Posted on 05/05/2003 5:47:57 AM PDT by kcordell
Students object to Thomas as speaker
By MELANIE HORTON Published , May 02, 2003, 12:00:01 PM EDT
The controversy surrounding the School of Law's commencement speaker has been reignited in recent weeks as the graduation date draws near.
Last week, a petition was circulated around the law school questioning the methods used to choose Clarence Thomas, a U.S. Supreme Court Justice and Georgia native, as the commencement speaker, said Donald Wilkes, a law school professor.
"The petition was circulated by the students," he said. "It was signed by 11 law professors last Tuesday, and it was signed by 50 students between Thursday and the last day of classes."
He said the petition objected to the commencement speaker selection process and to its outcome.
David Shipley, dean of the law school, said he was unhappy with the timing of the petition because it was a distraction for students who were preparing for finals.
Only three students were involved in the selection of Thomas: Josh Belinfante, the third-year student class president; Megan Jones, the third-year student class vice president; and Megan Jones, the second-year student class president.
Belinfante said he responded to the petition by writing an open letter to students and faculty.
"The drafters of the petition never discussed the process with either myself or Megan Jones and Rebecca Franklin," he said. "They made presumptions and accusations without talking to us," he said.
Shipley said he felt the petition was misdirected.
"Criticism of the decision should be directed at me, not the students," he said. "Some years, there hasn't been any student input."
Shipley said the newly elected officers proposed a speaker selection process involving the leaders of the 28 law school student organizations.
"The final decision will still be with the dean," he said.
"The vast majority are happy to have a Supreme Court justice, especially a justice from Georgia, speak (at commencement)," Shipley said.
Wilkes, one of the most outspoken opponents of Thomas, said he will not attend the commencement ceremony, scheduled for
10 a.m. May 17 at the North Campus Quadrangle.
"I, at the time of commencement, will be giving a protest speech at the Tate Student Center Plaza," Wilkes said. "I will express my opposition to Justice Thomas and his very poor record of protecting our rights in this country."
Wilkes submitted a nine-page, single-spaced open letter to the School of Law faculty, staff and students Feb. 18 outlining what he calls Thomas' "deplorable record as a Supreme Court justice."
But, Katie Willcox, a law school student, said Thomas speaking at commencement is an honor, regardless of his politics.
"The point many miss, I think, is that he will likely speak on his path to the Supreme Court, overcoming great odds to achieve," she said. "(He) will urge us all to go out and do great things, exactly what a graduation speaker should do."
What a nutcase. Nine single-spaced pages in protest of Justice Thomas. Yeeesh.
Wasn't that a sight to behold? How well I recall watching those proceedings and the "questions" framed to basically ask for guidance from Gore's team on how they should write the opinion. Then, voila (pardon my language), their first opinion was written as if David Boies had dictated it.
Interesting to reflect that in the second opinion (after the USSC, 9-0, sent back the first decision), the minority SCOFLA opinion stated what the USSC majority opinion ultimately stated. And we all get tired of pointing out that there were two issues that were decided: 7-2 and the infamous 5-4.
I am "just" a housewife, but I can grasp this and nine single-spaced pages by some lunatic will not change facts or conceal truth.
Wow!, a man who stands behind his own decisions and is willing to take the PC-heat head-on !!!!! We need to get an Eagle Award for this guy...
I would dearly love the chance to hear Justice Thomas speak. What a great experience.
BTW: Let's Go Jackets
Those are rose colored glasses. They help him with his visions.
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