Spring Break
UConn Students Displayed Immaturity During Coulter Speech
Letter to the Editor
Douglas Hamel
Issue date: 12/9/05 Section: Commentary
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.
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.