More Of This, Please
[guest post by Dana]
In the outrage culture in which we find ourselves now living, it’s a breath of fresh air to read about Lamar University and how the institution handled a situation that seems to flare up with regularity in this technological age:
Lamar University has become aware of a tweet with a racial slur was tweeted by an individual 5 years ago.
That tweet was retweeted this week on social media by another twitter user. Lamar is addressing the issue because the individual who tweeted the racial slur 5 years ago is a current Lamar University student.
Instead of kowtowing to the default demand for punishment, Lamar University’s President Kenneth Evans handled it correctly by acknowledging that the comments, although hurtful, were protected speech:
Today I became aware of hurtful and careless comments posted on social media by one of our students and additional negative remarks by others in response. Such comments do not represent the values of Lamar University or our students, faculty and staff, who form one of the most diverse campus communities in the country.
While LU has been called to take disciplinary action against the students, personal comments made on private social media accounts, offensive as they are, are protected by the First Amendment right to free speech. I deeply regret that these comments have offended members of our campus community and tarnished the good reputation of our university. However, as a public educational institution, we are required to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America but are also uniquely positioned to educate individuals to the insensitivity of such remarks.
Thank you for standing together as proud Cardinals and supporting a culture of inclusion that has made Lamar University successful for nearly a century.
Of course, not everyone agrees with President Evans response. Consider the Lamar NAACP:
The historically hateful statements used by Lamar Students must and will be address! We can assure everyone that Lamar NAACP will be immediately working on addressing this issue and we will keep you all updated on our progress with this issue. #notmylu
The historically hateful statements used by Lamar Students must and will be address! We can assure everyone that Lamar NAACP will be immediately working on addressing this issue and we will keep you all updated on our progress with this issue. #notmylu pic.twitter.com/NcthrUxKsN
— Lamar NAACP (@Lamar_NAACP) August 15, 2019
(Cross-posted at The Jury Talks Back.)
–Dana
Good for President Evans.
Dana (fdf131) — 8/15/2019 @ 8:39 pmaddressed*
NJRob (4d595c) — 8/15/2019 @ 8:45 pmWhat would the goal be here if they punished him? A student used a bad word at minimum a quarter of his lifetime ago. He likely already realizes he shouldn’t use that terminology any more, so “punishing” him would just be making a show. You want to stand on the streetcorner and proclaim in a way so as to advertise your virtue, that’s your business, but there’s no need for anyone to help you with that or to stand there while you berate their sins.
Nic (896fdf) — 8/15/2019 @ 8:59 pmIf you want to crank the outrage meter back up, read some of the replies from students to the Lamar U President’s tweet of his memorandum. It’s full of 18-22 year-olds (and, no doubt, some of their older comrades) insisting that “hate speech” is not protected by the First Amendment. This is the most Constitutionally ignorant generation in the history of our republic, and, frankly, we are totally doomed.
JVW (54fd0b) — 8/15/2019 @ 9:01 pmWhat would the goal be here if they punished him?
Hey, you sexist! It was actually a female student who used the n-word and started all of this brouhaha. She is (make that “was”) in a sorority too.
JVW (54fd0b) — 8/15/2019 @ 9:02 pmThe composition of the Lamar NAACP statement would not rate more than a grade of C, either. Money well-spent there, Texas taxpayers.
nk (dbc370) — 8/15/2019 @ 9:04 pmThey cannot punish
nk (dbc370) — 8/15/2019 @ 9:07 pmhimher. Lamar is a state university, and the student is fully protected by the First Amendment. President Kenneth Evans is bowing to necessity, not virtue.Not all public university presidents have responded like Evans.
Dana (fdf131) — 8/15/2019 @ 9:19 pmNot all public university presidents have responded like Evans.
Yeah, but David Boren was a hack Democrat ex-governor who got appointed president of OU as a nice retirement sinecure. He knows nothing about the law or academic freedom, just power politics and bowing and scraping to whatever constituency he thinks he needs to placate.
Honestly, the worst trend in academia is hiring retired politicians as university presidents and chancellors. It’s slightly more bearable when the ex-politician is a Republican, because at least in those cases they are often brought in to ride herd on an obnoxious left-wing faculty.
JVW (54fd0b) — 8/15/2019 @ 9:23 pmI forgot: Boren was a U.S. Senator as well as a governor. Double hackorama.
JVW (54fd0b) — 8/15/2019 @ 9:24 pmSome more “interesting” responses to protected speech on campuses.
Dana (fdf131) — 8/15/2019 @ 9:26 pmNot all institutions of learning are faring so well:
“As a semi-retired business writer who taught in Detroit 35 years ago, I returned to the classroom because a local high school was unable to replace a Latin teacher who had resigned. I hold an advanced degree in medieval studies and renewed my certification to teach Latin, history, and social studies. Once in class, I witnessed firsthand the politicized atmosphere of today’s factory-style government-monopoly schools.
My first exposure to school politics came when I renewed my certification. The 1982 certificate only listed the courses I could teach. In contrast, the 2018 version had a 300-word “Code of Ethics” that amounted to a profession of faith in collectivism, egalitarianism, state schools, and diversity (typically limited to superficial things like skin color and gender, not ideas). Nonetheless, I proceeded, thinking that I couldn’t possibly make matters worse. That much was correct.”
Read it all.
https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2019/08/worse_than_ever_government_schools_after_35_years_.html
harkin (58d012) — 8/15/2019 @ 9:54 pm_
College is a highly priced wast of time.
mg (8cbc69) — 8/15/2019 @ 10:22 pmwaste
mg (8cbc69) — 8/15/2019 @ 10:22 pm@ 5 yeah yeah yeah. Clearly I feel terrible about that. She/her then.
Nic (896fdf) — 8/15/2019 @ 10:52 pmThe fraternity at Oklahoma not only used racist speech, but openly proclaimed a policy of racial discrimination in their membership. As such, denying them use of state property for their fraternity house was the correct (and lawful) thing to do, IMO.
Dave (1bb933) — 8/16/2019 @ 12:31 amNon violence is a tactic not a strategy. Dr king said to the white power structure you deal with me or you deal with malcom X Political correctness is a tactic to prevent violence.
lany (36823b) — 8/16/2019 @ 2:02 amThis is a great story and I’m glad to see some common sense for once.
Time123 (441f53) — 8/16/2019 @ 4:40 am17. It doesn’t work. Just ask those antifa goons.
Gryph (08c844) — 8/16/2019 @ 6:29 amPolitical correctness is a tactic to prevent violence.
“Accept these speech restrictions or we’re gonna get violent.”
JVW (54fd0b) — 8/16/2019 @ 8:45 am16 “The fraternity at Oklahoma not only used racist speech, but openly proclaimed a policy of racial discrimination in their membership. As such, denying them use of state property for their fraternity house was the correct (and lawful) thing to do, IMO.”
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I agree but not everyone is so color-blind:
“California State University Los Angeles is the latest in a string of public universities to offer campus housing exclusively for African-American students.
The move to establish a “Blacks-only” co-ed housing area comes just nine months after CSLA’s Black Student Union hit university officials with a list of demands regarding campus diversity and student inclusion.…..
…..”The Halisi Scholars Black Living-Learning Community “focuses on academic excellence and learning experiences that are inclusive and non-discriminatory” CSLA spokesman Robert Lopez told The College Fix……
……CSLA isn’t the first higher-ed institution to offer “Blacks-only” housing. According to Atlanta Black Star, other schools like the University of Connecticut, UC Berkley and MIT all have similar living arrangements for African-American students.”
https://atlantablackstar.com/2016/09/07/california-university-grants-black-students-a-safe-space-with-blacks-only-campus-housing/
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The only thing missing will be a ‘COLORED’ sign over the entry.
harkin (58d012) — 8/16/2019 @ 8:51 am_
On one hand, I want to tell them that this is a good move. On the other, I’m pissed off that saying this is necessary.
Russ from Winterset (9a357c) — 8/16/2019 @ 9:08 am