Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Feds Investigate 'Hate Speech' Incident at UNC-Chapel Hill
wtvd ^

Posted on 03/27/2004 4:25:08 PM PST by chance33_98

Feds Investigate 'Hate Speech' Incident at UNC-Chapel Hill

By The Associated Press

Federal authorities are investigating UNC-Chapel Hill after a February incident in which an English instructor singled out a conservative student for "hate speech." The probe will analyze whether the teacher's actions amounted to harassment and whether the school reacted appropriately.

A letter from the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill announced the decision last week. Education department spokesman Rodger Murphey says several people filed complaints about the incident with his department.

School faculty members passed a resolution Friday committing themselves to principles of "intellectual independence, nondiscrimination on the basis of, among others, race, sex and sexual orientation, free speech and expression."

It also said political affiliation should play no part in hiring faculty. Conservative students at the school recently have lamented that Democrats dominate academia.

The incident resulted from an exchange last month in an English class during which a student said he opposed homosexuality. Instructor Elyse Crystall sent an e-mail message Feb. 6 to students in the class criticizing the student.

"What we heard Thursday at the end of class constitutes 'hate speech' and is completely unacceptable. it has created a hostile environment," she wrote.

She referred to the student by name, calling him "a white, heterosexual, christian male" who "can feel entitled to make violent, heterosexist comments and not feel marked or threatened or vulnerable."

Crystall apologized to the class Monday in another e-mail, saying her earlier message "crossed a line and inhibited free discussion."

University officials said they were monitoring the class to ensure students' free speech.

The Office for Civil Rights asked UNC-CH to provide documents about the incident and its handling, including a roster of students, course materials, messages posted to the class discussion forum and a list of any similar matters or complaints about campus discrimination based on race or sex.


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: North Carolina
KEYWORDS: academia; campusconservatism; elysecrystall; hatespeech; mikeadams; mikesadams; unc; uncch
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-30 next last

1 posted on 03/27/2004 4:25:09 PM PST by chance33_98
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: chance33_98
So they don't lecture any more and just send E-mails? Do you have to attend class to pass?
2 posted on 03/27/2004 4:30:57 PM PST by CindyDawg
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: chance33_98
The headline is BS --trying to make it sound like the "hate crime" itself is being investigated. And why does it take five paragraphs to actually describe the incident? Maybe they're hoping people won't read that far?
3 posted on 03/27/2004 4:34:28 PM PST by stands2reason ( During the cola wars, France was occupied by Pepsi for six months.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: chance33_98
Gee, I wonder if she would have ever sent a memo stating
that someone was a "black, homosexual, muslim, female?
Don't think so!
4 posted on 03/27/2004 4:37:08 PM PST by Mr. Wright
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: chance33_98
When my son was a freshman at ASU, his Eng. Comp teacher let the kids separate into discussion groups for the semester. The next day she told everyone to return to their groups, except my son. She said that she just wanted to try a little experiment for her own personal interest and assigned my son to sit with a group of gays and lesbians, where he had to read essays about things such as first gay sex experience. My son is tall, blonde, athletic looking and a graduate of a Christian high school.
5 posted on 03/27/2004 4:42:19 PM PST by Eva
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mr. Wright
NO NO ! not black, homosexual, muslim, female

BLACK, HOMOSEXIST, MUSLIM FEMALE
6 posted on 03/27/2004 4:42:28 PM PST by mlmr (Radical Islam: Nazis in bathrobes!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: chance33_98
I bet this is the first time an incident like this happened. NOT! So why is the DOE so upset by it now? They have never got involved before. Something stinks.
7 posted on 03/27/2004 4:42:35 PM PST by taxesareforever
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CindyDawg
Do you have to attend class to pass?

My little girl has been at Chapel Hill for six years now, pursuing a doctorate. She's worked there as an instructor for a number of classes, and has actually encountered situations where she hasn't been allowed to give a failing grade to students caught red-handed at cheating.

8 posted on 03/27/2004 4:48:31 PM PST by Agnes Heep (Solus cum sola non cogitabuntur orare pater noster)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: chance33_98
"Heterosexist" -- don't ya love it! The bogus term homophobic has a new bogus term to keep it company.
9 posted on 03/27/2004 4:58:27 PM PST by beckett
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: chance33_98
My daughter was valedictorian and a national merit scholar. We are North Carolina residents but did not encourage our daughter to go to such a place. She is attending another major state(not in NC) university one of whose graduates gave 20 million to bring in top students based only on merit. Interestingly enough there are four other students there who have her qualifications from NC. UNC is picking from second tier.

What an odd way for a major university to give scholarships. Just be the best applicant.
10 posted on 03/27/2004 5:26:32 PM PST by I_BE_THE_ONE
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: chance33_98
This demonsrates the whole problem with "hate speech." If the concept had been confined to "fighting words" that would've been all fine and good. If someone was using speech in such a way to show absolute disregard for the views or "feelings of others such as:"I'm a supporter of Adolf Hitler and I don't think the Nazi's did enough to wipe out the Jews", that would probably come easily under criticism and no reasonable person would choose to disagree

The problem with the whole concept of "hate speech" is and it's raison d'etre/I> is to force any debate to confine itself to a "politically correct" viewpoint. It's to close off an open "Marketplace of Ideas." Anyone who says differently is a liar or so delusional they have no business teaching!.

It's obvious that this person, who wedged the complain, has her own problems with bigotry, ... and all those thing's that these idiot's claim as their reasoning for why such things should be banned. I wonder what her problem with "a white, heterosexual, christian male" is? Duh!

11 posted on 03/27/2004 5:30:00 PM PST by Coeur de Lion
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: beckett
The bogus term homophobic has a new bogus term to keep it company.

Wait till scientists annouce that they have discovered a gene that causes homophobia!

12 posted on 03/27/2004 5:40:13 PM PST by feedback doctor (liberalism is for those who can't or won't think)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: taxesareforever
They have never got involved before. Something stinks.

No, this is legit. I filed the compliant with DOE, as a taxpayer of NC. Turns out so did others, which, when that happens, gives DOE more leaway, scope and power into an investigation. So they combied all the complaits (minum of 2 maximum of x). Last they talked to me, they were unsure as to if they would begin an investigation - but I could tell from the tone of the voice they were pissed. The very first call back - and the DOE investigator noted he already knew the students name (never release). So he had to force that from the English Chair.

This Dep't is in deep s**t now because of the emberrasment, not to mention time and money for UNC lawyers, etc.

Gotta, say, they (DOE) were very professional and called me 3-4 times for further info and to update me.

What may have pushed this over the edge is the complaint alledges (also) that the same Dep't gulty of the infraction is the same one 'investigating' it. Lastly, DOE has no jursidiction oover religeous descrimintation (the 'Christian' crack; but will review the racial / male comments comments, the threats, and the racist English Dep't cover up of this incident.

At the end of the day, UNC will most likely have to sign off on some processes to insure their racist behavior is put in check. Which must kill them to, have been called on the carpet by DOE, and to have to carry the stigma amd record of an investigation, from now on.

13 posted on 03/27/2004 5:45:34 PM PST by Swanks
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: CindyDawg; Constitution Day; TaxRelief; southernnorthcarolina; mykdsmom; azhenfud
Do you have to attend class to pass?

At Chapel Hill? Doubtful. I work with a young lady that graduated last year from there. Absolutely the most dense human being I have ever met. I try not to carry on a discussion within earshot of her. She'll jump in and every response is textbook liberal speak. And the common sense of a 10th grader. I honestly hope she doesn't truly believe half of what she says.

Carrboro Community College ping!!!

14 posted on 03/27/2004 5:52:01 PM PST by billbears (Deo Vindice.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: chance33_98
"a white, heterosexual, christian male"

Yup. And when we're all gone, you'll have another 3rd world country.

15 posted on 03/27/2004 5:52:24 PM PST by blam
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Eva
"When my son was a freshman at ASU, his Eng. Comp teacher let the kids separate into discussion groups for the semester. "

My son got his PhD (physics) at ASU. He said the professors were a living liberal hell. He almost quit on his PhD and I talked him into sticking with it because he was so close to completion.

16 posted on 03/27/2004 5:56:58 PM PST by blam
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: mlmr
Crystall apologized to the class Monday in another e-mail, saying her earlier message "crossed a line and inhibited free discussion."

Good grief, that's not an apology for her action(s). It is a explaination -- in the guise of an apology -- for having "crossed a line and inhibited free discussion." IOW, for having been caught.

17 posted on 03/27/2004 6:05:04 PM PST by yankeedame ("Oh, I can take it but I'd much rather dish it out.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Swanks
" I filed the compliant with DOE, as a taxpayer of NC."

Excellent! Bravo for you.

18 posted on 03/27/2004 6:08:32 PM PST by blam
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Eva
So what did your son do? That's outrageous.
19 posted on 03/27/2004 6:08:59 PM PST by Hildy (A kiss is the unborn child knocking at the door.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: chance33_98; CindyDawg; stands2reason; Mr. Wright; Eva; mlmr; taxesareforever; Agnes Heep; ...
I posted a thread earlier today on this from an article in the News and Observer.

E-mail sparks federal probe (UNC-CH, update to previous thread)

MKM

20 posted on 03/27/2004 6:16:18 PM PST by mykdsmom (Proud to be a Free Republic ARCHconservative threatening Communist protesters for over 3 years)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-30 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson