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
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| First lady Laura Bush (middle) talks with Japanese Emperor Akihito (right) | ||
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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.
These communist ass-wipes would be grinning ear-to-ear with sadistic pleasure if Osama bin Laden was giving the address. What naive little hebephrenic retards these morons are. Just proves again that California is unfit to be part of the United States of America. I suggest sufficient nuclear weapons to dislodge this crap-heap from the continent and let it drift away towards it's motherland, Russia!!!
That year, the other colleges on UCLA's campus had a few Clintonoids: Henry Cisneros to name one.
I think it's hysterical that UCLA's business school had a commencement speaker as vile as any Enron CEO.
Or Janet Reno perhaps.
And to think that my tax dollars subsidize these utterly graceless people.
Presentation of US¹s Military and Political Agenda in Afghanistan
And then we get this:
"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."
I wonder how she connected THOSE dots????????
1. Osama Bin Laden
2. PeeWee Herman
3. Rosie O’Donnell
4. Ted Turner
5. Hanoi Jane
6. Bubba “the rapist”
7. Mike Tyson
8. Michael Jackson
9. Jessie Jackson
10. Anyone from that ACLU
11. Anyone form the NAACP Klan
12. Anyone from ABCNBCCBSCNN
13. Any Homosexual
14. Nobody
15. Laura Bush
Clearly, Laura Bush finished last. How could UCLA be expected to select a last-place finisher and put her first? UCLA’s integrity and scholastic excellence could be questioned if they were to settle for anything less than someone at least as good as The Very Most Reverend Albert Sharpton – or someone at least at that level.
Ya gotta love these leftists...At least they aren't intolerant and narrow-minded.
What were HER "credentials," other than $$$$?
On the other hand, I suspect that "the students" referred to in this story are but a small handful of ugly, bitter, lesbian malcontents.
But hey, the author found a "story", and that's the main thing.
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."
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."
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