Posted on 05/13/2005 3:08:58 PM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
Edited on 05/13/2005 3:40:56 PM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
For Immediate Release:
Anti-Conservative Bias on Campus:
Wells College Suspends Student Republican Leader Three Weeks before Graduation
“This has everything to do with my being an outspoken conservative leader on campus”
Aurora, NY May 13th, 2005:
A Republican and conservative student leader at Wells College in upstate New York is alleging anti-conservative bias after the school suspended her just three weeks shy of her scheduled graduation.
Wells senior Nicole Krogman is the Co-Chairman of the Wells College Republicans and an editor of the Cornell American, a conservative publication at nearby Cornell University. She is the most high-profile conservative student at Wells.
In her final semester at Wells, Krogman undertook a non-credit bearing independent study tutorial with Professor Linda Lohn, Chair of Wells’ American Studies Department.
There was minimal communication between Krogman and Lohn during the course of the semester. Suddenly, on April 5th, rather than hearing from Lohn, Krogman received notice from the college’s “Community Court,” a quasi-judicial body composed of students and faculty. She was informed that her tutorial project had to be completed within seven days, failing which she would be held “in contempt of court.” Given the extensive nature of the work involved and the rush of end-of-semester assignments, it was not possible for Krogman to complete the project on such a short deadline.
Thereafter, the Community Court found Krogman in contempt of court, and suspended her for the remainder of the spring semester.
Wells College President Lisa Marsh Ryerson thereafter rejected Krogman’s appeal of the ruling.
Krogman was subsequently informed by Diane Koester, Dean of Academics at Wells, that not only would she be suspended for the remainder of the semester, but that Krogman would not be permitted to take “incompletes” in any of her classes, meaning that her entire grade would be based on less than a full semester’s work, without being allowed to submit final papers or exams, making up a significant portion of the grade. This would result in Krogman failing at least two other courses. As a result of such failures, Krogman would in turn be placed on academic suspension for a full year.
Ironically, Krogman was charged with “contempt” on April 15th, just one day after the “Republican Coming Out Day” that she and others in her college Republican club had organized, a day dedicated to encouraging “closet Republicans” on campus to reveal their political orientation in the face of the college’s prevailing liberal culture. It was also the day that, at the invitation of the Wells Republicans, conservative commentator Star Parker spoke on campus.
Said Krogman: “I honestly do believe that this has everything to do with my being the most outspoken conservative on campus. It is my deep conviction that a liberal or feminist campus leader would never have received the same treatment.”
Continued Krogman: “In her public statements in class, Professor Lohn has often displayed contempt for Republicans and conservatives. For example, as per my class notes for “Introduction to American Cultural Studies,” on September 8, 2004 Prof. Lohn stated that “’family values’ were Republican propaganda used as a ‘racial manifesto’ by the far right.” In the same course, on October 27th, 2004, Professor Lohn condemned Louisa May Alcott’s “Little Women” for encouraging women “to submit to men's wishes.” Lohn described “Christian values” as meaning: “accept your place in society.”
Said Krogman’s representative, Mark Finkelstein: “This is the latest and most extreme example of a pattern of bias against Republican students at Wells.
“In 2003, when the Wells Republican club published its study revealing that more than 90% of its humanities faculty members [including Prof. Lohn] were registered Democrats, Wells professor Jonathan Vawter responded with a campus-wide e-mail labeling Republicans "stupid," and calling for "lobotomies" for all Republicans. Shortly thereafter, Wells' student assembly denied the Wells Republicans' request for recognition as an official club, which would have qualified them for funding.”
“This is truly cruel and unusual punishment. We demand that Wells immediately lift the suspension, give Nicole the opportunity to complete course work and finals, and graduate with the rest of her class on May 28th.”
//end//
How about email addresses for the administration?
Post #5 is the over/under for the first "Well, she just needs to follow the rules, good for the college" post.
We'll see. I would be amazed if other students have received such harsh punishment, particularly for a non-credit tutorial.
typical fare from the fascist left
Ping, and please ping to your relevant lists.
What's a conservative doing at Wells in the first place?
Good lord, why would anyone even go to this college? Here is part of the president's bio:
About the President
Lisa Marsh Ryerson
An experienced, innovative leader known for her advocacy of gender equity and commitment to providing increased access to higher education, Lisa Marsh Ryerson has served as president of Wells College since 1995. She is the 17th and first alumna president of Wells College. Serving in her tenth year, President Ryerson is the senior-most college president in the region.
Nationally recognized for her progressive views on higher education and community partnerships, President Ryerson speaks and writes about the benefits of women-centered education, gender equality in education and society, women in leadership, and business-education partnerships among many other topics.
President Ryerson has elevated the college’s standing as a leader in providing an excellent liberal arts education at an affordable price. She led campus efforts to create a remarkable experiential learning program involving internships, community service, off-campus study, and research that connect the liberal arts with life, helping students attain their career and educational goals. She has overseen the refurbishment of many campus buildings and the development of a campus plan for improvement of the college environment so it can better support a learning community dedicated to excellence across the curriculum. Under her leadership, Wells completed the largest and most successful fundraising effort in the college’s history – a comprehensive campaign that, in 2000, surpassed its ambitious $50 million goal.
She continues to lead the college through a significant period of transition as Wells prepares to enroll men in fall 2005 and launches several new initiatives that build on the college's traditional academic strengths. She has positioned Wells’ internationally recognized and very successful Study Abroad Programand Book Arts Center for further growth. In addition, the college is developing innovative partnerships with neighboring colleges. She also leads the strategic planning process, with associated assessment tools, that supports Wells community members in their work to serve the college mission, charting a path for the college’s continued success.
Typical brownshirt tactics.
OUTRAGEOUS!!
She needs to get in contact with FIRE ( I believe that this the acronym for the group) asap!
Clicked on the link and went directly to more links to press releases from 2004-3.
Where's the link? Not enough time?
Sigh. Another affront to liberty perpetrated by my alma mater. Wells was a liberal college when I was there long ago, but in those days, liberal faculty generally didn't mandate an end result and encouraged free thought.
That said, the students and a few of the younger faculty did bulldoze over dissent using shame guilt, humiliation and other intimidation tactics. I kept my views to myself and learned the art of diplomacy to fly under the [soviet inspired] radar of conformism at all costs. It was helpful to learn how to prosper in an atmosphere of liberal intolerance.
Sad that it's a school of slogans and epithets now.
FIRE, David Horowitz, Rush, Sean, O'Reilly and others have been contacted.
There is no link to the release at this time.
Sounds to me like Krogman is playing the discrimination card rather than doing her work. I bet she didn't even start on the project.
A good student would have been in contact with the prof throughout the semester, even if that meant unannounced office visits, commmunication via email, etc. Independent study isn't for the weak-kneed -- and I guess Krogman found that out the hard way..
"Sounds to me like Krogman is playing the discrimination card rather than doing her work."
The story does have holes in it.
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