Newsgroups: alt.politics.correct,alt.politics.clinton,alt.rush-limbaugh,alt.fan.rush-limbaugh Subject: PC at the U. of Minn Message-ID: From: lesikar@tigger.stcloud.msus.edu (arnold v. lesikar) Date: 16 Sep 93 16:49:54 -0600 Followup-To: alt.politics.correct, alt.politics.clinton, alt.rush-limbaugh, alt.fan.rush-limbaugh Organization: SCSU Lines: 192 The following story appeared in this morning's Minneapolis Star Tribune. This copyrighted story is reproduced here under the Fair Use doctrine to document the continuing existence of the PC mentality on American university campuses. ********************************************************** Censored conservatives say 'U' can't take a joke By Maura Lerner Staff Writer Some of the jokes, they admit were kind of tacky. But when the College Republicans at the University of Minnesota started handing out fliers intended to make fun of President Clinton, they were stunned by the reaction: University officials ordered them to stop. Now the students are crying foul. They've accused the university of censoring them for being too conservative on a liberal campus and have asked a national legal group for help to fight the ruling. "Where does it say in the guidelines that you can't have jokes about Clinton?" asked T. Baxter Stephenson, 22, former chairman of the College Republicans. Two of the group's handouts were banned from its booth at the month-long freshman orientation fair, which is running through next week at the Coffman Memorial Student Union. One was a sheet of Clinton jokes reprinted from a national publication called "Slick Times," and the other was a parody of a tx form mocking Clinton's policies. The Office of New Student Programs said it ordered the handouts removed because they were offensive to gays and women. The joke sheet took several pot shots at Hillary Clinton, while the tax form satirically added such new filings as transsexual and cross-dresser. "It has to fit within the goals of our orientation program," said Dave Gerbitz, 22, the assistant director of the office. "One of our guidelines (is) not to allow oppressive material, material that can be construed as not welcoming." But the conservatives say it's nothing less than a violation of free speech. "Anyone can say bad things about the president," said Stephenson, who helped run the booth. "This doesn't attack gays. It doesn't say anything mean...We're putting down Bill Clinton." The dispute began Aug. 30, five days after the fair began. Gerbitz and another official went to the group's booth and said the two fliers had to go. "They have the right to their opinion, but the manner is what we found inappropriate," said Michelle Karon, 26, the program director. "We feel strongly that it's not appropriate at orientation and registration to mock or make humor at the expense of a group." They say they reviewed all the handouts at the fair, and discussed the offending fliers with other officials - including the university's legal office - before taking action. In this case, all agreed the material crossed the line but not, they say, because it poked fun at Bill Clinton. "They were Clinton jokes, but the question is, ask yourself why those things were funny," said Gerbitz. "They were mean and sexist and racist and heterosexist jokes." Some examples: ¥ "Q. What happened when Bill Clinton got a shot of testosterone? A. He turned into Hillary." ¥ "President Clinto seems to be settling into the job real well...Bill isn't doing bad either.' ¥ The mock tax form lists categories for "married homosexual filing separate return" and "married inter-species filing jointly." Gerbitz says university officials objected because the jokes were demeaning to gays and feminists and that they would have done the same if the jokes had been on heterosexual men. "There really is too much white-male bashing in the world," he said. "That isn't allowed in our organization." A day after the fliers were banned, one of the booth's sponsors wrote a letter of protest to University President Nils Hasselmo. "You may not be aware of this, but your university is violating the First Amendment rights of its students," wrote Peter Swanson, a law student who shared the booth with the College Republicans. The university didn't reply until yesterday, two weeks later, when Vice President Marvalene Hughes wrote that "this is not a free speech issue." First, she said, the policy requires all the materials at orientation to match "the goals of the University." Second, "it iis our institutional right and responsibility to present materials consistent with the University's non-discrimination policy." And third, she said, the university supports free speech, but anything distributed at freshman orientation must conform to "an atmosphere which is respectful of diversity... Some of your group's display materials were not compatible with this purpose." Some of the College Republicans, however, suspect that they are being singled out for their politics. Said Mike Garland, 21, this year's chairman: "It seems that we've been given an unusual amount of scrutiny as an organization, simply because of our conservative political vies, which may not be in favor on a campus as liberal as the university is." Chris Bakeman, a senior, agreed. "It's this basic arrogant attitude at the University of Minnesota that they can do whatever they want," he said. "It's always directed at conservatives, though." So far, no material has been censored from any of the other 45 groups at the freshman fair, according to Admissions Director Wayne Sigler, whose office oversees the new student programs. But he says that only the College Republicans violated the rules. "WE certainly have not singled them out," he said. The College Republicans' voice has not been stifled entirely. On the main floor of the student union, a display of some of the censored material is behind glass with the message:"This is what New Student Programs didn't want you to see! They say it's oppressive.' We say Decide for Yourself. Defy the P.C. (Politically Correct) Thought Police." But Stephenson says that is not enough. "I'm not trying to say the entire university is trying to shut down our group," he said. "I'm saying we were illegally and wrongfully shut out from an open forum." His group is seeking help from the Individual Rights Foundation, a California-based legal group, to challenge the university. But beyond free speech, he said, is another issue. "The university censored our handouts because they did not promote diversity," he said. "The university has taken on the opinion that diversity is only diversity of color, sexual preference, religion, what have you. What the university is forgetting is... diversity of thought. If you can't have a diversity of thought so you can criticize the president of the United States, then what have you? You don't have a university where you can develop your mind." -------------------- The story is accompanied by an illustration headlined: Funny or oppressive? This phony tax form was one of the items pulled from student orientation. The Clinton Extended Tax Form "For People With Some Change." [It's a Form 1040-BS; other wise it looks like a regular tax form.] By the Label space it says: Use IRS environmentally safe, dolphin friendly, CFC free recycled label, or print with non-toxic ink. In the Label area: Your name(if joint return, also give significant other's name) Present home address (homeless, please identify dumpster location) City, town, or post office, state and ZIP code Under the Label area there's a check-off space - SUPREME COURT -> Do you want Hillary Clinton appointed to the Supreme Court? [ Only a "YES" box is provided.] FILING STATUS - check-off boxes are provided for male, female, transexual, cross-dresser, or wanna-be On the left margin- The IRS is an equal opportunity revenue enhancer, and does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, sexual preference, race, creed, or economic status. There eight boxes for "Filing as" 1. single 2. married heterosexual filing jointly (even if only one income) 3. married homosexual filing jointly (even if only one income) 4. married heterosexual filing separate return 5. married homosexual filing separate return 6. married inter-species filing jointly 7. feminist (if uncertain, call Susan Faludi, Phil Donahue, or Molly Yard) 8. environmentalist (if uncertain, see Al Gore's "Earth in the Balance") ------------------------------ I'd say the shots were scattered pretty evenly at all the liberal causes. This looks to be well within the bounds of traditional American political humor. I believe that it was Nat Hentoff, that fearless crusader to preserve First Amendment rights, who said that only way to fight hate speech is with more speech! In this case we are not dealing with hate speech, but politics and humor. Nevertheless it would have been within the traditions of liberty for those offended to protest, picket, and hand out fliers of their own. But the University, acting like an anxious parent or a fearful tyrant chose instead to suppress literature with which they disagreed. This kind of teaching is hardly conducive to the education of future citizens expected to participate in and preserve a democratic political system. arn lesikar@tigger.stcloud.msus.edu Newsgroups: alt.fan.rush-limbaugh,alt.politics.clinton,alt.politics.correct From: rja@mahogany126.cray.com (Ben's Dad) Subject: PC at St Thomas (Re: PC at the U. of Minn) Message-ID: <1993Sep20.165432.4210@hemlock.cray.com> Originator: rja@mahogany126 Lines: 54 Sender: rja@mahogany126 (Russ Anderson) Organization: The 1991 World Champion Minnesota Twins! References: Date: 20 Sep 93 16:54:32 CDT In article , lesikar@tigger.stcloud.msus.edu (arnold v. lesikar) writes: > The following story appeared in this morning's Minneapolis Star Tribune. > This copyrighted story is reproduced here under the Fair Use doctrine to > document the continuing existence of the PC mentality on American > university campuses. This is a good example of the Star Tribune's conservative media bias. The Star Tribune decided that the U of M's refusal to allow the College Republicans to distribute two papers warrented front page coverage. What coverage would a decision to completely ban a group warrent? Banner headlines maybe? Not when the University of St. Thomas prohibits of a pro-choice group on campus. Then the Star Tribune is silent. > ********************************************************** > Censored conservatives say 'U' can't take a joke Censored students say St. Thomas can't handle free speech > By Maura Lerner > Staff Writer > > Some of the jokes, they admit were kind of tacky. But when the College > Republicans at the University of Minnesota started handing out fliers > intended to make fun of President Clinton, they were stunned by the > reaction: University officials ordered them to stop. Imagine how stunned they would be if the school banned the group entirely. That is St Thomas' position on a pro-choice group. > Now the students are crying foul. They've accused the university of > censoring them for being too conservative on a liberal campus and have > asked a national legal group for help to fight the ruling. "Where does it > say in the guidelines that you can't have jokes about Clinton?" asked T. > Baxter Stephenson, 22, former chairman of the College Republicans. St. Thomas does not even hide their contempt for free speech. They openly admit that they will not allow a pro-choice group because they disagree with the message. > Two of the group's handouts were banned from its booth at the month-long > freshman orientation fair, which is running through next week at the > Coffman Memorial Student Union. Pro-choice student at St Thomas would *love* to have a booth. -- Russ Anderson | Disclaimer: Any statements are my own and do not reflect ------------------ upon my employer or anyone else. (c) 1993 EX-Twins' Jack Morris, 10 innings pitched, 0 runs (World Series MVP!)