We recently discussed the controversy surrounding a confrontation between Thrin Short, 16, and her sister Joan, 21, and Feminist Studies Associate Professor Mireille Miller-Young. Miller-Young was then charged with criminal conduct including Theft of Person; Battery; and Vandalism. While initially pleading not guilty, Miller-Young has now entered a no contest plea to charges to the three misdemeanors. Despite the videotape of the incident and violation of both criminal law and presumably university regulations, Miller-Young remains employed at the university.
Miller-Young will now be sentenced on August 14th, though jail time is unlikely.
The more pressing question is, now that she has admitted to criminal conduct in stopping free speech on campus, how will the university respond. I previously wrote a critical piece of the response by Michael D. Young, Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs which seems to treat the pro-life demonstrators as the problem while encouraging faculty and students not to attack such “outsiders.”
The response from some faculty supporting Miller-Young and her actions has been itself alarming. Some 2000 faculty and students have signed a petition in support of Miller-Young while only 150 have signed a counter petition calling for her termination.
Students have clearly learned a lesson from Professor Miller-Young that free speech is only protected when we agree with the message. Consider the truly chilling view of UCSB sophomore Katherine Wehler, a theater and feminist studies major: “They are domestic terrorists, because the definition of a terrorist is someone who terrorizes.” Wehler added:
“I have a lot of feminist friends that went to them [pro-life protesters] with an educated academic response, because they were extremely triggered by these images, and the activists were saying this is for ‘women’s rights,’ . . . As feminist scholars and activists, we were insulted to hear that their cause is for women’s rights, because we felt personally attacked as women. Then, we were repeatedly called murderers. That is not okay. . . In my opinion, Professor Miller-Young would never attack anyone as the media suggests unless feeling an invasion of her own personal space like anyone else would in a fight or flight situation . . . If the university did decide to revoke her employment, there would be a large uproar because she is so celebrated.”
I cannot tell you how depressing it is to read a student who holds such views of free speech. Colleges and universities were once the very bastion for free speech. Faculty once instilled core values of pluralism and free expression in students. Wehler is a former student of Miller-Young, who appears to have had quite an influence on her understanding of free speech in our society.
Source: Independent
@annie
Sure she “evolved.” The poll numbers changed. She gets mores (or loses less) votes being for it, than agin it.
Squeeky Fromm
Girl Reporter
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2013/03/18/how-hillary-clinton-evolved-on-gay-marriage/
Squeeky it appears that Hillary has put a great deal of thought into the gay marriage issue.
@annie
Do you think she’s really laying awake at night worrying about whether a couple of gay dudes can get married or not??? One person’s hypocrite, is another person’s skilled politician.
Squeeky Fromm
Girl Reporter
Clearly Squeeky, you’re voting for an ideal Hillary you have made in your imagination, she is a liberal, she doesn’t represent anything you hold dear.
Squeeky, so you would vote for a known hypocrite? Wow. You think she would be in favor of the right wing ideas you espouse? Really?
Annie – who are you carrying water for? Elizabeth Warren?
@annie
Hillary is a realist. Like any good political sort, she will say the things she needs to get elected. Sooo, she will pay homage to your SYMBOLS, like the EPA, and then reform it to do sensible things. This should not come as a surprise to you, Didn’t you vote for Obama twice???
Squeeky Fromm
Girl Reporter
The lesson would be to not prohibit free speech by those you disagree with. I doubt she’ll ever snatch anyone’s sign again.
Squeeky, how as a conservative, can you say you will volunteer with Hillary Clinton’s campaign and then vote for her? She doesn’t represent any conservative ideas. How do you reconcile this?
I am curious as to what sorts of classes you have to take to get a PhD in Feminist Studies? Is there any real scholaship involved?
I am curious as to what exactly you take to get a PhD in Feminist Studies. Is there any serious scholarship involved or is it all lame?
bron98 – I think her dissertation was on black porn.
So if you believe in the women’s right to kill a fetus would the following statement, “To bad the procedure wasn’t used on this lady” be offensive? Just asking.
Annie – “The Professor was wrong, she had no right to take the sign from the two girls protesting. Hope she learned her lesson.”
Annie, what lesson would that be? Act like a jerk and get overwhelming support from colleagues?
@NickS
“. . . It always goes back to the fact that they truly believe they are better than you, smarter than you, and that they simply need to spread their secular gospel. They are fundamentalists w/ a secular deity.”
How very true! The Left are the New Puritans, trying to cover up us topless conservatives and telling us what sex is all about. That is why the smarm is sooo overpowering.
But I think there is also something about the symbols to them. “Abortion” is more of a symbol than a procedure. If it is legal, then all is right in the world, and they will clamor for abortions on 8 1/2 month old fetuses all while blathering about a war on women. That is why the Trayvon Martin silliness sooo enraged them. Forget the facts, a blaaaaccckkk kid got shot. That is also why they seem so unable to argue in a fact based manner and have to result to name calling so quickly. It’s all symbolisms and superficialities to them. IMO.
Squeeky Fromm
Girl Reporter
Paul,
Which is why police seem to be ever more concerned with stopping video of their actions despite Supreme Court rulings, state laws and department policies.
If you want a laugh, go find the report recently when someone tried to take photos of DC federal buildings. I think it was Buzzfeed. The security guards might not know much, but they know the word “terrorism”.
Bailers – terrorists do take photos of local important buildings they want to blow up. However, almost all have their pics on Google and are easy to find.
The professor at ASU took a plea the other day. She still has a federal lawsuit filed, not sure where that is going. It seems that it is going to be important to video tapes all of these demonstrations from now on.
A dog spoke to the Son of Sam.
Karen, The Onion started in Madison. It is a groupthink town and that was a perfect environment for Onion satire. I have read it since its inception and am heartened to see how it has grown.
Samantha – great post. Completely agree.
Everyone, but especially the media, should hold people accountable for their actions, regardless of whether the politics align with their personal view.
There is nothing worse than a fundamentalist with a secular deity. I am of the 8th Day Adventist Religion. We believe that God Created Dog On The 8th Day for the purpose of giving guidance to mankind. After that day God got out of the picture and you should pray to Dog. So those of you with a secular deity like the Constitution or somesuch thing need to be talking to your dog.
Nick – hahahah! I adore The Onion. 🙂
Karen, It always goes back to the fact that they truly believe they are better than you, smarter than you, and that they simply need to spread their secular gospel. They are fundamentalists w/ a secular deity.