Condoleezza Rice Backs out of Rutgers Commencement

ABC News (AP) ^ | May 3, 2013 | AP

[Scoutmaster]

Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has backed out of delivering the commencement address at Rutgers University following protests by some faculty and students over her role in the Iraq War.

Rice said in a statement Saturday that she informed Rutgers President Robert Barchi that she was declining the invitation to speak at the graduation. "Commencement should be a time of joyous celebration for the graduates and their families," Rice said. "Rutgers' invitation to me to speak has become a distraction for the university community at this very special time."

The school's board of governors had voted to pay $35,000 to the former secretary of state under President George W. Bush and national security adviser for her appearance at the May 18 ceremony. Rutgers was also planning to bestow Rice with an honorary doctorate. But some students and faculty at New Jersey's flagship university had protested, staging sit-ins and saying Rice bore some responsibility for the Iraq War as a member of the Bush administration.

Barchi and other school leaders had resisted the calls to disinvite Rice, saying the university welcomes open discourse on controversial topics.

The news of Rice's decision came a day after Barchi spoke with students protesting Rice's planned speech and told them the board of governors would not rescind its invitation.

[Scoutmaster]

"In her statement, Rice defended her record, saying that she was honored to serve her country and that she had 'defended America's belief in free speech and the exchange of ideas.' But she said she didn't want to detract from the spirit of the commencement ceremony.

[allendale]

Rutgers is dominated by dopey, intolerant people. Their incompetence will be on full display when Rutgers assumes the role of doormat for the Big 10.

[dfwgator]

Racists.

[SIRTRIS]

Condoleezza Rice is a intelligent & wonderful person. The islamists there & some of the moronic liberals are brain dead. How any muslim can be associated w/ libs who are infidels & kafiers is beyond stupidity!! Wait!!, muslims can practice “Takeyya” 3:28, to these liberals.

[clintonh8r]

Rice, and Ben Carson, should not have backed down. It doesn’t make them look magnanimous. It makes them look weak. They should have made their speeches, and if the stupid students and faculty want to make fools of themselves and ruin graduation for the other students, so be it.

[2banana]

But some students and faculty at New Jersey's flagship university had protested, staging sit-ins and saying Rice bore some responsibility for the Iraq War as a member of the Bush administration.

Kerry, Hilary! and Biden also supported the Iraq War and voted for it.

Will these same students and teachers protest them???

No - because fascists don't believe in freedom of speech.

[Organic Panic]

BS. If it were Colon Powel they would be drooling over themselves at the door waiting for his speech. Condileeza is a black republican woman who didn’t back track on her roll in the Bush administration like Powel did.

[SoCal Pubbie]

I think this is a difficult decision. One the one hand, she is bring honest and caring in her desire not to ruin the graduating seniors’ big day. The problem on the other hand is that canceling shows lefties that this practice works to silence and marginalize their opposition.

[RedMDer]

FReepers! Charge!
Two percent a day keeps the 404 away.


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[mac_truck]

Rice should have announced she was donating her fee to the Wounded Warrior Project and made the commencement speech anyway.

[guyfromjrz]

For true perspective, think about this. The student body of Rutgers University a few years ago invited and hosted as commencement speaker, “Snokie” from the Jersey Shore reality show on MTV.

Just saying.

[plain talk]

More cowardice

[Alberta's Child]

It's easy for you and me to tell someone else to stand their ground in a situation like this, but I can see why a commencement speaker wouldn't want to turn graduation day into a scene. Personally, I would have stayed home myself and then announced 10 minutes before my arrival that I wasn't showing up. Let the @ssholes have a graduation ceremony with no commencement address, if that's what they want.

There's something to be said for having a commencement speaker who is a highly accomplished alumnus of the school. If the students make a scene like this, the school would then run the risk of having the person sever all ties to the university, cut off all donations, etc.

[windsorknot]

Universities have been cesspools for left wing activists for many years.

[maine-iac7]

and this is how they silence us.

[morphing libertarian]

would freepers have Rice as VP running with Scott Walker. Or too many policy differences?

[morphing libertarian]

The University should have invite her to come back in the fall for a speaking engagement

[clintonh8r]

It’s not about how easy it might be. For me, it’s about a person in a leadership position, who has great accomplishments, allowing himself or herself to be bullied by culture thugs. When the left perceives weakness they simply intensify their attacks. Someone like Rice or Carson needs to stand up against people like these, because if they won’t, who will?

[clintonh8r]

And she should tell them to stuff it.

[morphing libertarian]

If the invitation still stood, she’s the one who backed out. Let eh unit handle the protestors or ignore them. There will be a small group of these idiots on any campus.