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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsConservative student files rights suit against Fresno State (University)
A student who says his conservative politics got him in hot water with Fresno State has filed a civil-rights lawsuit against the university.
Senior Neil O'Brien, who has been a vocal critic of undocumented students, says the university has a double standard when it comes to free-speech rights.
The university took disciplinary action against O'Brien after he made two unannounced visits to faculty advisers to a Latino student newspaper and questioned them on video about the use of the term "white savage" in the publication. One of the professors filed a complaint, calling O'Brien "hostile" and "belligerent."
O'Brien, a 29-year-old recreation major, says in his lawsuit that university officials barred him from participating in student government during the spring semester and from being president of his own campus club, Young Americans for Liberty.
(...)
Since enrolling at Fresno State in 2010, O'Brien has made no secret about his opposition to the DREAM Act and professors in the Chicano and Latin American Studies Department...He said he reached a boiling point in May 2011 when he read a poem that he found offensive in the student-run newspaper, "La Voz De Aztlan." The poem begins: "America, the land robbed by the white savage." He said if the poem had said "brown savages" or "black savages," heads would have rolled, but because it targeted white people, no one got in trouble.
Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/12/16/5057358/conservative-student-files-rights.html
A conservative friend who goes to my college (and also is part of the student secular/atheist org with me) posted this on facebook. I've been thinking about this, and all these "conservative student persecuted by evul librul colluge" stories are suckering Joe and Jane Middle/Working Class into voting Republican. These stories (usually may be downplayed or omitting crucial details) convince them that the LEFT! WING! is the root of EVERYTHING against True Heartland American Values(TM), thus distracting from issues that we the left fight for i.e. workers' rights, Social Security, health care, etc. because of divisive cultural issues i.e. COMMIES IN COLLEGE, abortion, gay marriage, etc.
As for the poem too bad the first line is one of those horrid truths about America that the right wing would rather leave out of textbooks if they had their way. (ETA: My friend concedes that O'Brien behaved badly but is against the university's punishment.)
JHB
(37,160 posts)This crusade isn't impinging on his studies, is it? I certainly hope this stalwart conservative (and Wingnut welfare wannabe) isn't using some big-government socialist handout to help pay his tuition.
Maybe he's trying to get class credit by providing a case study in white privilege.
GObamaGO
(665 posts)They have a college major for that? Oy
0rganism
(23,954 posts)Recreation major? WTF is that? Is it a BA or a BS? (leaning to BS, alternate usage)
alp227
(32,025 posts)Nevernose
(13,081 posts)The hotel and gaming industry is a multibillion, international one. Of course, I went to UNLV, so I'm a little biased...
alp227
(32,025 posts)In fact I had a friend from college (met her in a state politics class and the campus Democratic club) who changed her major from political science to HRTM and is now working at Disneyland.
proud2BlibKansan
(96,793 posts)DonViejo
(60,536 posts)with a degree in recreation? Gym teacher? Football coach? Organize activities on cruise ships or resort hotels?
Agnosticsherbet
(11,619 posts)That is just too funny.
GObamaGO
(665 posts)alp227
(32,025 posts)Warpy
(111,261 posts)didn't like discipline, and fired back with a frivolous lawsuit.
I hope it costs him (or some meddling plutocrat) a bundle.
Am I the only one to read "recreation major" and think "well, that's your problem, right there?"
GObamaGO
(665 posts)CurtEastPoint
(18,644 posts)Brother Buzz
(36,434 posts)alcibiades_mystery
(36,437 posts)from our favorite reporter on what the right wing blogs are outraged about.
alp227
(32,025 posts)i.e. The Young Turks, ConWebWatch?
And I wasn't trolling blogs for this story rather I get those stories b/c my friend posts on facebook the links along w/comments.
alcibiades_mystery
(36,437 posts)cecilfirefox
(784 posts)Although I admit the term 'white savage' seems less than glowing.
Nevernose
(13,081 posts)Since the native inhabitants here were considered savages, the author flipped the the term around. So it's not such a racist insult, but more poetic wordplay. It's not like the poem started out, "Kill the white devil!"
LiberalFighter
(50,928 posts)And as many have already pointed out... How long has this .... been working on his major?