Another Educator Acting Badly in Indian Piercing Ritual.

Discussion in 'Tin Foil Hat Lounge' started by HK_User, Oct 14, 2015.


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  1. HK_User

    HK_User A Productive Monkey is a Happy Monkey

    No wonder the students seem confused!

    Former professor addresses resignation, denies allegations of criminal conduct

    Campus & Local, Other News, State October 14, 2015 , by texannews
    By Jack Cochran—

    A former Tarleton State University professor resigned after a report that he participated in a ritual in which he pierced his pectorals and hung from a tree in the presence of students.


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    Justice began teaching at Tarleton on September 1, 2009, according to the Texas Tribune.
    (Photo from Jeff Justice’s Facebook page)

    In a statement to Texan News, Dr. Jeff Justice acknowledged that he “attempted to harm myself in the presence of students. While I do not recall what initiated such action, I do know this incident was caused by the accumulation of events in my life that resulted in me entering a state of severe depression.

    “As the result of those ongoing events in my life, I made the decision to resign from my position at Tarleton State University,” he said. “Such decision was made after diligent reflection of myself and upon the advice of my doctor.” To read the full statement, click here.

    Tarleton spokesperson Cecilia Jacobs said in a written statement: “Tarleton’s highest priority is the welfare of our students. This is a personnel matter regarding a former faculty member, and the university has no further comment at this time.”

    Justice was an assistant professor of social science at Tarleton State University, and was known for his well-attended study abroad trips to Scotland. A plaque with his picture sits in a glass case on the second floor of the O. A. Grant Humanities Building awarding Justice with “Faculty Excellence in Student Success” in 2015.

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    Justice received a Faculty Excellence in Student Success Award in 2015.
    (Photo by Harley Brown, Texan News Service)

    The May 18, 2015 police report is based on a nine page, handwritten statement submitted by a single unidentified student who says he witnessed the ritual. To read the statement, click here.

    A police report accompanying this statement said “Professor Justice has not broken any laws other than offering alcohol to underage students, but has violated Tarleton policies.” To read the police report, click here.

    In his statement, Justice denied furnishing alcohol to minors.

    “I have from the beginning and to this day adamantly denied any truth to those allegations,” he said. “No case has been brought against me nor to my knowledge does any agency have any intentions of doing such.”

    According to the police report, a Tarleton student “was contacted many times by Prof. Justice about getting together, and going to Prof. Justice’s home. After turning Prof. Justice down, Mr. (name redacted) and a few other students did go to Prof. Justice’s home and did drink scotch.”

    The witness statement said that Justice began discussing what he called the Sundance ritual when the students arrived at his home. “After bringing us the scotch… He then began to talk about how his chest was in pain and I asked him from what,” the student told police. “He said that he had done a Sundance ritual the week before and that it did not go the way he had hoped.”

    The records then report that Justice explained the ritual to the students, detailing that he had been performing it since he was 13 years old.

    “He went to the bathroom and came back and took his shirt off,” he said. “He had stakes through his chest with blood dripping down and rope tied to them.”

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    A tree outside the duplex where Justice lived on Willow Lane.
    (Photo by Justin Pack, Texan News Service)

    According to the report, Justice then took the students outside and performed the ritual, which involved hanging himself from a tree by ropes attached to stakes piercing his pectorals. Afterward, the student said Justice led the students back inside his home, where he tried convincing them to do it themselves. “He then came over to where I was sitting and asked if he could pinch my chest,” the student said. “Then he felt on my chest and said yeah, the stake would go right through here.

    … He asked us not to tell anyone about what happened, because he had lost friends from it before and told us he loved us for experiencing it with him.”

    Texan News requested Justice’s personnel file and other records about the incident from Tarleton under the Texas Public Information Act. Though the university released the police report, it has yet to release other information requested and has instead asked the Texas Attorney General’s office for permission to withhold it.

    Records obtained by Texan News show that Justice was also a temporary instructor and advisor for political science, history, geography, and economics at Texas Tech University in Lubbock. In a letter sent to Justice, Texas Tech stated that his “appointment as a temporary worker… will come to an end on August 31, 2006.”

    In a second letter sent on August 28, 2006, Justice was informed that he was “ineligible for rehire with the Texas Tech University System or any of its components.” To read documents from Texas Tech, click here.

    Justice also has been involved in the Boy Scouts of America. He is listed on the Southern Region Venturing Boy Scouts of America website as a former Southern Region Associate Advisor. He had been involved in a part of the Boy Scouts, according to a series of Facebook posts that have now been deleted, known as the Order of the Arrow, which also is known as the National Honor Society of the Boy Scouts. Justice frequently posted information about the Boy Scouts and the Order of the Arrow on his Facebook page, which is no longer in service.

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  2. kellory

    kellory An unemployed Jester, is nobody's fool. Banned

    American Indians used to do something similar as a rite of passage from boy to man.
    Though, why they reference the Order of the Arrow, is a mystery. It has nothing to do with this kind of behavior
     
    HK_User and Altoidfishfins like this.
  3. Airtime

    Airtime Monkey+++

    Students often have nicknames for various faculty.... Let me guess.... Professor Horse.
     
  4. Altoidfishfins

    Altoidfishfins Monkey+++ Site Supporter+

    Never could understand the mentality behind deliberately inflicting pain on one's self. There's plenty to be had accidentally and from joint, bone, and tendon wear and tear.
     
    Motomom34, Yard Dart and HK_User like this.
  5. HK_User

    HK_User A Productive Monkey is a Happy Monkey

    Reporting at its worst, used to suggest something not proved and used to throw off the dogs. As any can read they, the University, escaped a greater problem.

    Inquiring minds might wonder why a Prof who had been not been up for "rehire" at his last post would be considered for a position at a State University? Any who have read the link to his last job could guess that he had been fired from the Texas Panhandle School.

    More cover ups and I doubt Old Man Tarleton (the man who started and donated the land for the University) would be very happy that his name is in this sordid mix of alcohol and mismanagement of his trust.
     
  6. Katana Lee

    Katana Lee Monkey

    Very interesting. I did some digging around and found Justice's page where students rate professors Jeff Justice at Tarleton State University - RateMyProfessors.com - see below-

    Things I saw in the ratings - Justice is a very knowledgeable political science professor who presents "both sides fairly." Attendance is mandatory in his class and he is a tough grader. Some students complain about this. He does not teach from the book.

    This professor was awarded “Faculty Excellence in Student Success” in 2015.

    Notice that the allegation/complaint was made by only one student even though the story said that several students were at Justice's house when the alleged incident took place. Where are the statements from the other students? Former professor addresses resignation, denies allegations of criminal conduct | Texan News Service | Tarleton State University

    If he in fact served alcohol to minors why wasn't he charged by the police?

    Not knowing anything about this school, and knowing that this country's educational institution's goals are to dumb students down and produce willing slaves, one should think twice about this story. It appears to be an incident designed to force this teacher out.


    Jeff Justice
    Professor in the Political Science department
    at Tarleton State University, Stephenville, TX
    Submit a Correction | Learn how ratings work
    Overall Quality
    3.5
    Average Grade
    A
    Hotness
    [​IMG]
    Helpfulness
    3.7

    Clarity
    3.4

    Easiness
    2.9

    Top 20 Tags for this Professor
    See how other students describe this professor.

    Gives Extra Credit (1) Participation matters (1) Amazing lectures (1)
    Choose your tags
    26 Student Ratings
    350 characters left


    Rating Class Comment
    01/03/2015
    good
    5 Helpfulness
    5 Clarity
    4 Easiness
    GOVT 2305 For Credit: Yes Attendance: Mandatory Textbook Use: You need it sometimes Rater Interest: Sorta interested Grade Received: A
    AMAZING LECTURES PARTICIPATION MATTERS GIVES EXTRA CREDIT
    Dr. Justice is an amazing professor. It is clear from the beginning that he really loves what he is teaching and his lectures are attention grabbers. I never found government interesting but with him I found myself eager to learn. After this wonderful semester I made it a point to take him for Texas Govt next semester.

    06/28/2014
    good
    4 Helpfulness
    3 Clarity
    5 Easiness
    POLS201-202 For Credit: N/A Attendance: Mandatory Textbook Use: It's a must have Rater Interest: Sorta interested Grade Received: A+

    He is a really good professor but can be annoying at times. Attendance is mandatory and you will need a book for some answers on the tests. Really easy A in lower level and upper levels if you just do the bare minimum.

    04/09/2014
    average
    3 Helpfulness
    3 Clarity
    3 Easiness
    POLS 202 For Credit: N/A Attendance: N/A Textbook Use: What textbook? Rater Interest: Sorta interested Grade Received: N/A

    Dr. Justice is intelligent, but annoyingly distracted at times. Also, he can be very petty at times and will display this in ways that could very definitely be detrimental to his class participation and quality. Good politician, average educator.

    08/26/2013
    good
    5 Helpfulness
    5 Clarity
    4 Easiness
    POLS 201 For Credit: N/A Attendance: N/A Textbook Use: What textbook? Rater Interest: Low Grade Received: N/A

    He's a fantastic teacher. He really knows what he's talking about and actually cares for the students. I took him for summer school. 4 quizzes and a final. Write what he says and you'll be good. Not too hard. I made an A on the final, so i ended with an A in the class. I didnt even open the dumb book and now the bookstore wont take it back....

    08/10/2013
    good
    3 Helpfulness
    4 Clarity
    3 Easiness
    POLS 201 For Credit: N/A Attendance: N/A Textbook Use: Barely cracked it open Rater Interest: Meh Grade Received: N/A

    Took it in the summer. There are 4 quizzes & a final. Make sure you take good notes! Also, write down stuff he says, not just what's on the power points. He uses previous questions from the quizzes for the final. He can be rude at times. He can get off subject at times. But if you work hard, it's easy to get an A in the class. Didn't use the book.

    06/26/2013
    good
    5 Helpfulness
    5 Clarity
    4 Easiness
    POLS 201 For Credit: N/A Attendance: N/A Textbook Use: You need it sometimes Rater Interest: Sorta interested Grade Received: N/A

    Dr. Justice is a GREAT professor. He really understands what he is talking about and gives you both political standpoints without bias. He speaks the truth and it's super easy to pass his class, you just have to go. There are 2 easy group projects, a quiz every week, lecture nots, and 2 exams. He's very interesting and keeps class fun.

    05/13/2013
    average
    3 Helpfulness
    2 Clarity
    3 Easiness
    POLS 201 For Credit: N/A Attendance: N/A Textbook Use: What textbook? Rater Interest: Really into it Grade Received: N/A

    TAKE! MARGOLIS! Justice is an expert in his field, he knows it, and he lets everyone else know it. I made an A in his class, so its not impossible. However, two group projects. Quizzes that are purely busy work. Lecture notes. AND don't forget the book. Study ALL that, and you can hope for a passing grade on the midterm and final.

    05/11/2013
    good
    4 Helpfulness
    4 Clarity
    2 Easiness
    POLS 202 For Credit: N/A Attendance: N/A Textbook Use: What textbook? Rater Interest: Sorta interested Grade Received: N/A

    Dr. Justice is a great professor! Definitely a interesting class. He knows what he is talking about and is able to present both political party views on the subject. He is very knowledgeable. This has been one of my favorite classes at TSU.

    05/10/2012
    good
    4 Helpfulness
    4 Clarity
    4 Easiness
    POLS202 For Credit: N/A Attendance: N/A Textbook Use: What textbook? Rater Interest: Meh Grade Received: N/A

    Good, but boring. Its easy to make a good grade because he either averages your first 2 tests or take just your final grade, it's whichever is higher. but still very boring...

    04/17/2012
    average
    3 Helpfulness
    3 Clarity
    2 Easiness
    POLS201 For Credit: N/A Attendance: N/A Textbook Use: What textbook? Rater Interest: Meh Grade Received: N/A

    This professor was was knowledgeable, however he gives a lot of boring notes every single day. Attendance is mandatory,and he only gives three tests all year and if you do poorly on those it is very hard to keep a good grade. Also, he goes off topic and doesnt make his lectures very friendly for the inexperienced ear.

    12/14/2011
    good
    5 Helpfulness
    5 Clarity
    1 Easiness
    POLSSCI For Credit: N/A Attendance: N/A Textbook Use: Barely cracked it open Rater Interest: It's my life Grade Received: N/A

    Most informed professor I have had to date.

    11/10/2011
    good
    5 Helpfulness
    4 Clarity
    4 Easiness
    POLS402 For Credit: N/A Attendance: N/A Textbook Use: Essential to passing Rater Interest: Really into it Grade Received: N/A

    Dr. Justice is awesome. In his lower level classes take the notes on powerpoint, and then some. Extremely nice and willing to help you out. By far my favorite teacher at TSU. Knows what he is talking about.

    04/10/2011
    good
    5 Helpfulness
    4 Clarity
    3 Easiness
    POSPOS For Credit: N/A Attendance: N/A Textbook Use: You need it sometimes Rater Interest: Low Grade Received: N/A

    Justice is a good professor! Political science is really not my thing.He was always willing to help me anytime I needed it! All you have to do is show some effort and care about your grade!!!!! He is very good about responding to your emails and meeting with you if you need help. Yes he gets off topic sometimes but besides that he was good!

    02/13/2011
    poor
    2 Helpfulness
    2 Clarity
    2 Easiness
    POLS202 For Credit: N/A Attendance: N/A Textbook Use: Barely cracked it open Rater Interest: Meh Grade Received: N/A

    I would recommend not taking this class. He clearly thinks we care about his scout stories and gets the class easily distracted. you cant tell if its another story or the actual notes

    12/22/2010
    good
    4 Helpfulness
    3 Clarity
    2 Easiness
    POLS201 For Credit: N/A Attendance: N/A Textbook Use: Barely cracked it open Rater Interest: Really into it Grade Received: N/A

    i wouldn't recommend taking his class. there are just not enough grades.

    12/07/2010
    good
    4 Helpfulness
    4 Clarity
    2 Easiness
    POL201 For Credit: N/A Attendance: N/A Textbook Use: You need it sometimes Rater Interest: Low Grade Received: N/A

    I took his honors course. He is a good teacher but dont sign up for him unless you want to work your butt off to pass.

    11/23/2010
    poor
    2 Helpfulness
    2 Clarity
    2 Easiness
    GOV201 For Credit: N/A Attendance: N/A Textbook Use: You need it sometimes Rater Interest: Sorta interested Grade Received: N/A

    Get ready to hear about boy scout stories. He does a great job of making the class feel dumb. Other than that he's fine. HE knows what he's talking about. tests are long, study really good.

    11/22/2010
    good
    5 Helpfulness
    4 Clarity
    4 Easiness
    POL201 For Credit: N/A Attendance: N/A Textbook Use: It's a must have Rater Interest: Low Grade Received: N/A

    I learned alot from this class. He puts notes on the board, but DO NOT only write down what is there. He makes you listen so you won't miss important points, which in return helps you learn the information easier. Read the chapter and know the key terms. Overall i really enjoyed him as a teacher and the class! More Effort=Better Grade!

    08/28/2010
    good
    5 Helpfulness
    4 Clarity
    5 Easiness
    POLS201 For Credit: N/A Attendance: N/A Textbook Use: Barely cracked it open Rater Interest: Meh Grade Received: N/A

    Jeff is an amazing teacher. Before I took Political Science 201 with Him I took it with another teacher (Barry Price) and I made an F. I was not interested in this class at all, but I had to get it out of the way. When I stepped into Jeff's class I thought I would fail because history and pols are my worst subjests. I ended up making an A.take note

    07/08/2010
    good
    4 Helpfulness
    5 Clarity
    3 Easiness
    POLS202 For Credit: N/A Attendance: N/A Textbook Use: Barely cracked it open Rater Interest: Sorta interested Grade Received: N/A

    Don't know what these people are talking about!! I loved Dr. Justice. He is so smart and knows what he is talking about. Doesnt like people who cheat but who does? you deff earn your grade. ACTUALLY paid attention and studied with the 15 mins before each test that he gave us. Made an easy A. More than willing to help any and everyone.

    06/16/2010
    good
    4 Helpfulness
    4 Clarity
    4 Easiness
    POLS202 For Credit:N/A Attendance: N/A Textbook Use: Barely cracked it open Rater Interest: Low Grade Received: N/A

    i took justice his first semester at tsu for pols 201 and he was wayyyy harder than. grades easier and is less demanding now. he is very knowledgeable and can be very helpful as long as you seek out the help.

    05/06/2010
    poor
    3 Helpfulness
    1 Clarity
    3 Easiness
    POLS400 For Credit:N/A Attendance: N/A Textbook Use: Barely cracked it open Rater Interest: Really into it Grade Received: N/A

    Take this class if you enjoy rantings about topics that in no way pertain to the subject or topic at hand. This professor is extremely smart and knowledgeable about MANY things but gets off topic often not to mention the many irrelevant personal stories that cuts class time in half and leaves little time for actual class topics and discussion.

    04/28/2010
    poor
    1 Helpfulness
    1 Clarity
    1 Easiness
    POLS201 For Credit:N/A Attendance: N/A Textbook Use: What textbook? Rater Interest: Really into it Grade Received: N/A

    His notes are on power point presentations but they are useless. Don't even bother reading the text book. He says that notes and textbook go hand in hand but they don't. Don't take his class if you want an A in POLS. Take Margolis instead. He's awesome. AVOID THIS GUY AT ALL COSTS.

    04/13/2010
    poor
    2 Helpfulness
    1 Clarity
    1 Easiness
    POLS202 For Credit:N/A Attendance: N/A Textbook Use: You need it sometimes Rater Interest: Meh Grade Received: N/A

    He makes you take notes by just listening to him, nothing else. I wouldn't suggest taking this professor unless you enjoy pols. His tests are detailed questions from anything he might have said in class or thats in the book. If you take his class do ANY and ALL extra credit you can get! and make sure you go to class, he takes attendence every class

    04/08/2010
    poor
    1 Helpfulness
    2 Clarity
    1 Easiness
    POLS202 For Credit:N/A Attendance: N/A Textbook Use: Barely cracked it open Rater Interest: Low Grade Received: N/A

    He was the most hard most demanding teacher I have ever taken and he does not help you out even if you are trying your hardest to pass his class!!!!!!!!! DONT take him if you want to do really good in POLS!

    03/12/2010
    good
    5 Helpfulness
    4 Clarity
    3 Easiness
    TXGOV202 For Credit:N/A Attendance: N/A Textbook Use: Essential to passing Rater Interest: Sorta interested Grade Received: N/A

    not to bad, smart, but weird
     
  7. HK_User

    HK_User A Productive Monkey is a Happy Monkey

    Are you aware that in the past(I'm saying this because I do not know the present "Rewards program to the Faculty) the Prof with the highest grades in the University After Class feedback rating or, as listed above, "students rate professors" section receive a $1000 "Excellence Award" from the University. In the past such Rewards have been part of some level of disconnect by Profs who see this as a "bounty" system to keep the students saying nice things about marginally prepared Faculty.

    Even the Marginal Qualified Profs are hard to find and keep, so when one is discharged in a very liberal state university you really need to know the system.

    Proof positive consumption of alcohol is required to prosecute and this means pictures and or arrest at the scene of a "party". This would include charging any underage students, not something any University wants to tell parents.

    Add to this that these are first and second year classes and the fear by the students of retribution later in their academic career are part of the reporting equation.

    We do not know but the students may have been minors plus the fact that their rights as students if evoked include anonymity.
     
    Last edited: Oct 17, 2015
  8. Katana Lee

    Katana Lee Monkey

    Good points and I agree that we do not know.

    There were some inconsistencies in this report and the fact that the professor didn't teach from the book and gave a balanced political view raised red flags. From what could be deduced of his teaching style he encouraged students to look at all sides of political issues and think critically, skills that are not encouraged in school systems nowadays.
     
  9. Katana Lee

    Katana Lee Monkey

    Ran across this today -
    UCLA muzzling free speech pushing political correctness

    UCLA Unleashes Absurd, Anti-Intellectual & Dangerous Attack On Campus Free Speech | Zero Hedge

    UCLA Unleashes Absurd, Anti-Intellectual & Dangerous Attack On Campus Free Speech
    [​IMG]
    Submitted by Tyler Durden on 10/17/2015 15:15 -040

    Submitted by Mike Krieger via Liberty Blitzkrieg blog,

    One of the most dangerous trends in America today is occurring on college campuses. These are the places I grew up viewing as laboratories for free speech, youthful energy and resistance to the status quo.

    Unfortunately, what they’re turning into are anti-intellectual wastelands in which America’s supposedly “best and brightest” are being transformed into unthinking, mentally shackled, emotionally stunted automatons. The only thing being produced on college campuses these days seem to be frightened, thoughtless worker-bees, conditioned to shut-up and instinctively worship authority. Rather than teaching kids to think critically, administrators have created an environment where kids aren’t encouraged to think at all.

    For those of you who may have missed it, I’ve covered this topic before. See:

    Rutgers University Warns Students – “There is No Such Thing as Free Speech”

    A Professor Speaks Out – How Coddled, Hyper Sensitive Undergrads are Ruining College Learning

    Moving along, today’s piece relates to a recent incident on the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) campus. A fraternity-sorority party was held under the theme “Kanye Western,” in which partygoers wore costumes parodying Kanye West and his wife Kim Kardashian. Naturally, this was simply too much to handle for a vocal group of censorship-inclined students. As such, the accusations began to fly that the greek students wore blackface, and school administrators immediately moved to suspend the social activities of the fraternity and sorority before completing an investigation.

    Interestingly enough, in the days that followed, it became clear that the students weren’t actually wearing blackface at all (not that it would have mattered from a free speech perspective). Conor Friedersdorf did an incredible job for making the case for free speech in his excellent Atlantic article. Here are a few excerpts:

    A half-century ago, student activists at the University of California clashed with administrators during the Berkeley Free Speech Movement, a series of events that would greatly expand free-speech rights of people at public colleges and universities.

    Today, activists at UCLA are demanding that administrators punish some of their fellow students for expressive behavior that is clearly protected by the First Amendment.



    What did UCLA students find so outrageous as to warrant the violation of the fundamental right to free expression? A “Kanye Western” theme party where students wore costumes that parodied rap superstar Kanye West and his celebrity wife, Kim Kardashian. For this, UC student activists would squander their inheritance.



    Perhaps 18-to-22-year-olds can be forgiven for failing to appreciate what’s at stake in their activism. But UCLA administrators cannot be forgiven for complying with student demands to punish this free expression—a glaring illustration of their low-regard for the First Amendment, California law, and liberal ideals.

    This is precisely the point. Young kids going to college are precisely that: Young kids going to college. Administrators are the ones who are supposed to be responsible for protecting free speech and upholding the U.S. Constitution within their spheres of influence, not pandering to hypersensitive students accustomed to always getting their way by merely shouting “racist” at whoever they happen to disagree with that week. Where are the adults in the room?

    Meanwhile, critics of the critics insist that West is a famous celebrity, not a stand-in for black culture; that stuffed butts were a reference to Kim Kardashian, who is white and of Armenian descent, not black; that there is nothing wrong with appropriating the dress of hip-hop culture, which is not the same as black culture; that it’s myopic for privileged student activists to focus on a frat theme party while living in a city plagued by police killings, homelessness, housing discrimination, and other injustices; that activists are giving Greek organizations too much power to set their agenda; and that college kids these days are oversensitive to the point of self-parody.



    It is salutary for collegians to contest such matters in the student newspaper, on campus, and on social media. Evidently, public discourse has changed some minds. Said the frat, “we sincerely apologize for the offense and hurt we caused to our fellow Bruins, especially those in the African American community … We are grateful for the dialogue we have had so far, and we intend to continue communicating with our fellow Bruins about how SigEp and Alpha Phi can make this a learning opportunity.”



    What’s unhealthy is the movement to suppress free speech at UCLA.

    This is another key point, and the issue that presents the greatest danger. By coddling students from opinions they may find offensive or hurtful, you are doing them a tremendous disservice. It would be far better to allow the student body to engage in debate and rational argument about such topics. This will teach kids to become critical thinkers and strong advocates for causes they believe in. Creating a sterile environment in which various opinions aren’t given the freedom to be expressed does a incalculable harm to these students, and fails to prepare them in any way for the real world.

    University administrators bear the most culpability. After hearing objections to the theme party, but before finishing an investigation into it, UCLA officials suspended the social activities of the fraternity and sorority, effectively punishing them without due process even as these same officials publicly acknowledged that they didn’t have all the facts. Moreover, university officials are abusing their authority merely by investigating protected speech in the first place. And the student newspaper is cheering them on, demanding in an editorial that the office of UCLA Fraternity and Sorority Relations take a more active role in preemptively clearing all party themes.

    Think about what sort of example this teaches the student body about due process and the rule of law. This is a total disaster and administrators should be fired for this.

    UCLA law professor Eugene Volokh, one of America’s foremost First Amendment scholars, has published several Washington Post items explaining why these reactions are legally dubious. “The suspension of the fraternity and sorority is likely unconstitutional,” he wrote. “Costumes that convey a message are treated as speech for First Amendment purposes (see, e.g., Schacht v. United States (1970)and Cohen v. California (1971)). And a university may not punish speech based on its allegedly racist content; see, e.g., Rosenberger v. Rector (1995), which holds that a university may not discriminate against student speech based on its viewpoint.”



    He adds that “interim speech restrictions imposed before a full investigation and adjudication have historically been seen as more constitutionally suspect (as so-called ‘prior restraints’), see, e.g., Vance v. Universal Amusement, Inc. (1980); and the prior restraint doctrine is applicable to restrictions imposed by universities, see Healy v. James (1972). But in any event, even setting aside the prior restraint doctrine, suspending an organization’s social activities because of the offensive message conveyed by the organization’s past speech violates the First Amendment.”



    In a followup post, he notes that the Supreme Court has unanimously held that student organizations have the right to express “the thought that we hate,” a far more offensive message than anything conveyed by the Greek organizations at UCLA.



    Students who value fundamental human rights, protecting unpopular activism, or safeguarding the political liberties of the least powerful among us ought to be lobbying for the most stringent free-speech protections possible, not undermining core human rights that have benefitted generations of marginalized people as a salve for outrage at a frat party. As the ACLU once explained in answer to the question of why it sometimes mounts defenses of speech that is racist or promotes intolerance.



    Restricting the speech of one group or individual jeopardizes everyone’s rights because the same laws or regulations used to silence bigots can be used to silence you. Conversely, laws that defend free speech for bigots can be used to defend the rights of civil rights workers, anti-war protesters, lesbian and gay activists and others fighting for justice. For example, in the 1949 case of Terminiello v. Chicago, the ACLU successfully defended an ex-Catholic priest who had delivered a racist and anti-semitic speech. The precedent set in that case became the basis for the ACLU’s successful defense of civil rights demonstrators in the 1960s and ’70s.



    The college students fighting to limit free speech or to punish free expression are courting tremendous harms that would ultimately fall disproportionately on the least powerful, most marginalized groups of the present and future––and as UCLA graduates, they are highly unlikely to be in either group, which may help explain their lack of concern for how their behavior could affect the less privileged. It is nevertheless incoherent for activists who say that they live in a system of white supremacy to empower state administrators to police speech at their discretion!



    But there is no “black point of view,” a prejudicial notion that is so easily refuted that it’s a wonder anyone invokes it. There are plenty of black people––a majority, I would wager––who understand better than many other Americans the importance of the First Amendment to the history of the civil-rights movement and the future of other civil-rights causes. As if to underscore that point, the Los Angeles Times highlighted an open letter sent to UCLA by Michael Meyers, president of the New York Civil Rights Coalition. He said that “as an African American civil rights leader” he had to speak out. “We are increasingly alarmed—and distressed—by the failure of public university officials to support free speech and diversity of opinion on campus,” he wrote in the letter to UCLA’s chancellor. “Diversity of opinion surely includes the right of students to contest orthodoxy and to poke fun at popular culture and celebrities.”That is exactly right, and UCLA administrators should publicly apologize for acting to the contrary rather than caving to the illegal demands of student activists.

    In case you missed it above, Connor brought up another key observation in this whole preposterous charade. He notes:

    It is nevertheless incoherent for activists who say that they live in a system of white supremacy to empower state administrators to police speech at their discretion!

    Indeed, I didn’t think I was the one to see the absurdity in the fact that students at UCLA who portray themselves as some sort of victim, are the same ones who wield such tremendous power at the university. So much so, that administrators suspended due process and violated free speech rights merely to massage their thin skins and empower their self-rightious behavior.

    How about the fact that it was America, a country with a sordid history of slavey and virtually no limits on free speech, which elected a black man President. Twice. Similarly, why is anti-Semitism so much more entrenched in parts of Europe than in the United States, despite all the “hate speech” laws across the pond. I’ll tell you why, because free speech works and censorship doesn’t.

    Indeed, the real victims in the saga are clear. The suspended fraternity and sorority, free speech, logic, and of course the UCLA student body as a whole.

    I’m speechless.
     
    kellory likes this.
  10. BTPost

    BTPost Stumpy Old Fart,Deadman Walking, Snow Monkey Moderator

    For being "Speechless" he sure does have a lot to say......
     
  11. Katana Lee

    Katana Lee Monkey

    [LMAO]
     
  12. Katana Lee

    Katana Lee Monkey

    While we are on the subject of education, saw this video today.

    Charlotte Thompson Iserbyt's father was a Harvard Skull and Bones member, and she served in the Reagan administration.
    When she saw what was being done to our educational system she became a whistleblower, this video is an interview with her.

    Blurb from the video:
    "Charlotte Thompson Iserbyt served as the head of policy at the Department of Education during the first administration of Ronald Reagan. While working there she discovered a long term strategic plan by the tax exempt foundations to transform America from a nation of rugged individualists and problem solvers to a country of servile, brainwashed minions who simply regurgitate whatever they're told.

    Part one of our exclusive interview with Iserbyt breaks down how conditioning/training under a corporate agenda has replaced traditional education, leading to a deliberate dumbing down of Americans. Iserbyt further explains how Reagan signed agreements merging the U.S. and Soviet systems under the United Nations banner, turning over education and many other areas of public policy to global control."

     
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