Hostile Bucknell administrators publicly defame, intimidate conservative students

Bucknell University Conservatives Club ^ | October 13, 2002

[Truth'sBabyGirl]

11:43 PM 10/14/02

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – OCTOBER 13, 2002

Hostile Bucknell administrators publicly defame, intimidate conservative students

For more details, visit www.bucknellconservatives.org

On the afternoon of October 3, 2002, the Bucknell University Conservatives Club released the latest edition of its magazine, The Counterweight, on campus. Within less than 36 hours, the Bucknell administration had begun a swift, partisan, and libelous response to the students’ exercise of their free speech.

A "forum" was called for certain "multicultural" groups to express their concerns with certain articles in The Counterweight. Three administrators were to be in attendance: Richard Ferraro, Dean of Students; Shauna Irwin, Assistant Dean of Students for Multicultural Affairs; and Danielle Smith, Interim Director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs.

Three Counterweight staffers attended, in order to find out why their fellow students were so upset: Charles Mitchell, editor-in-chief of The Counterweight; Denise Chaykun, president of the Conservatives Club; and Michael Boland, immediate past president of the club. The staffers were not invited, but several students did thank them for being there to speak to others’ concerns.

It quickly became apparent that the administrators and students present were upset with two particular articles in The Counterweight, both of which discussed the administration’s questionable actions in two racially-charged incidents last academic year. Many asserted that these articles in the "free speech" issue of The Counterweight were actually "hate speech," although no specific examples of bigotry were given. The mere discussion of these issues, according to many of the angry, shouting students, was in and of itself racist.

After approximately 45 heated minutes, Ferraro, the Dean of Students, spoke up. He asked Mitchell if he would run the two allegedly "offensive" articles again, if he had it to do over, now knowing how upset certain students were. Mitchell commented on the inappropriateness of a University administrator asking such a question in public, but, when pressed by Ferraro and others, answered in the affirmative. Ferraro then declared that he was "sure" that Mitchell deliberately intended the content of The Counterweight specifically to hurt people.

Especially after that exchange, and throughout the forum, the Counterweight staffers were repeatedly threatened by those present. None of the administrators present made any attempt to protect the conservative students or to reprimand those who issued the threats. Irwin also commented that the staffers were "lucky" that the offended students in attendance were "such good kids," or else they would be risking physical harm.

A short while thereafter, Ferraro ordered the conservative students to leave the forum, which was being held in a University building. When they hesitated, shocked that an administrator would do such a thing, he threatened to have Public Safety remove them.

Ferraro has since libelously alleged, in an e-mail sent to everyone on campus, that the Counterweight staffers "crashed the meeting," that they were "asked" (not ordered) to leave, and that "there are some very good people who write for The Counterweight"—thereby implying that some other writers are very bad people. He has also declared that Chaykun "was grinning" while the multicultural students were crying, and has refused to apologize for his conduct.

[Truth'sBabyGirl]

I am a proud memeber of the BUCC, and copy editor of The Counterweight. Bump this!

[TruthShallSetYouFree]

You Go Girl!

[Overtaxed]

Bump!

[concerned about politics]

The mere discussion of these issues, according to many of the angry, shouting students, was in and of itself racist.

So......then what does free speach mean, then?
Free only if.......Free only when......
Free only if you follow the political correctness of the day? The "in" thing", the "fad", the Socialist "vision of utopia?"
If you're not into political correctness, what freedoms do you have, then? Obey the oppressors or shut up? That' s free speach?

[TruthShallSetYouFree]

Bucknell Bump! O'Reilly will have them on The Factor this coming Monday, Oct 21.

[OldFriend]

Ouch.....but we could see this coming........my daughter attended Bucknell the four years the 'new' dean was there. He was from Berkley.....nuff said! He was invited OUT after the four years but the die was cast.

There was a horrific attack on a white student by a black student. He forced his way into her room, beat her and attempted to rape her.

The Dean couldn't figure out what to do because the two students were from minority groups, one the woman, and other a black male.

INSANITY PREVAILED........the criminal was released from jail and placed back in the same dormitory as his victim.

[OldFriend]

Sent an email to Ferraro and to Ann DeStefano...........let them know how dismayed and disgusted I am at the treatment of the conservative students.

[Truth'sBabyGirl]

Thanks for the support. Please ping any relevant lists and continue to bump -- I'd like this to stay on top for a while. Go to www.bucknellconservatives.org and click on Current CW if you'd like to read the current issue. The articles relevant to the current debate can be found on pages 6 and 7.

[Truth'sBabyGirl]

Thanks for the support. Please ping any relevant lists and continue to bump -- I'd like this to stay on top for a while. Go to www.bucknellconservatives.org and click on Current CW if you'd like to read the current issue. The articles relevant to the current debate can be found on pages 6 and 7.

[Truth'sBabyGirl]

Sorry for the double post. Moderator, please remove #9. Thank you.

[Truth'sBabyGirl]

So......then what does free speach mean, then?
Therein lies the essence of our debate. Don't miss the editor of the Counterweight on The Factor! Monday, Oct 21st. Dean Ferraro has also been invited.

[OldFriend]

Rather than address my comments, Mr. Ferraro has answered my email by stating that he did not threaten to ban or defund The Counterweight.

Of course, I never mentioned any such action......but he chose to change the subject.

Can't wait to see him O'Reilly.

[Truth'sBabyGirl]

That's typical. I'd say the man is a moron, but that might violate the Speech Code here ...... you know, the one that the administration claims doesn't exist.

[OldFriend]

Wonder if he will actually show up for the taping of the O'Reilly Factor.........but then maybe he believes he's right.........

[GovernmentShrinker]

So what happened when Ferraro asked the Counterweight staffers to leave and threatened to have Public Safety remove them. I would hope they sat still and waited for him to either make good on his threat or back down from it.

[Restorer]

Is it possible to post a link to the "offensive" articles in question? I like to make up my own mind.

[Truth'sBabyGirl]

I don't know how to make working links on HTML, but you can find the current issue at www.bucknellconservatives.org. When you get to that page, click n "Current CW," and read pages 6 and 7.

[Truth'sBabyGirl]

BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY STATEMENT ON 'COUNTERWEIGHT' ARTICLES

A recent issue of the "Counterweight," the publication of a
conservative student group on campus, included stories that many felt supported the use of action and speech intended to intimidate and threaten minority students at Bucknell. Many of our students were understandably upset, and in response, the administration facilitated and students convened a meeting to allow those students to express their feelings and concerns. When "Counterweight" staff members arrived at the meeting, they were allowed to stay for more than an hour and engage in a dialogue with the other students. The discussion was frank, and at times there was heated language on both sides. When it appeared that no more positive outcomes could be had from the dialogue, the dean of students asked the "Counterweight" staff members to leave, so the students could return to the original purpose of the meeting. Without engaging in a point-by-point debate with the conservative group, we will say emphatically that there were numerous and substantive factual errors in the group's account of the meeting. Finally, we would like to emphasize that Bucknell's commitment to free speech is unswerving; but we also believe unswervingly in civility, a sense of justice, and respect for other individuals and cultures.

Alan Janesch
Associate director, public relations
Bucknell University
Email ajanesch@bucknell.edu, phone 570/577-3631, fax 570/577-3683
News/publications Web site:
http://www.bucknell.edu/publications/index.shtm

[Overtaxed]

Don't know if you're the right person for this or not but....

Seeing how we have problems with liberals in our ouwn state universities, maybe we could help out with a good ol' NC ping.

[Restorer]

Well, I read the articles and didn't see anything offensive.

Too bad the confrontations couldn't have been about something substantive instead of about stupid, juvenile, drunken behavior. That's a lot harder to defend on a First Amendment basis.