Posted on 02/26/2006 8:50:37 PM PST by rmlew
(CNSNews.com) -A conservative student group has been acquitted of a charge that it violated DePaul University's anti-harassment policy when it conducted a protest against affirmative action, the school announced Monday. However, the DePaul Conservative Alliance (DCA) was found guilty of violating the Code of Student Responsibility and censured.
In January, the DCA held an "affirmative action bake sale" to mock affirmative action policies in higher education. The protests, which have occurred on other college and university campuses, involve white and Asian students being charged more for baked goods than blacks and Hispanics. The mock bake sales are designed to criticize affirmative action policies, not to raise funds.
DePaul officials shut down the protest and opened an investigation to determine if the conservative group violated the university's Anti-Discriminatory Harassment Policy.
In a letter to DCA co-founder Michael O'Shea on Feb. 20, DePaul Vice President for Student Advocacy Cynthia Summers wrote that the school found the group not guilty of violating the harassment policy. Nevertheless, she said, the group had violated the Code of Student Responsibility.
The code requires that student groups "exercise good judgment in planning and promoting their activities." In a statement released by the university, DePaul President Dennis Holtschneider explained that "the bake sale was a protest and was intentionally misrepresented by DCA in its promotion table application."
As punishment, the group is required to participate in or host "at least one university-wide event concerning affirmative action principles and practices," according to the letter. The university's letter does not dictate the nature of the event, except for requiring that it be an "educational opportunity."
The DCA will also be restricted from using university "promo tables" to advertise the club on campus for the remainder of the spring semester.
In his statement, Holtschneider wrote that DePaul "is committed to free speech, and as part of that commitment, we understand that we must allow even those activities that might startle or offend to take place, as long as those activities do not violate campus behavior policies."
He added that "the university itself does not endorse a message merely because it permits it to be expressed."
But the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE), a free speech advocacy group that criticized the original harassment investigation, questioned the university's commitment to free speech.
"It is hard to believe that the remaining sanctions are a result of how the DCA registered the protest and not its controversial content," FIRE President Greg Lukianoff said. He added that requiring students to pre-register political protests "is a truly stifling interpretation of 'free' speech."
In his statement, Holtschneider criticized the bake sale, calling it "a provocative event viewed by many as an affront to DePaul's values of respect and dignity, inclusiveness and diversity." He announced that the university will sponsor "a series of forums on free speech and affirmative action at DePaul" to respond to the DCA's critiques.
DePaul U ping
This is bizarro.
"As punishment, the group is required to participate in or host "at least one university-wide event concerning affirmative action principles and practices...requiring that it be an "educational opportunity."
Which is exactly what they did
"The DCA will also be restricted from using university "promo tables" to advertise the club on campus for the remainder of the spring semester."
"In his statement, Holtschneider wrote that DePaul "is committed to free speech"
Cut to scene from Animal House - "cough, cough, bullsh*t, bullsh*t, cough cough."
> As punishment, the group is required to participate in or host "at least one university-wide event concerning affirmative action principles and practices," according to the letter. The university's letter does not dictate the nature of the event, except for requiring that it be an "educational opportunity."
Oh, yeah. I can see where this will go...
BWAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!!!!!!!!!
I gotta look closer at these images before I post them. That was supposed to be a jackass on that flag not an elephant.
The most hilarious thing is that they see nothing wrong with making that statement with a straight face.
The DUmmies truly think the thought police do not come from their side of the aisle.
Ouch!
Kyle's Dad (the sexual harassment lawyer): Kyle, let me explain something to you.
Kyle: [annoyed, looks askance] Oh God, here we go.
Kyle's Dad: You see, Kyle, we live in a liberal, democratic society. And Democrats make sexual harassment laws. These laws tell us what we can and can't say in the workplace. And what we can and can't do in the workplace.
Kyle: Isn't that fascism?
Kyle's Dad: No, because we don't call it fascism. Do you understand?
Kyle: Do you?
Sounds like an open invitation to either Walter Williams or Thomas Sowell to me. Let them come to campus and discuss the **FACTUAL** effect of affirmative action.
Thank goodness the mods are quick. I hit the abuse button pretty darn quick and they pulled it. I figured I'd be flamed pretty darn good for that one................
It was the "Its Not Fascism When We Do It" image. I'd seen that picture with the jackass a hundred times on the free republic, googled for it and posted it, never looked to close at it not realizing the dark side was using a similar picture.
After posting I looked at it and noticed a W on the nazi's collar. That was my first clue something was wrong. Then I noticed the big elephant.
YIKES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They should hold another event on fighting official discrimination.
Whoever invented the Affirmative Action Bake sale is a genius.
They tried this at my alma mater a couple of years ago and the university made it seem like the bake sale sponsors were trying to force black people to the back of the bus again.
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
The left and Muslims are bringing in Norman Finkelstein for a speech, "Israel & Palestine: Misuse of Anti-Semitism, Abuse of History".
I sense Ann Coulter to the rescue. Sorry, no pics here.
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