A student at Georgia Southern University has triggered a controversy that has led to her being fired from her job and charges that she has engaged in hate speech after criticizing protesters at the University of Missouri. Emily Faz, a senior, was critical of social media postings where Missouri protesters objected that the terrorist attacks in Paris were taken too much media attention away from their story.
Various media sites reported how Missouri protesters were posting angry messages about the fact that attention had shifted to Paris following the massacre. Some of the messages and tweets included:
“Racist white people kill me, you want everyone to have sympathy for YOUR tragedy, but you have none for ours,” one user tweeted, adding “#Mizzou.”
“Disgusted @ white conservative Americans using Paris as a ‘see black people, your woes here w/ us could be more extreme,’ but not surprised.”
Many protesters, including Black Lives Matter national leaders, said the racial injustice at college campuses and the attacks in Paris were both acts of terrorism.
“Interesting how the news reports are covering the Paris terrorist attacks but said nothing abut the terrorist attack at #Mizzou.”
“Paris attacks were terrorism. black students getting death threats on their college campuses (A SUPPOSED SAFE SPACE!!) is also TERRORISM.”
Many people was shocked by the sentiments expressed in such messages, including Faz who went to social media to complain. She shared a published story (here) and lashed out at the protesters:
“I swear if I see this B.S. at Southern I will make you regret even knowing what a movement or a hashtag is, and you’ll walk away with your tail tucked. The whole black lives matter movement is misguided and out of hand. Maybe no one likes or takes y’all seriously because no one can see past your egotistical [expletive]. Some people might just look past it, but fair warning I am not one. All lives matter, that has always been the case, and you part of the problem if you think other wise [sic].”
Various students at GSU accused Faz of “hate speech” and threatening violence. I do not take the tweet in that sense. The statement “you’ll walk away with your tail tucked” seems rather obvious hyperbole. Her comments appear largely directed at those students (who clearly do not reflect the views of all Black Lives Matter protesters) who objected to the coverage of the massacres. Her language is chosen poorly to be sure in issuing a “fair warning” but her added comments that “all lives matter” take away from the notion of an actual threat of violence.
A campaign ensured targeting Faz, including posting her telephone number and her work location. One user stated “We gotta find this Emil Faz.” Others called for her to be expelled.
The campaign worked after the number of the manager for Wild Wings Cafe was posted. The restaurant prompted fired Faz even though she had made no reference to the restaurant in her tweet.
The GSU NAACP in response staged a “Black Out, Walk Out” on Tuesday and issued demands to the school, including hiring more black professors and expanding the African Studies program.
In the meantime, Jean Bartels, GSU’s interim president, is quoted as saying that some of the speech circulating over the past 24 hours (including the original post) “has resulted in a call for disciplinary action against the speaker.” She added “will not tolerate behavior that is in violation with our Student Code of Conduct.”
It is not clear what discipline had been imposed on Faz and the basis for the university in meting out such punishment. The story is part of a trend that civil libertarians see in the erosion of free speech on campuses.
As I discussed yesterday, there is a growing concern over a double standard in addressing controversial statements made on campus or on social media. We recently discussed the case of Saida Grundy, an incoming assistant professor of sociology and African-American studies at Boston University who released a series of tweets denounced by many as racist and sexist, including calling white males the main problem on college campuses and admitting how she tries not to buy anything from white people. While many called for Grundy to be fired, some of us defended her racist and sexist comments as an exercise of free speech done outside of her teaching responsibilities. However at the time, I noted “released a series of tweets denounced by many as racist and sexist. “White masculinity isn’t a problem for america’s colleges, white masculinity is THE problem for america’s colleges.” Now we have such a case and it does appear to confirm some of our concerns that the same standard is not applied to those with opposing views. Duke University professor Jerry Hough has faced called for termination as racist. Meanwhile a Memphis professor, Zandria Robinson, triggered the same debate after denouncing whites and insisting that “whiteness is most certainly and inevitably terror.” However, in Robinson’s case, she was rehired by Rhodes College, which seemed to view her controversial comments as a positive element supporting her appointment.
The point is not to support any of these comments but to raise again how universities respond to controversial statements from students and faculty. There appears to be no consistent or coherent standard being applied in such cases. Moreover, the free speech implications are increasingly dismissed in this debate.
What do you think?
First they came for the Muslims. And I did not protest or say anything cause I was not a Muslim.
Second, they came for the Friggin Mexicans. And I did not say anything cause I was not one.
They came for the gypsies. I did not object or say anything cause I was not a Romney.
Then they came for the Mehoffs and no one was left to say anything.
That is all we got in this country: Muslims, Friggin Mexicans, Gypsies and Mehoffs.
Emily has to be one of the most ignorant individuals that I have ever seen. Why attend a predominately black college, and then, make statements like this?
It’s like a chicken going into a fox’s den and say: ‘I hate foxes.’
They should kick her out of the university for being so stupid (for lack of better wording).
Maybe, I should attend a midnight, rural KKK meeting and start saying: ‘I hate the Klan.’ I have free speech rights (sarcasm)?
Yes. I am equating the way the black students (and GSU Administration) is treating Emily with how the KKK would treat me if I did something similar. Was there hatred for Emily before she spoke? Maybe? Racial tensions tend to reveal hidden biases, and prejudices in us all. Certain racial tensions reveal hidden racism and hatred just waiting to rear its’ ugly head.
This is much closer to Tom Wolfe’s “Bonfire of the Vanities” than Orwell. The novel has all the typical characters; the black professional protestors turning everything into a racial grievance, the cowering white politicians, the callous prosecutors turning tragedy to career advantage….it as written as a 1980s satire but seems even more relevant today. The BLM bullies are drunk with power, and will continue their tactics so long as others are willing to be intimidated. The real issue is whether anyone cares enough to send a protest to the Wild Wings Cafe and to the university. These entities have taken what they believe is the easy way out – terminate the student instead of standing up to BLM. The restaurant has no moral obligation to show character; it exists to make a profit and will go with whatever it determines to be in its financial interests. The university, however, should be challenged by its students and alumni, unless they too have been cowed into submission by BLM. If I were an alum, I most certainly would withhold my annual gift until the university establishes a commitment to freedom of expression and an anti-bullying, anti-intimidation policy.
Isaac,
The govt has already registered the Hispanics. It’s called the U.S. Census, which registers everyone by race and ethnicity. And although it does not ask about religion, a database sort by name would reveal who is Muslim.
Nick
The silent majority is praying that an idiot like Trump, Carson, Cruz, or Rubio gets no where near the White House. First we register all the Muslims, then all those of Hispanic background, and eventually the Italians.
Big Brother by George Orwell was not supposed to be a how to manual but rather a warning.
Brave New World is closer to what we’re becoming.
I would find a university in another country.
I don’t think this is necessary. It’s necessary for them to choose a worthwhile major and avoid “protests” except as a sociological experiment. Political radicals are no more than a few percent of people even on campus.
(music)
Proof read. We need proof read.
What kind of people need proof read?
Fat kids, skinny kids, kids who climb on rocks.
Law profs, teacher slobbs, even dogs with chicken pox…
Need proof read. We need proof read.
—
Was this a student or professor who got disciplined? Fired or suspended? Who is the fat old lady in the photo? School President?
I think our college system is a reflection of just how mess up our entire appeasement society has become. Big Brother by George Orwell was not supposed to be a how to manual but rather a warning.
I think that if I had a child ready to go to college, I would find a university in another country. If he/she is considering majoring in any of the “soft” courses, or the SJW types of majors…..he/she will be on their own. I’m not wasting my money on them.
Go to a trade school. Learn something useful or pay for it yourself. And you can’t live in my basement either.
Jones
If HR hiring recruiters go on these campuses and do background checks, and they will,
especially social media, these students won’t be getting job offers anytime soon.
Not true. They won’t get jobs from productive entities. But government, NGOs, academia, the media and some other industries will see these events as proof of the right kind of politics, a significant qualification.
Various students at GSU accused Faz of “hate speech” and threatening violence
But remember a mob screaming in people’s faces using racist language and crude insults like bitch is just protesting.
Normal students need to start claiming the campus activists are making them unsafe and force the activists to deal with the consequences of their own tactics. Nothing is ever going to change until they do this. Likely the administration will enforce a double standard, but once they do that we can appeal to the trustees and state legislators (for public universities at least), change the President, and clean the idiot administrators out.
” Her language is chosen poorly to be sure in issuing a “fair warning” but her added comments that “all lives matter” take away from the notion of an actual threat of violence.”
Her language was masterfully crafted to not be offensive while firmly rebutting their values. Would you have preferred an unfair warning, or none at all? Jeez, some people can’t win.
Reblogged this on Scoop Feed.
The silent majority will speak loudly AGAIN next November. They have spoken the last 2 elections but they will scream on 11/8/16.
Blacks are doing to whites what MLK died for. Reverse racism and they are as proud of it as the KKK was in the 1930’s. Black Lives Matter = Klu Klux Klan!
I hope she sues the sh*t out of those racist faculty members.
If HR hiring recruiters go on these campuses and do background checks, and they will,
especially social media, these students won’t be getting job offers anytime soon.
What I think is everyone of the BLM who express their anger and hate speech towards Whites should also be expelled and held to the same standards, as they are bullying the schools into submission. The president deserves to lose her or his job for retaliating against anyone for their right of opinion. Believe this is now becoming discrimination on White’s and those who are wrongly punished or singled out need to hire an atty to sue these schools and anyone else who fires them for simply being White and expressing their right to protection under our 1st Amendment.
Reblogged this on L'horreur islamique à l'âge des ténèbres ن.
Professor Turley, Don’t you ever proof read your blogs before posting them?
formerindianajudge – no he does not edit the blog. Just just learn to live with it.
I cannot believe that every college president is so wimpy as to give in to these people.
BLM can be tracked back to OFA which has been training ‘community organizers’ since it stopped being the political arm of Obama’s campaign. The purpose is to fire up these kids to vote in 2016.