Posted on 04/03/2006 9:14:17 PM PDT by Congressman Billybob
Dear Chancellor John Bardo,
I have a bone to pick with you. So does the US Constitution. And so do those who believe that universities should be open communities, allowing a diverse views to be expressed – in academic language.
My public declaration of my candidacy for Congress from the 11th District here in Western Carolina was on 3 March. I’d contacted the Director of the Fine and Performing Arts Center at your university, Western Carolina, about using that Center for my first press conference. I offered to pay full rate for the use of the facilities.
I had several reasons for choosing WCU as the site. I wanted to showcase two excellent actors who attend WCU. I wanted many students to be there and take part. From my experience as a professor, I expected their questions to be more articulate and issue-oriented, than the press ones. I also know that WCU has a superlative TV and radio program and studios, which might also be involved.
But the Director of the Center bumped my request up to his boss. And his boss bumped it up to the University’s General Counsel, Richard Kucharski. I happened to be driving by your extensive campus when I got the word of that, so I came in to chat with Mr. Kucharski.
He told me WCU would not allow me to use its facilities. Yet, that very week the WCU website featured a fulsome story with a photo of you with the incumbent Congressman, Charles Taylor, smiling for the camera in a classroom with students. I pointed out that Mr. Taylor’s appearance on your campus was obviously intended to assist his run for a ninth term in Congress. Mr. Kucharski claimed that Taylor’s appearance and mine were somehow different, so Taylor’s was permissible but mine was not.
I suggested that when he did the research he promised on the matter, one case he’d find was Anderson v. Celebrezze, 1983. That was a Supreme Court case in which I played a key role. There, the Court ruled that state laws and institutions cannot discriminate among candidates for President, based on who they are and what they believe. It’s no big jump to conclude that discrimination by a public institution (WCU) between candidates for Congress (Armor and Taylor) is equally forbidden.
Mr. Kucharski also promised to send me a letter stating why WCU could legally keep me off its campus, while welcoming the incumbent with open arms, free access, a free photographer, and an article on its website. That letter never arrived. But I don’t forget First Amendment errors.
To the same effect, I understand from the blogosphere that you sent an e-mail to the faculty and staff of WCU just before the 2004 election, urging them to vote for Charles Taylor because “our jobs are at stake.” Please correct me if I’m wrong about that.
I understand where you are coming from. WCU seeks and gets big bucks from the federal government. For the last 16 years, Mr. Taylor has been the gatekeeper for those millions of dollars for various programs. Therefore, you want to benefit Taylor, and harm anyone running against him. Your motivation is crystal clear, but that does not excuse a gross violation of the First Amendment.
Plus, your actions demonstrate a failure to understand why universities exist. They seek to advance human knowledge by exploring the differences between competing ideas. I have a few competing ideas myself. Take a look at my website, for 100+ pages of those ideas. Here’s the address for your convenience. www.ArmorforCongress.com
You owe an apology to me and to the other two candidates running for Congress this year against Charles Taylor. You owe an apology to the First Amendment, for crushing it underfoot. You owe an apology to the WCU community, for denying them the opportunity to see this event and take part in it.
Without going into chapter and verse, this will probably be Mr. Taylor’s last year in Congress. One of us shut out by WCU, will become the new Congressman and gatekeeper of 11th District funds. You should apologize immediately, before the election results are known.
Otherwise, it looks like you’re just cozying up to whoever is the 11th District Congressman. A poem by e. e. cummings observed, “you would rather black the boots of / success than enquire whose soul dangles from his / watch-chain which would be embarrassing for both / parties”
Please assure me that is not a correct description of you, as the Chancellor of WCU.
Cordially,
John
About the Author: John Armor is candidate for Congress in the 11th District of North Carolina. John_Armor@aya.yale.edu
John / Billybob
BUMP!
That would be The Firth Amendment?
Is that in the Scottish Constitution?
Perhaps I'm misreading this. Is it the Oneth Amendment?
Might want to get that title fixth. :-)
If I lived in NC you'd have my vote.
I hope you plan to pursue this.
There are several WCU alums on the NC forum, myself included. You might want to post a link there as well.
Could you post a link to your campaign website?
Have you considered CC'ing this letter to Mike Adams? IMO, he'd likely do a column on it.
Dear John,
This is our ivory tower and we'll run it any way we want too.
Now April 15th is coming up, shouldn't you be paying your taxes?
Sincerely,
BUMP TO THE TOP
I live in Wake County - can I vote for you?
Great letter.
From my experience as a professor, I expected [the students'] questions to be more articulate and issue-oriented, than the press ones
And:
One of us shut out by WCU, will become the new Congressman and gatekeeper of 11th District funds.
Heh heh! Go get 'em, BillyBob!
It's in his article --- http://www.ArmorforCongress.com
Excellant letter, John
Can you sue? Should you sue? Will you sue and if not, why not?
excellent. don't let 'em off the hook.
P.S. I have an early primary for Congress in the 11th District of North Carolina, 2 May, less than a month away. Please visit my website in the tagline, and help however you can.
Congressman Billybob
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