Posted on 04/19/2006 2:01:59 AM PDT by rhema
Highland Heights, KY -- The Northern Kentucky University professor who encouraged her students to vandalize a pro-life display -- and then led them in trashing it -- has apologized. Dr. Sally Jacobson, a tenured 27-year British literature professor, issued her apology just days after saying she saw nothing wrong what she did. "I deeply regret my impulsive action in dismantling that display," Jacobson said late Tuesday. "It was a mistake of judgment for me to invite my students to participate in that action."
Jacobson told WKRC-TV in a taped interview that she hoped her actions did not damage the reputation of the college.
"I really love NKU and care very much about my students and don't want them to be harmed," she said. "At this point, I really want the university to be able to defuse the firestorm of attention around this."
NKU has suspended Jacobson and she will officially retire at the end of the school year. WKRC reports that other professors have taken over her classes for the remainder of the semester.
Local police are investigating the vandalism, which saw Jacobson and several students destroy a pro-life cross display Northern Right to Life set up in the grass outside the student center. A reported from the student newspaper caught Jacobson and her students destroying the display.
University officials authorized the pro-life display, meant to memorialize the 47 million babies who have died since the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision.
NKU President James Votruba, who issued a statement Monday apologizing on behalf of the school, appreciated Jacobson's apology but said the infringement of free speech and the disregard for the exchange of ideas couldn't be tolerated on a college campus.
"This was a very serious lapse in judgment," he told the television station.
"You don't invite students to participate in breaking the law or inhibiting other's free speech. You just don't do that if you're a faculty member," Votruba said.
He indicated he thinks NKU has "responded appropriately" to the concerns about the vandalism.
Votruba said he and Jacobson will meet soon to discuss the professor's retirement.
Read prior coverage: Professor Who Vandalized Pro-Life Display on Abortion Placed on Leave
Professor Who Vandalized Pro-Life Display Defends Actions
College Professor Leads Students in Vandalizing Pro-Life Display on Abortion
Related web sites: Northern Kentucky University
Pro-abortion students remove crosses from the display.
Would love to see her lose her pension and be charged criminally.
mega-kudos to the reporter who snapped her in the act..
Congratulations to the President of NKU. He, unlike many of his peers across the country, understands and appreciates the importance of a "free exchange of ideas".
Again, congrats to him, and I hope the people of Kentucky appreciate what a rare gem is he!
Libs really hate that ol' First Amendment...when they don't agree with what somebody has to say.
Intolerant Speech Threatens Minority Free Expression
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1616898/posts
She has lost her job and admitted she was wrong. I hope the charges are dropped.
L
Absolutely disagree. Criminal acts must be dealt with in a court of law.
L
I hope she is prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
She is also listed as a Womens Studies professor.
Her home page has been removed. You have to used cache to find it.
She is trying to apologize to avoid criminal prosecution. She should be prosecuted for what she did.
She incited a riot, led a group of thugs on campus to trash a display that was sanctioned by the college (and the Constitution), and then lied about her activities to a reporter.
Actually she admitted to a "lapse in judgment" but also said she doesn't think what she did was wrong.
This is the photo she showed on her home page that was take several years ago.
< Actually she admitted to a "lapse in judgment" but also said she doesn't think what she did was wrong. >
Including the students was wrong, she said, but I don't think anything she said was what she really felt.
What I find disturbing is her reasoning.
Any violence perpetrated against that silly display was minor compared to how I felt when I saw it. Some of my students felt the same way, just outraged, Jacobsen said.
Her feelings trump civility and law.
With reasoning like this, its no wonder our kids are loosing direction.
No. There are consequences to all our actions. IMO, it takes hate and fear to do something like that. I would rather see her put the crosses back up, thinking about what they represent and come to understand why charges were dropped and her enemies forgave her.
Oh, how these liberal fascists always want to MOOOOOOOOOOOVE ON...didn't they name a website and an entire organization around that tactic? :)
I think I heard that a suit was or will be filed but it will be civil not criminal. Has anyone else heard this? Amen.
Why?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.