time to write that letter to the editor...

[rootofnewt]

if there was a protest in the stadium, it was not visible to reporters.

an announcer instructed the crowd that all the university's speakers deserve to be treated with respect and that anyone demonstrating or heckling would be subject to expulsion and arrest.

OSU's student newspaper, the lantern>

Comments

[pained.livejournal.com]

Of course it was wrong for the school's administration to threaten the students, but it doesn't show a lot of conviction that even the protest organizers wouldn't risk expulsion or illegal arrest. It almost makes me think it was all a bunch of talk, in order to provoke the response - and press - that it recieved.

On the other hand, if I were running the university, I wouldn't want to hand a degree to anyone who couldn't show enough maturity to keep themselves from heckling a guest graduation speaker - regardless of how controversial his/her views were. I don't think it would speak well of the institution.

*shrug*

[krasota.livejournal.com]

I suspect some folks *did* risk arrest, but the media isn't covering it. It's hard to find coverage on this right now. Even so, to threaten to revoke one's diploma is *not* acceptable. Removing a heckling and disruptive student from the commencement ceremonies is appropriate, but to withold the diplma is not.

Telling students to cheer is also ridiculous. If they wished to stay silent with arms crossed or turn around, that is acceptable, quiet protest *AND* entirely appropriate for those who disagree with the current administration's activities.

If we keep allowing ruling bodies to dictate our moves and restrict our freedoms, we will lose those freedoms. This is a big deal for me.

[pained.livejournal.com]

At my commencement, they had us packed in like sardines, sitting in metal chairs. The simple act of turning around would have been a significant ruckus - not a "quiet protest". I have no idea how things are at Ohio State.

I'm not sure I'd call a university administration a "ruling body". It is bad, but it's not as if congess said the FBI could monitor public forums without cause or warrent. heh.

Why do you believe that the media would report a planned protest, but then cover up the results?

[krasota.livejournal.com]

there were state troopers there. that's pretty intense. most universities have their own security, plus rent-a-cops (different uniform, even IF a state trooper was moonlighting. they can't wear state uniforms, normally, if they aren't on the job FOR the state that second) at the MOST for a commencement ceremony. and the students were already standing, turning around wouldn't be disruptive in that case. it was done at my commencement when some folks objected to the speaker.

Why do you believe that the media would report a planned protest, but then cover up the results?

maybe because i've been at protests with a few hundred people and some newspapers reported that a half dozen individuals showed up. the articles listed the right place and time, too.
.

[pained.livejournal.com]

Naturally there were police present. There were secret service people there, too. They're always around when the President makes a public appearance. I doubt it had anything to do with the protest.

I've seen "rallys" that got coverage for several days, even though there weren't enough people to play a full game of basketball. I would really like to talk to a student who was there. Guessing at what and how the liepapers choose to report the "news" seems fruitless at best.

*shrug*

[drcuriosity]

The CNN article is interesting - a large amount of rampant jingoism, followed by a little paragraph about arresting people and urging them to make it look like their campus was one big, loyal, happy family.

Ugh.

A "culture of service" is what Imperial Japan had. When they embraced that culture and looked outward, lots of countries got invaded. "The break of a wave or the rise of a tide" reminds me a lot of "The Wave" by Morton Rhue. Strength through discipline, strength through community, strength through action. Be pure. Be vigilant. Behave.

*shudder*

[anmorata.livejournal.com]

I'm anxiously awaiting gothic_oreo's post about this. I know he was planning on attending.

I'm quite disgusted with all that I am reading about this..