THE CROSSES THEY CANNOT BEAR

Michelle Malkin's blog ^ | 14 April 2006 | Professor Jacobson

[stm]

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS - A professor at Northern Kentucky University said she invited students in one of her classes to destroy an anti-abortion display on campus Wednesday evening. NKU police are investigating the incident, in which 400 crosses were removed from the ground near University Center and thrown in trash cans. The crosses, meant to represent a cemetery for aborted fetuses, had been temporarily erected last weekend by a student Right to Life group with permission from NKU officials.

Public universities cannot ban such displays because they are a type of symbolic speech that has been protected by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Witnesses reported "a group of females of various ages" committing the vandalism about 5:30 p.m., said Dave Tobertge, administrative sergeant with the campus police.

Sally Jacobsen, a longtime professor in NKU's literature and language department, said the display was dismantled by about nine students in one of her graduate-level classes.

"I did, outside of class during the break, invite students to express their freedom-of-speech rights to destroy the display if they wished to," Jacobsen said.

Asked whether she participated in pulling up the crosses, the professor said, "I have no comment."

She said she was infuriated by the display, which she saw as intimidating and a "slap in the face" to women who might be making "the agonizing and very private decision to have an abortion."

Jacobsen said it originally wasn't clear who had placed the crosses on campus.

She said that could make it appear that NKU endorsed the message.

Pulling up the crosses was similar to citizens taking down Nazi displays on Fountain Square, she said.

"Any violence perpetrated against that silly display was minor compared to how I felt when I saw it. Some of my students felt the same way, just outraged," Jacobsen said.

NKU President James Votruba said any evidence of criminal conduct in the incident will be turned over to prosecutors. He said he appreciated the emotional nature of the abortion debate and was glad that diverse viewpoints are represented at the school, but he condemned the destruction of the crosses.

"Freedom-of-speech rights end where you infringe on someone else's freedom of speech," Votruba said.

"I don't buy the claim that this is an act of freedom of speech, to destroy property."

He said he was gathering information about the extent of Jacobsen's participation.

"I don't know if she was pulling up the crosses, but I think she was out there with the students. If so, as far as I'm concerned, she went outside the conditions of her employment," Votruba said.

He declined to say what consequences she might face. Jacobsen is a tenured professor who has been at NKU since 1980.

[stm]

Michelle sums it up in a simple sentence: "Look--liberal "tolerance" at work again!"

[HamiltonJay]

You have no rights if a liberal FEELS you have wronged them....

Liberals are pathetic selfish individuals who try to rationalize their selfishness into selflessness.. its truly pathetic and dispicable to watch.

[2banana]

Pulling up the crosses was similar to citizens taking down Nazi displays on Fountain Square, she said. "Any violence perpetrated against that silly display was minor compared to how I felt when I saw it. Some of my students felt the same way, just outraged," Jacobsen said.

The fascism of the left. Freedom of speech for me - NOTHING for you. Fire this professor and expel the students who participated...

[susannah59]

Well, bless him! A college administrator with a brain!! And a backbone, as a bonus!

[BenLurkin]

"I did, outside of class during the break, invite students to express their freedom-of-speech rights to destroy the display if they wished to," Jacobsen said.

What a warped idea of 'free speech'!

[Antonello]

"Freedom-of-speech rights end where you infringe on someone else's freedom of speech," Votruba said.

I think I like this guy.

[Antonello]

The fascism of the left. Freedom of speech for me - NOTHING for you. Fire this professor and expel the students who participated...

It's quite possible that if the university pushes for this to become a criminal matter then not even tenure will protect the good Professor Jacobsen's job.

[stm]

In one sentence he has summed up the out-of-round liberal mindset on this topic.

I can say and do any damn thing I want to your freedom of speech but if you protest my actions, then you are infringing on my right to free speech.

A classic definition of double standard or hypocrisy!

[Always Right]

Liberals once again demonstrating their idea of free speech.

[SkyPilot]

Dr. Sally Jacobsen's Home Page

Hello. I am a professor of English in the Department of Literature and Language at Northern Kentucky University. I am also the Interim Director of Women's Studies. This page outlines many of the courses that I teach.

For more information on the courses I teach, please contact the NKU Literature and Language Department by calling (859) 572-5416, or visit their webpage at www.nku.edu/~litlang. You may also direct related questions to me.

My contact information is:
Dr. Sally Jacobsen
Office: Landrum 545
Office Telephone Number: (859) 572-5506
E-mail Address: jacobsen@nku.edu

[stm]

It's actually a gal you chauvinist!! (just kidding)

[Grampa Dave]

The real nazis in America are the so called elites of the left wing like this POS professor and the famous Faux Indian Chief, Churchhill.

[Antonello]

It's actually a gal you chauvinist!! (just kidding)

James Votruba is a gal?

[stm]

I thought you were talking about the author, Sally Jacobson. My bad.

[Antonello]

In one sentence he has summed up the out-of-round liberal mindset on this topic.

'I can say and do any damn thing I want to your freedom of speech but if you protest my actions, then you are infringing on my right to free speech.'

A classic definition of double standard or hypocrisy!

I missed that quote in the article. Who said it, and where can I find it?

[Texas_Jarhead]

""Any violence perpetrated against that silly display was minor compared to how I felt when I saw it. Some of my students felt the same way, just outraged," Jacobsen said."

Oh well that justifies it - you stupid POS loser.

[stm]

I guess I should not have italicized it, it was my quote not hers......

[Antonello]

I guess I should not have italicized it, it was my quote not hers......

Ah, got it now. Sorry about being a little confused - I can be slow sometimes.

[Tzimisce]

Bunch of a$$hole$. I'm not surprised this hateful Nazi is a tenured Professor.

[jigsaw]

"Any violence perpetrated against that silly display was minor compared to how I felt when I saw it," Jacobsen said.

She puts the "Baby" in Baby Boomer.