Oct. 31, 2005

Quick Takes: Layoffs at Xavier U. of La., Georgia Press Withdraws Short Story Collection, Seton Hall Demotes Assistant Dean for Criticizing Church’s Anti-Gay Stance, Jail Terms in Chico Hazing Death, Anti-Gay Comment Divides Duquesne

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Xavier University of Louisiana announced on its Web site Friday that it would lay off employees, cancel numerous programs, limit graduate study to online offerings, and suspend conference play for its sports teams until fall 2006. The Times-Picayune reported that the historically black, Roman Catholic university in New Orleans would lay off a total of 318 staff members and 89 faculty members, which represents nearly three-fifths of its staff and more than a third of the faculty.
The University of Georgia Press has recalled The Bear Bryant Funeral Train, a collection of short stories, amid reports that portions of one of the stories are substantially similar to a story published in a collection by the University of Alabama Press, MediaBistro reported. The Tuscaloosa News (free registration required) reported that a reader’s adviser at the local public library first noticed the similarities and informed officials of both presses.
Seton Hall University stripped a gay professor of his position as associate dean after a newspaper published his letter criticizing the Roman Catholic Church’s anti-gay views, The Star-Ledger of Newark reported. Seton Hall officials said that the demotion was appropriate because W. King Mott identified his university position in the letter. Mott told The Star-Ledger that although he retains his tenured job as a professor, he will start looking for another job.
Four fraternity brothers at California State University at Chico were jailed Friday after pleading guilty to a range of charges in the hazing death of a freshman pledge who died in February, The Chico Enterprise Record reported. Matthew Carrington died after he collapsed while being forced to drink gallons of water and performing various exercises.
A Duquesne University student is refusing to write an essay on homosexuality, as he was ordered by university officials to do after they found a comment on a non-Duquesne Web site in which he called gay people “subhuman,” The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported. The student says his rights to free speech are being violated.

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Comments

Subhumans at Dusquene University

Subhumans are the intolerant, ignorant neanderthals who refuse to recognize the majesty of diversity, and canonize bigotry and hatred disguised under religious adiaphora. It seems to me that the only “subhuman” is the arrogant student who decided that he was god and could judge others—which means that he is ignorant of Matthew 7:1.

Arthur Ide, PhD, at 7:47 am EST on October 31, 2005

Subhuman vs. big brother

Referring to any group of people as “subhuman” is despicable and usually the first step toward genocide. The student’s words are clearly repellant.

It is, however, very frightening to see a university attempt to police thought, however disgusting that thought may be, in the manner that Duquesne has done here. Are we going to start assigning extra-curricular work for the sake of indoctrination now? However noble the intent, the means are clearly unjustified.

For instance, I teach at a religiously affiliated university and we hope that our students share our religious convictions. But surely (and rightfully so) there would be an uproar if, having “caught” a student expressing atheist sentiments outside of the university’s jurisdiction, I assigned that student to write an essay on, say, the divine inspiration of the Gospels.

Rather than engaging in blunt mind-control, Duquesne should focus on crafting a curriculum that gives its students the logical ability and historical perspective necessary to avoid such repellant ideology as this student as fallen into.

Cicero, at 8:47 am EST on October 31, 2005

Who made Duquesne the Nanny of the World?

I had to read that article twice because I couldn’t believe it the first time — not that there are students who are rabidly homophobic, but that University officials thought they could punish a student for expressing unapproved views on a NON-UNIVERSITY website.

A much more useful response, rather than the bizarre “reeducation camp” approach chosen, would have been to commission the humanities schools to put together an exhibition for the student union on the treatment of gays through the ages — ending with a computer displaying the student’s posting.

The answer to hateful speech is better speech, not suppression or reeducation camps.

JMG, at 9:05 am EST on October 31, 2005

not necessarily a 1st amendment problem

It isn’t entirely clear whether the students’ rights are being violated. His school is not a public school. However, the school, if it chooses to kick him out, may be breaching a contract to him. Now, of course, as the above posters state, the school is behaving irresponsibly if it thinks that forcing someone to write something will cure all problems of bigotry and hatred in the world.

Larry, at 7:09 pm EST on November 1, 2005

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Quick Takes: Layoffs at Xavier U. of La., Georgia Press Withdraws Short Story Collection, Seton Hall Demotes Assistant Dean for Criticizing Church’s Anti-Gay Stance, Jail Terms in Chico Hazing Death, Anti-Gay Comment Divides Duquesne

Comments

Subhumans at Dusquene University

Subhuman vs. big brother

Who made Duquesne the Nanny of the World?

not necessarily a 1st amendment problem

Jobs Related to Quick Takes: Layoffs at Xavier U. of La., Georgia Press Withdraws Short Story Collection, Seton Hall Demotes Assistant Dean for Criticizing Church's Anti-Gay Stance, Jail Terms in Chico Hazing Death, Anti-Gay Comment Divides Duquesne

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Assistant Professor of Music Education (Elementary Vocal — General) Ithaca College

Manager, Web, Publications, and Communications *Reposted* Princeton University

Scientist III University of Kentucky

Assistant Professor University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Part-Time Adult Education Instructor, English Literacy Civics Lone Star College System

Junior Specialist — Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences University of California, Irvine

Post Doctoral Research Associate Princeton University