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Students protest Bush speaking at commencement
DAILY BRUIN ONLINE ^ | Wednesday, February 20, 2002 | By Robert Salonga

Posted on 02/20/2002 12:56:25 PM PST by vannrox

DAILY BRUIN ONLINE - Wednesday, February 20, 2002

Students protest Bush speaking at commencement
GRADUATION: Credentials and politics of first lady criticized; critics want invitation recalled


 
The Associated Press
First lady Laura Bush (middle) talks with Japanese Emperor Akihito (right)

By Robert Salonga
Daily Bruin Staff

Despite being 3,000 miles away, Laura Bush fueled debate between administrators and students who objected to the possibility of having the first lady speak at this year's commencement ceremony.

Students in the Graduate School of Education & Information Studies met with Dean Aimee Dorr on Friday to demand that she rescind the invitation to Bush.

Critics cited Bush's "shallow credentials" and complained they were not allowed to participate in the selection of their commencement speaker.

"We're disappointed that the selection for a student event had no student input," said Estela Zarate, a doctoral student in education.

The dean is usually the one who formally invites commencement speakers. In this case, Chancellor Albert Carnesale sent the invitation because it is general practice for the chancellor to do so when the university contacts the heads of state.

Carnesale, who sent off the invitation in early February under the recommendation of the school, said Tuesday that "it is extremely unlikely" he would rescind the invitation.

"She seems to me to be an entirely appropriate speaker," Carnesale said of Bush, a former teacher, librarian and current education advocate.

"Having had a career in education and information studies, she's been dedicated to those areas, as has been demonstrated by her actions," he added.

Dorr said she selected five candidates to speak – of which Bush is ranked first – based on discussions with the school's faculty executive committee, which is comprised of department leaders and two student representatives. The committee serves an advisory function to the dean.

The other four candidates were not disclosed.

"I'm really sorry there is this much agitation," Dorr said Friday, promising to increase student involvement in future selections.

Many students warned Dorr of the political implications of inviting Bush to speak at the commencement.

"She was selected for her political celebrity," said Tara Watford, a doctoral student in education.

"The commencement speaker should speak to us based on achievements in the field," she said. "(Bush) has no merit."

Watford then read a quote in which Bush allegedly admitted to becoming a librarian to expand her dating circle.

Bush's advocacy for early literacy and her efforts to combine education and librarianship make her a suitable candidate to speak at commencement, Dorr said. She also said having Bush speak would help the department become more well known.

"It's a way to have students and the school more visible," Dorr said.

Students don't necessarily have to agree with the political views of the commencement speaker, Dorr said.

"Campus has to be a place where people of different views can speak," she said. "The ceremony involves a lot of people and has to work for a lot of people."

Whenever the university invites a speaker in a political position, some students are bound to disagree, Carnesale said.

"That is not a reason to exclude somebody from speaking," he said.

But, some say, a commencement is not the right forum for Bush to speak, since she will get the last word.

Having Bush speak at the department's commencement would also incur extra costs.

According to John Bollard, director of student services for GSE&IS, preliminary figures he received from the Secret Service indicated an additional $55,000 would need to be spent on top of normal commencement expenses. The extra cost would pay for increased security and a press room.

Though Bush has been invited to speak, it is not definite she will accept.

"We all see it as a long shot," Dorr said.

After the meeting, Zarate said she hopes students in the department will protest the invitation and the appearance should Bush accept.

"We will not stand by and allow her presence to go uncontested," Zarate said.

With reports from Linh Tat, Daily Bruin Senior Staff.


Author: Robert Salonga
Web Address: http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/db/articles.asp?ID=18521
Copyright 2002 ASUCLA Student Media


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; News/Current Events
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To: Big Guy and Rusty 99
I bet they would welcome the clintons with open arms!!

I can already hear the "slurping sounds" emanating from these elitists "b*tch*s and p*mps"...

41 posted on 02/20/2002 1:39:26 PM PST by side2
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Comment #42 Removed by Moderator

To: vannrox
Fine, let them have Hillary then...
43 posted on 02/20/2002 1:40:37 PM PST by dittomom
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To: vannrox
Gotta love that students, who are supposed to learning, are interested in hearing only things they agree with. Narrow minded self-righteous little twits.
44 posted on 02/20/2002 1:44:03 PM PST by dsb
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To: Owl_Eagle
What self righteous garbage! This is typical of the drivel that infests the leftist indoctrinated youth on campuses today. This type is going to be in for a real surprise when they exit the insular communist utopia of a university campus and have to enter the real world.

One good look at the dollar amount of taxes that will be deducted from their first paycheck, along with the hefty union dues, will be a lesson in itself.

45 posted on 02/20/2002 1:45:02 PM PST by pray4liberty
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To: UB355
Great work in finding this example of Ms. Zarate's work product. I'm setting forth below her lead paragraph. Judging by her pitiful writing skills, perhaps Ms. Zarate had been hoping for a commencement speaker who was an expert in English as a Second Language who might have hung around after commencement to tutor her!

"Press conferences on the anthrax scare and Operation Homeland Security are becoming expected occurrences in the media. It makes one wonder whatever did the news report prior to September 11?

"Various military leaders, the General Attorney, and the President appear on our screens daily, usually escorted by a flashy American flag waving behind urgent messages of ¡ÝAmerica under Attack¡Ü and ¡ÝBreaking News¡Ü. Regardless of the topic of the press conference, President Bush¦Ðs always seems to insert his ideology of American superiority.

"In this brief analysis, I am discussing two press conferences relevant to Latinos in the U.S. In one speech, Bush addresses a group of Hispanic leaders for Hispanic Heritage Month on October 12. I will also refer to a speech he gave today on the ¡Ýtightening¡Ü of immigration policy."

46 posted on 02/20/2002 1:46:53 PM PST by governsleastgovernsbest
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To: dittomom
It's their loss.
47 posted on 02/20/2002 1:47:50 PM PST by Carolinamom
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To: vannrox
LOL!!! The funniest thing about this "protest" is that I have never even HEARD of this school...it is obviously a 3rd or 4th tier university.

No need for these students to worry...Laura Bush would never accept an invitation from a school that 99.999% of the nation has never even heard of.

48 posted on 02/20/2002 1:52:15 PM PST by HennepinPrisoner
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To: HennepinPrisoner
OOps...it is UCLA...forgive me.

Anyways, she won't go....not as though these students will be voting for her husband in 2004.

Screw 'em.

49 posted on 02/20/2002 1:55:30 PM PST by HennepinPrisoner
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C'mon people this one is easy.

Little Miss Nitwit here speaks for a subset of our society and should be encouraged to speak her mind. Over time, the cumulative effect of thousands of nitwits on the collective psyche of America will double the conservative voting rolls. Mark my words.

Caveat: the same thing applies to preachy control-freak nitwit conservatives who do more damage to their cause than good, despite possible good intentions.

50 posted on 02/20/2002 1:55:32 PM PST by tgiles
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To: governsleastgovernsbest
Quote from Zarate's paper: "cannot Bush address a group of Latinos in a serious manner so reserved for other white Washington dignitaries?"

Incredible as it may seem, this type of political opinion venting is probably earning Ms. Zarate a solid high A grade point average in her doctoral studies at UCLA. (She is entitled to her opinions, but is it really Ph.D. level work at UCLA?)

51 posted on 02/20/2002 1:56:42 PM PST by dano1
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To: vannrox
Since it's well known that School of Education students fall, shall we say, on the wrong side of the Bell Curve, methinks they are afraid the First Lady will use too many big words, and make their heads hurt.
52 posted on 02/20/2002 1:59:15 PM PST by fnord
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To: UB355;Travis McGee;Freee-dame
"We're disappointed that the selection for a student event had no student input," said Estela Zarate, a doctoral student in education.

Thanks for posting that "work product." Her skewed perspective of America is really scary, considering that having a Doctorate will probably fast track her to a position of authority over other teachers. ( Being a double minority will vault her to any short list, yet her whole perspective is one of being without control over her own future.) Who is she trying to kid?

I really urge freepers to take a minute to read her anti-American diatribe linked in post #40.

53 posted on 02/20/2002 2:00:35 PM PST by maica
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To: Owl_Eagle
These affirmative action students, who are attending the school regardless of merit, who are graded regardless of merit, who are afforded the opportunity to graduate regardless of merit (no core curriculum of demanding courses, just "studies" gut courses), are demanding a meritocratic selection of the commencement speaker?
54 posted on 02/20/2002 2:01:34 PM PST by thucydides
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To: vannrox
Your tax dollars at work and this is just the tip of the iceberg.
55 posted on 02/20/2002 2:04:14 PM PST by sport
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To: vannrox
I have supreme hatred for the bruins. Always did.
56 posted on 02/20/2002 2:05:32 PM PST by Floratina
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To: Carolinamom
Al Capp of "Little Abner" fame called them SWINE. Students Wildly Indignent about Nearly Everything. Seems it still applies.
57 posted on 02/20/2002 2:07:49 PM PST by Wagonmaster
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To: vannrox
I went to a very conservative school (mostly engineers) and Rosa Parks spoke at commencement. We were all very polite listend and clapped when the speach was over. Why can't liberals be as civilized?

Liberals complain about what people say if they don't like the message, but allow people who say the correct things commit horrible crimes and laugh it off!

58 posted on 02/20/2002 2:10:19 PM PST by DrDavid
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To: maica
In this statement he depletes Mexican immigration and colonization policy of any of its historicity, thus claiming peaceful cohabitation between Latinos and white Americans. Furthermore, Bush also takes this opportunity to promote his ideology of evil, assigning Latinos to his Good camp and fighting the evil other. Many of us would consider this speech blatant propaganda for his ideology of ³unity², useful only in time of national crisis, because Immigration and Schooling policy has deliberately disrespected Mexican culture and language.

Unintelligible educese PC gibberish. Small wonder she is a Phd.

59 posted on 02/20/2002 2:13:59 PM PST by Travis McGee
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To: vannrox
Maybe Miss Zarate needs to learn about the First Amendment.
name: Zarate, Maria Estela
title: Student
email: mezarate@hotmail.com
permanent phone: (310) 210-4011
60 posted on 02/20/2002 2:14:38 PM PST by rabidralph
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