Posted on 04/19/2006 12:58:25 PM PDT by Tim Long
Prof was head of NKU Women's Studies Program
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, KY- Sally Jacobsen, a professor of language and literature at Northern Kentucky University (NKU) has been dismissed from her post after she incited a group of students to destroy an approved pro-life display erected by a campus pro-life student group.
Jacobsen, who also headed the NKU women’s studies program for three years, told the Kentucky Enquirer she had become so emotional at the sight of a field of white crosses planted as a symbolic cemetery for aborted children, that her strong feelings justified her action.
“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.
Pulling up the crosses was similar to citizens taking down Nazi displays on Fountain Square, she said.
The display was put up in response to a series of lectures on abortion “rights” by a faculty group called, Educators for Reproductive Freedom. The group had held two lunchtime discussions on campus with speakers from the American Civil Liberties Union and Planned Parenthood. A representative of Educators for Reproductive Freedom disavowed any involvement in Jacobsen’s action.
In response to the faculty lectures, a group of students hastily organized a pro-life group, Northern Right to Life, which was approved by the university administration. The crosses, which were first erected Wednesday April 12, were the group’s first effort at educating the campus on the real nature of abortion. They also handed out literature at the pro-abortion faculty event.
Katie Walker, president of Northern Right to Life, told the Enquirer that her group would like to see charges filed against those responsible for the vandalism. “Campuses are supposed to be public forums. I think professors should encourage that,” Walker said.
Jacobsen admitted to inciting students: “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.” She said the crosses were a “slap in the face” to women who might be making “the agonizing and very private decision to have an abortion.”
A photo appearing Thursday in the online edition of the campus newspaper, The Northerner, showed Jacobsen tearing up the sign that accompanied the crosses. Campus police are investigating the vandalism, saying that $600.00 in damages was done. About 10 students were involved, witnesses said.
The university’s policies state that even tenured faculty can be dismissed without pay for misconduct. It reads, “A staff member who conducts himself in a manner that reflects unfavourably upon the University, the department, and himself will be subject to immediate discharge, without advance notice and without further pay.”
Jacobsen’s action has created a stir in high places. The Enquirer reported Sunday that Rep. Paul Marcotte, R-Union, has written to NKU president, James Votruba, demanding that Jacobsen be fired. "I don't want my tax money used by a professor to radicalize the ‘cemetery Gestapo,’” Marcotte wrote. He called her action “illegal and irresponsible” and “disgusting, offensive behaviour by a tenured professor.”
“Strong punishment will send a message to other unrepentant radicals that the university is part of a larger community and that its members must abide by the community's laws,” Marcotte stated.
James Votruba has said the university will be investigating and takes its commitment to freedom of speech seriously. "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.
In a statement published on the university’s website today, Votruba said, “While the University supports the right to free speech and vigorous debate on public issues, we cannot condone infringement of the rights of others to express themselves in an orderly manner.”
“By leading her students in the destruction of an approved student organization display, Professor Sally Jacobsen’s actions were inconsistent with Northern Kentucky University’s commitment to free and open debate and the opportunity for all sides to be heard without threat of censorship or reprisal.”
Glad she is leaving, sorry she was there for 27 years.
"CROSS = SWASTAKA"...............
Some punishment.
Only in left field. Oh, well, she's gone. Forget her.
My people perish for a lack of knowledge.
I heard this morning that she was planning to retire at the end of this term and that she would be allowed to do that and keep her pension.
Does this dismissal change that?
Another one bites the dust
Another one bites the dust
And another one gone, and another one gone
Another one bites the dust
Hey, I’m gonna get you too
Another one bites the dust
"She said the crosses were a “slap in the face” to women who might be making “the agonizing and very private decision to have an abortion.”
As opposed to the private and agonizing suffering by the baby due to that decision.
These pro-death nutcases are insane.
. . . freedom-of-speech rights to destroy . . .
“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.
"I don't want to sound selfish or anything, but it's me, me, ME! MY feelings! I am the center of the universe! What other people think does not matter! You all exist to affirm MY existence!"
Hammer and sickle=swastika.
I'm guessing either work for a courier service, pizza delivery, or wacko-leftist talking head on TV.
She is not at fault. Womyn professors can't help it when their emotions cloud their better judgement......
Sarcasm off.
I am looking for photos of her on the 'net, in order to reinforce my own vision of "evil" and "stupid" embodied as one.
You can joke about hillbillies and rednecks in my home state all you want but ultimately, we still know the difference between right and wrong.
What a nut.
"Pulling up the crosses was similar to citizens taking down Nazi displays on Fountain Square, she said"
___________________________________________
Lets see here....she believes that being opposed to killing the unborn is the same as being in favor of genocide....oohhkay....
The real reason the wacko flipped out was because the disply hit a nerve with a sledgehammer and she couldn't stand it.
It could be. We don't know what the prof's situation was, but had I retired an hour earlier than what I did, I would have received no retirement benefits.
Muleteam1
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.