Posted on 09/29/2004 6:45:54 AM PDT by batter
Utah Valley State College President William Sederburg thinks the controversy surrounding filmmaker Michael Moore's visit to the Orem campus will be good for UVSC.
He thinks the school's ongoing efforts to become a four-year university will be helped by the political discourse resulting from the ruckus over Moore.
"We need civil discourse," Sederburg said during a panel discussion Tuesday about the controversy. "We need civil discourse. We need to learn to deal with uncomfortable issues. And we need to respect a variety of different opinions and points of views that might not necessarily agree with us all the time."
Sederburg knows the school will suffer some financial repercussions as a result of Moore's visit to campus.
The president is busy dealing with disgruntled donors and legislators who aren't pleased with a decision by student government leaders to pay Moore $40,000 to speak on Oct. 20.
But he said the lively debate created by the controversy will increase UVSC's profile.
"I remember sitting in student government last year and hearing that 40 percent of people in the state didn't know what UVSC was" said Joe Vogel, UVSC's student government vice president. "I think they know now."
On Tuesday, students, professors and people who live in the community packed a large classroom to discuss the issues that have turned the college into a philosophical battleground.
Based on applause and the comments shared by the audience, most in attendance supported UVSC's decision to bring the "Fahrenheit 9/11" director to UVSC, even if they disagreed with Moore's personal politics.
But Kay Anderson, who lives across the street from the Orem campus, isn't happy about a decision that he said will "redefine the perimeter" of acceptable events at UVSC.
"I don't think I should have to send my child to a private university in order to get a conservative education when I live in a conservative community and I have a state college in my back yard that is paid for with conservative taxpayer dollars and funding," Anderson said.
As an incentive to get UVSC to cancel Moore's appearance, Anderson brought along a cashier's check for $25,000 — enough to reimburse the school for all general admission tickets sold to the event.
No one took Anderson up on his offer, and students booed his suggestion.
"Maybe it's a good thing that it took Michael Moore to wake us up from this coma we've been in," UVSC sophomore Brian Maier said.
"And the next time they raise tuition . . . maybe we can all do the same thing and everyone will be up in arms about something that is more about us graduating and less about our points of view."
Too bad their donors are pulling out. Good luck when you have no money.
"I remember sitting in student government last year and hearing that 40 percent of people in the state didn't know what UVSC was" said Joe Vogel, UVSC's student government vice president. "I think they know now."
Yeah, now you only have to overcome your fringe reputation - my kids will NOT be attending UVSC.
"And the next time they raise tuition..."
Finally, the whiner student. They'll complain about a tuition hike, but happily blow $40K on a guy without any credibility or educational substance. Plus the student government has a $6 million budget. Why?!
PING!
Michael Moore is to civil discourse what oil is to water.
'Fahrenheit UVSC': It's hot - SL Trib
They are 15 minutes away, but worlds apart.
Clearly, UVSC is no BYU - as 250 demonstrative students showed Tuesday.
During a panel discussion at the Orem college, that contrast was painted amid a chorus of support for the student government's decision to schedule liberal filmmaker Michael Moore for an Oct. 20 speech.
That invitation, which threatens millions in school donations and continues to fuel a firestorm of controversy, was lauded anew Tuesday by Utah Valley State College President William Sederburg.
"The student government has a right to invite a national figure," he said, "even if it is disconcerting."
Panelist Pierre Lamarche, a UVSC professor, said he knows the student body can ably evaluate and, if so inclined, disagree with Moore's message.
"That's what college is," he told the throng.
Shoehorned into an auditorium, while police kept a keen eye out, many in the standing-room crowd agreed.
"Maybe it's a good thing that Michael Moore is waking us up from the coma we've been in," one student said.
Another chastised Moore detractors for what he said is tantamount to chasing somebody out of town for their views. "It's important that we as a state remember that this state was founded by people that were chased out of town," he said, referring to the Mormon exodus from Illinois.
But not everyone is willing to welcome Moore.
Kay Anderson, father of a UVSC student who lives next to Sederburg, called his appearance an insult to the community.
"I should not have to send my children to a private university to get a conservative education when I live in a conservative community and have a state college in my back yard that is paid for by conservative taxpayers and donors," he said. "A balanced education does not require we teach our children to be so open-minded that their brains fall out."
Anderson held up a cashier's check for $25,000 to help restoke student-body coffers if student President Jim Bassi and Vice President Joe Vogel rescind the Moore invitation.
But Anderson's offer drew hisses and boos from the capacity crowd. Even a petition to recall the two student leaders reportedly has stalled.
Linda Shelton, a 35-year Orem resident with two kids at UVSC, argued that, while the community's core values are important, "I also want my children to be able to learn to think."
Student leaders caught flak earlier this month for offering Moore $40,000 in student fee money to speak. Administrators jumped into the fray and helped lure talk show host Sean Hannity as a conservative counterbalance. Hannity waived his $100,000 speaking fee and settled for a travel reimbursement. Up to $10,000 of his expenses will be covered by Republican gubernatorial candidate Jon Huntsman Jr., who is paying the Fox News commentator in campaign cash.
Students, along with Lamarche, said they thought balancing Moore was unnecessary in light of the school's long line of conservative guest speakers. "To say we need a correction to the correction just seems silly," Lamarche said.
Despite Hannity's scheduled visit, UVSC donors continue to slam shut their checkbooks, according to Tom Heal, chairman of the UVSC Foundation.
"It could be in the millions," he warned of the fund-raising shortage due to the Moore episode. "We have donors who have their names on the sides of buildings there that have expressed some real concern. This kills the warm and fuzzies they have about UVSC."
On Tuesday, students wondered if legislators also would withhold money.
"I'm going to duck that question," Sederburg said. "There is no doubt, however, it has not helped our fund raising."
Moments earlier, when the lights inexplicably dimmed for a few seconds, Sederburg joked, "They cut our budget already," drawing hearty laughs.
Tuesday's forum was emotional but largely respectful.
Dean of Students Bob Rasmussen said that type of civil debate beats the venomous assaults he has received from hundreds of callers - 100 percent of whom, he added, have not seen Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11." A free screening of the Bush-bashing film is set for Oct. 14 on campus for interested students.
Vogel noted some people have likened Moore to Adolf Hitler and Saddam Hussein. "He's not a torturous dictator."
To help keep the peace at Moore's and Hannity's appearances, Sederburg said a committee is studying formats to help prevent the speakers from being shouted down. Protest zones also will be set up outside.
But don't expect Betty Hunt to be packing a placard.
"I disagree with Moore's ideas, but I'm glad he's coming," said the mother of three children at UVSC, including one who just returned from a military stint in Iraq. "Try not to go in there with all these preconceived ideas. Go in there with an open mind."
"We need civil discourse," Sederburg said during a panel discussion Tuesday about the controversy. "We need civil discourse. We need to learn to deal with uncomfortable issues. And we need to respect a variety of different opinions and points of views that might not necessarily agree with us all the time."
Weasel. How about a "civil discourse" on:
1) The Triumph of Will
2) Protocols of Zion
3) Der Sterner
Anyone with an ounce of integrity recognizes the stupidity of opening public debate over propaganda trash like those listed above. But I'm sure the Nazi's could always find some over-educated weasel to spout "it may be trash but it raises interesting points". Squeal louder weasel, so that everyone can hear why your "college" is undeserving of any serious accredidation. Then you can go back to smoking pot and parroting wild conspiracy theory.
Now that I know of USV whatever,,I'll remember it's the school I am NOT sending money too.
Hey, if all they want is publicity, they got it.
My thoughts exactly...
I like that line! And their naive arrogance is resounding loudly.
I like that line! And their naive arrogance is resounding loudly.
Ping to you!
Yeah, whatever. How about bringing in Wayne LaPierre or Clarence Thomas in as a speaker? The degenerate liberals justify bringing in their Marxist nutjobs by saying that all opinions matter and everybody should be heard, but bring in a conservative and they'll shoot it down faster than you can say Jack Robinson because it's hate-speech. They think nobody can see the lie.
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