I was there as well. A lot yelling. I don't think most of them heared half of what she said.
Q: Do you think women should vote?
A: No! Next question.
Q: I'm a lesbian and I think your hot! But if your for woman, why don't you think woman should vote?
A: IT WAS A JOKE!
Go ahead. Ask a college liberal if they believe that worldwide women's suffrage is a terrible tragedy and should be ended. Top it off by asking if the U.S. should lead the way and donate money to the cause.
I have complained to the administration at the Uconn/Storrs campus and have received the following reply:
The University of Connecticut is, and will continue to be, committed to an exchange of ideas from all points of view. The challenge of such a commitment is creating an environment in which such exchanges can be done civilly. Most times, in classrooms, student organizations, and informal discussions, this is the case. On rare occasions, it is not.
As someone who was in attendance at Ms. Coulter’s speech, I found the students to be struggling with one another as much as with Ms. Coulter. The vast majority of students in attendance were respectful and seemed to want to hear what Ms. Coulter had to say. Other students were more interested in expressing their disagreement with her, some in ways that could hardly be called civil.
We must remember that our students are, for the most part, young adults, learning the skills necessary to be engaged and effective citizens. While they usually rise to the occasion and give us cause for pride and affirmation, on occasion, they demonstrate a degree of immaturity that provokes frustration in all of us charged with their education. We remind ourselves regularly that education is a process, one that is marked by both forward progress and occasional stumbles.
Students responded to one another, both during the event and afterwards, and that is our preference—that the conversation about civility and appropriate behavior be one they have with their peers. The role of the administration is to facilitate these conversations, and I am confident that we have done that in various forums across campus.
The faculty and administration of the University of Connecticut will continue to support the introduction of many points of view, and will continue to help our students learn ways in which to respond that truly do advance thoughtful engagement with diverse ideas and individuals.
Thank you again for sharing your important concern.
John R. Saddlemire, Ed.D.
Vice-President for Student Affairs
Co-Director of the Higher Education
& Student Affairs Master's Program
233 Glenbrook Road
Storrs, Connecticut 06269
Telephone 860-486-2265
Facsimile 860-486-1194
Email: john.saddlemire@uconn.edu