Students protest Bush speaking at commencement

DAILY BRUIN ONLINE ^ | Wednesday, February 20, 2002 | By Robert Salonga

[Mad Dawgg]

To: Estela Zarate, a doctoral student in education.

Please read this slowly and get help from your mommy with the Big words!

"The garage is at the rear of the house. Close the door and turn on the car."

[LADYAK]

What was the last good thing to come out of California? Oh, Reagan. I am just amazed at the universities in California.

[LADYAK]

Can someone post the e-mail for the university and let's all e-mail them. My goodness having someone with morals speak at their commencement. Let's have someone like Clinton....should I say more.

[koba]

Was Doc Savage created by Robert E. Howard?

[Squire]

Let's keep in mind that this is a graduate school of education. The degrees from these schools are notoriously and laughably pointless. American graduate schools of education are of such hideously poor quality that the Gourman Report on Graduate Studies refuses to give an "acceptable" rating to even a single program in the country.

These ridiculous schools are a long-standing fraud and a public menace. I don't recall the guy's name, but the president of Harvard was asked in the mid-1930's what single action could be taken to improve academic standards at the university. His response: "Wrap the entire faculty of the School of Education in a burlap sack and drown them en masse in the Charles River."

[Mare Tranquilitatus]

>how many of them are actually protesting Laura Bush?

Probably VERY few. When I was at UCLA almost the entire student body in the Graduate School of Education were adults, and they attended class mostly evenings and weekends. They may have been politically liberal, but they were much too busy making a living to engage in this sort of crap. They just wanted to finish up and get out of there, so did not engage in any politikking.

[Mare Tranquilitatus]

> graduate school of education. The degrees from these schools are notoriously and laughably pointless.

While I'm sympathetic to criticism of any "soft science", of which Education is only one, it is an amateurish generalization to call their intent (thus their degrees) "pointless". That is simply not true. Many other criticisms may apply, but "pointless" is not one of them.

The point of Graduate Study in Education is the imrovement of the quality of Education. There is nothing as sad as watching an "expert" who has no idea how to teach, trying to teach. It can be a disaster for the students. The question is, can his teaching quality be significantly improved. In too many cases, unfortunately, I think not.

[Luis Gonzalez]

In this War on Terrorism that we are currently waging, would it be a BAD thing to bomb California?

[Cobra64]

I've read the thread, and the responses on this thread. Laura has two choices:

1) - Speak at UCLA and prove how gracious she is as First Lady of the United States of America.

or

2) - Speak at a University where the gracious students would Welcome out First Lady.<>PAll this other diatribe about cutting funding to public schools and armchair stuff is unralistic. Too much "wishing" here, and not enough realistic alternatives and/or answers.

[koba]

Yes it would be, considering that California is where the heart of the U.S. aerospace and computer industries are.

[ohioWfan]

Methinks Mrs. Bush has the wit and charm to handle this episode at least as well as her mother-in-law handled a similar situation (at Wellesley?).

Yes, it was Wellesley, and they didn't want Barbara Bush to speak, because all she ever did was stay home, be a good wife, and raise a family..........how disgraceful! LOL! All she did was raise a President and Governor, and a family filled with love and respect for each other, and for other people!

Incidentally, she did win their hearts over with the wit and charm that you refer to, and Laura will do the same (if she decides to go)!

[ARA]

I live in Westwood (UCLA)... Time to drive by with a big Bush sign attached to my car..... Not Kidding either...

[Stultis]

You know, I'd be interested in seeing who has spoken in the past.

I don't know where the information comes from, but StayoutdaBushesWay posted the following on a duplicate thread in this message:

1997

Basketball great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 1988 presidential candidate Michael Dukakis, civil rights leader Jesse Jackson and other prominent figures from the worlds of academia, science and entertainment are among the speakers addressing nearly 9,500 UCLA graduates during this year's commencement season.

1998

U.S. Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley, State Assembly Speaker Antonio Villaraigosa, film director John Frankenheimer and other notables from the worlds of academia, politics, medicine and science are among the speakers addressing UCLA graduates this commencement season.

2000

State Controller Kathleen Connell; actors Rob Reiner and Paul Reiser; Henry Cisneros, president of Univision; Alfred Berkeley, president of Nasdaq; award-winning author Frank McCourt; and other notables from the worlds of business, academia, politics, medicine and science are among the speakers addressing UCLA graduates this commencement season. Rob Reiner will receive the UCLA Medal, the university's highest honor

2001

Actor Michael J. Fox; Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers; Gary Winnick, founder and chairman of Global Crossing Ltd.; Angela Oh, attorney; Randy Newman, composer and recording artist; and Oscar-award winning actress Eva Marie Saint are among the notables from the worlds of business, academia, politics, medicine and science addressing UCLA graduates this commencement season.

[ElephantMan]

Here is some info on the two enlightened college students quoted in the article...along with their email addresses:

Estella Zarate is currently pursuing a Ph. D. in Education at UCLA. Her research interests include college access for students of color:

mezarate@hotmail.com

Tara Watford, no information:

twatford@ucla.edu

Have fun!

[ElephantMan]

PS-Here's the email I sent them:

Dear Ms. Zarate & Ms. Watford:

Let me guess...your philosophy? Free speech for all--as long as they agree with you?

Honestly, don't you think that the presence of the First Lady of the United States of America--particularly one with a strong education background--at a commencement ceremony would be an honor for any university in this or most any other country?

Say nothing of her educational background, Laura Bush enjoys a unique and very rare view of the world. Her perspective would be valued, appreciated, welcomed and dare I say -- obvious to most thinking individuals regardless of their politics.

Tolerance goes both ways babe!

Matt

San Francisco, CA

PS--You are aware that Michael J. Fox, the actor, spoke last year?

[lavaroise]

Liberal Student Political Intimidation. There are indeed limits to "free" speech.

[Inspectorette]

Fox and Friends were talking about it this morning - E.D. was hopping mad. Let's keep it bumped

[T. P. Pole]

Thanks for the list. It certainly shows what idiots the students are for protesting.

[Mad Dawgg]

Hey Elephantman! Could you keep us all up to date on any (heh) replies you get from these two?

Also heheh don't ya just love the one e-mail address?

twatford@ucla.edu? What kind of a vehicle is a TWATford anyhow?(he he he) ;-D