Vanderbilt's reception of [Condi] Rice mostly cordial

Tennessean | 5/14/04 | MICHAEL CASS

[TheBigB]

Story: http://www.tennessean.com/education/archives/04/05/51315665.shtml?Element_ID=51315665

A few snippets...

As thousands of people listened appreciatively and a handful protested quietly, national security adviser Condoleezza Rice told Vanderbilt University seniors yesterday that they should ''never make the mistake of assuming that some people do not share your desire to live freely.''

Vanderbilt's decision to bring Rice to campus and give her an award for ''distinguished public service'' on the day before graduation upset some students and staff, who protested yesterday and earlier in the week. But most people seemed happy she was there, and she received two standing ovations and scattered laughs and applause.

Holly DeVore Allen and Amanda Sudano, seniors from Nashville, and junior Alicia Robbins of Tucson, Ariz., wore hand-painted ''We Support Condi'' shirts that they said they whipped up after an early-morning trip to Wal-Mart. The three women said they thought Vanderbilt was being portrayed as anti-Rice because of a relatively few protesters.

[TheBigB]

Condi at Vandy...

The lovely youg ladies with the cool shirts...

Photos by Shelley Mays and Eic Parsons, respectively.

[Wright is right!]

I was pleasantly surprised by the straightforward and factual reporting on this story by The Tennessean - especially in light of the way the very same story was handled by the three local Fraudcast Media TV stations. On each of them, great pains were made to paint the protestors as the norm and those who approved of Condi's visit the out-lyers. Only the local Fox affiliate had the true perspective.

But that's typical. Fox runs its news at 9pm CDT, an hour ahead of the other three. And aside from crime reports and apartment fires, its reporting is almost always 180 degrees away from that of the Fraudcast network affiliates. And they have an unwaveringly conservative editorial that runs in every cast. Refreshing!

Michael

[Wright is right!]

Oopsey! You might want to ask El Moderador to snip part of your article post. The Tennessean is Gannett, and we can't post from their publications. Which is why I only referred to their article.

Michael