Boston College Prof. Quits over Rice Speech

Boston Globe ^ | 05/12/06 | Steve Almond

[raccoonradio]

An open letter to William P. Leahy, SJ, president of Boston College.

I am writing to resign my post as an adjunct professor of English at Boston College.

I am doing so -- after five years at BC, and with tremendous regret -- as a direct result of your decision to invite Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to be the commencement speaker at this year's graduation.

Many members of the faculty and student body already have voiced their objection to the invitation, arguing that Rice's actions as secretary of state are inconsistent with the broader humanistic values of the university and the Catholic and Jesuit traditions from which those values derive.

But I am not writing this letter simply because of an objection to the war against Iraq. My concern is more fundamental. Simply put, Rice is a liar.

She has lied to the American people knowingly, repeatedly, often extravagantly over the past five years, in an effort to justify a pathologically misguided foreign policy.

[raccoonradio]

Steve Almond is the author of the story collections ''The Evil B. B. Chow" and ''My Life in Heavy Metal."

[pookie18]

This is a good start!!!!

[L98Fiero]

One down, bunches to go.

[cripplecreek]

Quick, sign her up for more speeches at colleges across the country.

[raccoonradio]

More: "Given the widespread objection to inviting Rice, I would like to think you will rescind the offer. But that is clearly not going to happen. Like the administration in Washington, you appear too proud to admit to your mistake. Instead, you will mouth a bunch of platitudes, all of which boil down to: You don't want to lose face.

"In this sense, you leave me no choice. I cannot, in good conscience, exhort my students to pursue truth and knowledge, then collect a paycheck from an institution that displays such flagrant disregard for both.

"I would like to apologize to my students and prospective students. I would also urge them to investigate the words and actions of Rice, and to exercise their own First Amendment rights at her speech."

[Patrick1]

Agreed. One down and about 150 to go.

[Patrick1]

Agreed. One down and about 150 to go.

[jankp]

Here's your hat. What's your hurry?

bye...cya!

[TChris]

Excellent! We need to get Condie scheduled for more frequent speeches at more universitites!

[Fintan]

Now, if we could only get Condi to speak at every university and college graduation in the country...

[Lunatic Fringe]

Adjunct professor... means he taught maybe one or two classes a week.

[theDentist]

Steve Almond,
Regarding: Your Resignation

Sir,

Who effing cares if you resign anyhow? Get the hell off the campus, you whining putz.

[kevkrom]

I am writing to resign my post as an adjunct professor

IOW, untenured, right? Deciding (or more likely, being forced) to leave anyway and you figue you'll just make it a political statement to cover your departure?

[Thrusher]

Buh-bye.

[Personal Responsibility]

What do you call 100 resigning liberal professors?

A GOOD START!

[mountn man]

Do you think that we could get her to speak at Colorado University? Maybe Ward Churchill would quit (life that is).

[Joe Brower]

If this assclown was truly as honorable and offended as he pretends, he'd commit seppeku.

[HitmanLV]

Wow, talk about flattering yourself.

[RexBeach]

Big effing deal. Almond is only an adjunct professor, and as such dumping his gig at BC will have virtually no adverse affect on his income. He's grandstanding.

BC is better off without this drama queen.

BTW the way, Steve, Secretary Rice was provost of Stanford when you were still trying to figure out the difference between your butt and your elbow.

[mikeybaby]

One more Commie bites the dust.
Faster please.
Maybe Secretary Rice needs to do a whole lot more speeches at Universities.

[CaliPhant]

Someone's trying to get themself on Drudge.

[NonValueAdded]

"But my dear professor Almond, she is the chief diplomat of the United States. Of course she lies! (and lies beautifully, BTW) Is that not the main function of a diplomat? After all, if diplomats told the truth, the UN General Assembly would resemble a mosh pit."

[mlc9852]

I'm sure they'll miss this guy. What an arrogant moron. Where the hell does he think our freedoms come from? Who does he think protects them? I am livid over this. But coming from Boston, no surprise.

[Constitution Day]

Heh. So true!

[ssaftler]

Dear Mr. Almond,

Don't let the door hit your a$$ on the way out.

C'YA! Wouldn't wanna B'YA!

[cotton1706]

To the immediate benefit to the students.

[Ramius]

Funny that they've still got the same old boring (and discredited) talking points. Is this the best they can do?

[Lancey Howard]

Hilarious! What a pompous ass!

[in hoc signo vinces]

"Please" let the door hit you on the way out, arseclown!

[Godzilla]

Hope she doesn't let the door hit her rear on the way out.

[ned13]

I love that idea. Perhaps I'll reconsider an academic career once again. As a BC alum I am proud that Condi will be accepting an honorary degree from my alma mater!!!

[zook]

"...adjunct professor of English..."

Wow. Such a loss for them!

[mlc9852]

"BTW the way, Steve, Secretary Rice was provost of Stanford when you were still trying to figure out the difference between your butt and your elbow."

LOL

[raccoonradio]

Letters to the Editor of the Globe, from earlier this week:

May 8, 2006

AS A STUDENT at Boston College, I find myself with conflicting views toward the impending commencement speech and honorary degree for Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (''Invitation to Rice debated at BC," May 3.) While I support free speech and acknowledge that Rice is a good role model for women, especially African-Americans, I believe that this decision by the BC administration is not purely motivated.

This past year, many have noted the college's increased valuing of a Jesuit education and policies in line with the teachings of the Catholic Church. However, the administration has become increasingly hypocritical in terms of what groups it allows to be heard on campus. For example, most attempts by prochoice or gay-rights groups to organize in an official capacity have been shut down. Now, possibly the third most influential person in the Bush administration, which is responsible for a war denounced by the Church, is about to receive an honorary degree. This essentially condones her actions; I strongly oppose the decision and hope that BC realizes the hypocrisy.

CHRISTINA MARSHALL
Watertown

---

I AM GRADUATING from Boston College on May 22 with a master's degree in nursing. Condoleezza Rice is an amazing woman with a string of impressive accomplishments and skills. I wouldn't mind a seat next to her at a dinner party, but I do not want her representing me or my graduating class. For those of us who are shocked by BC's choice, we are forced to choose between attending our own party (one we have earned, paid for, and deserve) or conceding that the BC corporate machine has again disappointed us and declining official celebration. It's not right. As my mother asked when I told her who the speaker is, ''Would it be poor etiquette to be both the mother of a graduate and a protester?" Mom is coming into town for my graduation. She'll be spending the morning at the IHOP on Soldier's Field Road. Now I need to decide where I'll be.

AMY O'MEARA
Newton

THE FALLOUT resulting from Rice's selection to deliver this year's commencement speech at Boston College seems highly politicized when juxtaposed with an unopposed 2004 commencement speech at BC's law school that was delivered by Walter Dellinger, a law professor at the Duke University School of Law who served in the Clinton administration. Dellinger has championed NARAL Pro-Choice America's cause and chaired NARAL's 1992 commission to defend Roe v. Wade in direct conflict with Roman Catholic values. Are we therefore witnessing another dissenting group struggling to maintain the religious character of a Catholic institution or another virulent strain of red state-blue state discord?

MARK D. CONSTANCE
Roxbury

[bondjamesbond]

Lookin' hard to see the down side here...

...

Nope. Not findin' it!

[theDentist]

steven.almond.1@bc.edu for now....

[AxelPaulsenJr]

I wish one of our talented Freepers could find the guys email addy. Would love to wish him well on his life journey into continued insignifigance.

[Sam Cree]

"Many members of the faculty and student body already have voiced their objection to the invitation, arguing that Rice's actions as secretary of state are inconsistent with the broader humanistic values of the university..."

The university's values are totalitarianism, brutality and socialism? No surprise there, I guess. Anyhow, that's one down!

[Lovely-Day-For-A-Guinness]

Did you hear the stain on WRKO this morning?

One of the rudest, arrogant, condescending, and hypocritical whiners I've ever heard.

This guy is a true liberal's liberal, and can only function in the safe and closed confines of academia.

He didn't have an answer when asked why he didn't resign when the Sinkmeister was playing tough guy with Bosnia.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Egad those Liberals are sooo tolerant, aren't they?

[reagan_fanatic]

Something tells me the good Professor would have been slightly more mute in his objections had this been a member of a DEMOCRATIC administration.

Liberals are such childish pukes.

[Robe]

This guy certainly doesn't let FACTS get in the way of his opinion

[NAVY84]

Sounds like we should have sent Rumsfeld instead, Condi only got one. I bet Rummy could get 20 to 30 and maybe some heads would even explode.

[gunnedah]

This shows todays state of Academia. What happened to the notion of ideas and differing opinions. It seems to me our colleges are more about indoctrination and brainwashing. They are more Communist leaning and are not about education and individual thoughts. These type professors should be shipped to Russia or Iran where they would fit in well.

[Kokojmudd]

Dear Mr. Prof : Good riddence you commie pinko rat! Take your dog and pony show to pyongyang.

[raccoonradio]

I only heard a moment or so of it and I noticed this in the online version of the Globe...

[UncleSamUSA]

One down and 20,000 or so more left wing academic nut-jobs to go !!!!

[raccoonradio]

Would hope this gets talked about later today by Howie Carr.

[ladyjane]

Adjunct quits. No big deal.

Boston is loaded with unemployed English PhD's. BC probably already has 500 applicants for that job.

[NAVY84]

I think the boots and dominatrix outfit at the NATO meeting was particularly fetching, and nobody even noticed whether she lied or not.