UConn Students Displayed Immaturity During Coulter Speech

Regardless of their political views or opinions on Ann Coulter, people with their heads set square on their shoulders should agree that the behavior of some of the students at Wednesday's Coulter event hosted by the College Republican Club was downright sad. I am very disappointed in many of my fellow students. I am disappointed not because I disagree with them, but because of their actions Wednesday night.

The status of free speech on this campus is sickening. Here at UConn the Constitution apparently must read: "Free speech for all, except for those who rub the liberals the wrong way." Sure people like Coulter are free to speak, but the liberals will do their best to impinge on that right. In that case you're free to speak only if you can be heard above the screaming mob.

Students who disagree with Coulter here on campus had a golden opportunity this Wednesday and they let it slip right through their fingers. It isn't often that they get the opportunity to ask pressing questions of some they who you so strongly oppose. I can guarantee you that the conservatives on campus would have taken advantage of such an opportunity if we were able to see Michael Moore or Al Franken give a speech and answer questions.

Their biggest question all night, which was repeated several times during the question and answer, was, "How could you say that women shouldn't vote?" Why is it that the people that were so offended (possibly because they lacked the capacity to understand that it was satire and that Coulter was joking) didn't seem to take offense when derogatory insults like "cunt," "bitch" and "whore" were hurled at Coulter by the crowd? They didn't seem very concerned about defending women at that point. No, quite the contrary, at that point they were living it up. What better way to get your point across than to scream the C word while foaming at the mouth in an auditorium filled with parents, school officials and representatives from the media? I am sure that the women of the audience are happy knowing that you gentlemen are out there defending their rights, unless of course you're a conservative "whore" who likes to use satire. I, for one, am very glad that these students are representing the college whose name will be appearing on my diploma.

Instead of spending their time screaming, chanting and yelling vulgarities they could have put their energy toward really stumping Coulter. Hogwash, obviously a better political discourse can be had through yelling and screaming. How many of those screaming and jeering in the crowd actually read some of Coulter's material that wasn't on a flier they had seen a week before the event? The questions from those who actually were able to get to the microphones were far from impressive. It is obvious that more time and energy were spent planning a walk out and the "South Park" stunt than was actually spent using some intelligence and coming up with good questions.

Many students Wednesday night acted like a bunch of children. Honestly what I saw last night was the same mob mentality that results in flipped cars and damaged personal property after a final four game. This time instead of burning cars they were trashing the right to free speech. What I saw last night was the same mentality of the "patriots" here on campus that think the best way to get their political message out is to scrawl "F*ck Bush" on every piece of public and private property they can before their Sharpies run dry.

The behavior of many last night didn't prove the point that Coulter is a "hateful racist sexist bigot." It just proved that many UConn students can't behave like rational educated adults. It proved that they can't think for themselves, and that they lack the capacity to have a debate with some one with differing viewpoints. Many right now are celebrating their "defeat" of Coulter, but they really should come to terms, in reality they should just feel embarrassed.