Washington U. takes heat about honoring Schlafly

St. Louis Post-Dispatch ^ | 05/06/2008 | Andrew Simon

[newgeezer]

Washington University's decision to bestow an honorary degree on conservative political activist and author Phyllis Schlafly has stirred outrage among some students and faculty.

Opponents of Schlafly's honorary doctorate formed a group on the social-networking website Facebook and had 1,023 members as of Monday evening.

...

[Senior Kevin] Hess ... said the outrage is not over Schlafly's politics but over comments she has made that he called "unquestionably inflammatory and unfounded."

... Schlafly already has a bachelor's degree and a law degree from the university.

Mary Ann Dzuback, the director of the women and gender studies department at Washington University agreed, said it was "grossly inappropriate" for the university to honor Schlafly with a degree.

"She's spent her entire career speaking against women in the workforce and for them remaining in the home," Dzuback said of Schlafly, who rose to prominence during the successful campaign against the Equal Rights Amendment in the 1970s.

Dzuback said she and several other faculty members will protest by not participating in commencement ceremonies as usual.

The university issued a statement Sunday defending its decision, saying it — like many other universities — chooses to honor those "who have become a part of the broad public discourse on vital issues of the times." The statement cited other controversial figures, such as the Rev. Jesse Jackson, whom the school has honored.

Some students, like freshman Rachel Wisdom, approved of the university's decision. Wisdom, an intern last summer at Schlafly's Eagle Forum organization, started her own Facebook group in support of Schlafly. It had 18 members as of Monday evening. "I think the controversy is absolutely ridiculous," Wisdom said. "If students claim to be open-minded and tolerant, they shouldn't care."

[SAJ]

Yah, that too.