Typical, when all else fails... CRY!!!
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."
Typical lefty tactic - when you're caught speaking your mind, turn on the tears and get some sympathy. Disgusting display on both counts.
Years later, I'd hear some man, who ought to be smarter, say, "I've seen her in tears because...blah blah blah." If you tried to explain, he'd look at you like you were Jack the Ripper or somebody.
Needless to say, this woman was extremely manipulative and wound up very rich.
Another of her ruses was to do some good deed--donating money or some other deed--and swear everybody involved to secrecy, knowing full well that somebody would leak news of her benevolence. Somebody always did. So she got credit for generosity and humility--neither of which was deserved and both of which were calculated.
She was a real pro.
People have different talents. Hers was manipulation. I don't exactly begrudge her this. But it was amazing how few people could comprehend what was going on.
This movie Body Heat was very good--for many reasons. It showed, very well, how manipulative it is possible to be. Most people do not understand, and many refuse to believe, that anyone could be manipulative--and successfully manipulative--to that extent.
Like denial, there is no limit to how successfully manipulative it is possible to be.
But I digress...
More discussion from yesterday.
An old Windoze operating system acronym comprises the second half of the word, which has also been widely-acknowledged as a laughing stock.
(But I digress...)
Needless to say, this woman was extremely manipulative and wound up very rich.
An interesting phenomena is occurring (or has occurred) in the business world. Back when I was at IBM and the corporate world, where the place was run by sexist old geezers, but transitioning to full affirmative action policies on the backs of younger generations NOT guilty of THEIR transgressions, the women cleaned up with the choice positions and immunity from failure (particularly the pretty ones). Because whether women want to admit it or not, they have two power centers, beauty and competence, whereas men have one. Men better be competent or they just aren't worth crap.
But through the universal application of these policies, it was inevitable that women ended up working for other women, and that kinda strategery doesn't play very well in that scenario. And I have had many a woman tell me that it is absolute HELL to work for a woman, particularly if that underling is prettier than her boss. The more things change...the more they get fouled up.
Typical, when all else fails... CRY!!!
"Yeah, right. I'm sure that's what the football player was referencing in calling Ms. Hnida that term."
LOL my thoughts exactly! And she's crying? What, he's going to lift the source and put it in his term paper??"
What a retard.
do you do translations too?
According to the article, she cites to Chaucer. Got a problem with that?
Well, of course it was! You ought to hear them quote the Decameron when somebody chop-blocks them across the knees...
if the regents of the university of colorado had any sense, they'd replace both hoffman and the football coach.
it's odd that knida never filed any charges.
but the colorado program has had a cloud of rape hanging over it for decades.
in the late 1980's reader's digest had an article which stated that campus police brought football rosters to rape victims, thinking that the woman would spot the rapist on the cu football team.
So very true. Why just the other day I was thinking "Now, what would Chaucer call Hillary?"
cholars? Is that a "C" word? ;~))
BTW. I agree that this a a non-story story. And it's mean to make this poor wittle woman cry.
Keyword Afficionado ping
She took a page out of the Patsy Schroeder playbook.
Gee, I always thought it was spelled with a "K".
Remember George Carlin spoke about "all those hard K sounds".
What the hell do I know?
And being "gay" simply means that you're happy.
Now, sire, and eft, sire, so bifel the cas
That on a day this hende Nicholas
Fil with this yonge wyf to rage and pleye,
Whil that hir housbonde was at Oseneye,
As clerkes ben ful subtile and ful queynte;
And prively he caughte hire by the queynte,
And seyde, "Ywis, but if ich have my wille,
For deerne love of thee, lemman, I spille."
And heeld hire harde by the haunchebones,
And seyde, "Lemman, love me al atones,
Or I wol dyen, also God me save!"
And she sproong as a colt dooth in the trave,
And with hir heed she wryed faste awey,
And seyde, "I wol nat kisse thee, by my fey!
Why, lat be," quod she, "lat be, Nicholas,
Or I wol crie 'out, harrov' and 'allas'!
Do wey youre handes, for youre curteisye!"
Stop! Stop! The nightmares of Brit Lit I are returning! Please, don't mention The Green Knight.
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