scholars.
Knowing CU, they are allready looking to see where they can loot a couple of million bucks for her golden parachute retirement fund.
that old man still has a couple of good tunes left in him and I will carry the colors for him as long as I can...
Or amused.
I'm kind of interested in how she got into the position of defending a male football player's insult against a woman teammate. There must have been some good lawyering going on in that room, not.
"I had no idea that CU's football team had so many mideval scholars"
LOL!
I went to CU and I had no idea either. Perhaps they should change the mascot from the buffalo to a troubador or a knight. ;)
Do all the so called elites have their own privileged dictionary?
When someone goes to this absurd length to defend their big time college football program, you know its the college President.
Wow, now there is a College President that is a real C**T.
So how long do you thing I would remain a student at CU making that statement in a LA class.
Hahahaha What a Maroon!
Oh, of course not. What she said was, "That girl is country".
Another argument against affirmative action.
(I wonder if she'd consider it a "term of endearment" is somebody called her that?)
BTW, that's one of my most unfavorite words. I won't mention the other contender.
...
Now, sir, and eft sir, so befell the case,
That on a day this Hendy Nicholas
Fell with this younge wife to rage and play,
the rogue
While that her husband was at Oseney,
As clerkes be full subtle and full quaint.
And privily he caught her by the queint,
And said; "Y-wis, but if I have my will,
For derne love of thee, leman, I spill.
And helde her fast by the haunche bones, my mistress,
...
The spelling has changed over the centuries, but the word in question is "queint". I'm sure this is what the CU football players were referencing.
Or attempts to make protect the football program "cash cow" so that it can continue to provide cash for the rest of the University.
See you in Tea!
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