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alp227

(32,025 posts)
Wed Jan 9, 2013, 08:36 PM Jan 2013

Conservative 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.)

21 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Conservative student files rights suit against Fresno State (University) (Original Post) alp227 Jan 2013 OP
How long has this 29-year old been majoring in recreation? JHB Jan 2013 #1
Recreation Major? GObamaGO Jan 2013 #2
my question too 0rganism Jan 2013 #7
My CSU campus has a BS in Hospitality, Tourism, & Event Management. alp227 Jan 2013 #10
That's a real career Nevernose Jan 2013 #17
Yep, you've got the proof in your (college) backyard! alp227 Jan 2013 #19
Yes. They often manage recreation centers, a growing industry. proud2BlibKansan Jan 2013 #20
What does someone do... DonViejo Jan 2013 #3
Parks and recreaton. i.e. he is taking a degree to get a government job. Agnosticsherbet Jan 2013 #9
OK, that just broke my irony meter GObamaGO Jan 2013 #12
Think about the hospitality & tourism industries. Yes you're right re cruise ships/resorts. alp227 Jan 2013 #11
Looks like a typical bigot blew a fit and got disciplined, Warpy Jan 2013 #4
No, you are not the only one! GObamaGO Jan 2013 #8
Ah! The affable 29-year old college senior recreation major and teahadist aficionado CurtEastPoint Jan 2013 #5
Just how long does it take to learn how to fill up a volleyball? Brother Buzz Jan 2013 #6
Today's installment of "What the Right Wing Blogs are Outraged About" alcibiades_mystery Jan 2013 #13
Well, arent there a lot of OTHER reporters on such fauxrage alp227 Jan 2013 #15
You're a hero! alcibiades_mystery Jan 2013 #16
Trust me, the people like this clamoring with lawsuits were generally just asshats and got punished. cecilfirefox Jan 2013 #14
I think it's a pun Nevernose Jan 2013 #18
I'm guessing he violated university rules. LiberalFighter Jan 2013 #21

JHB

(37,160 posts)
1. How long has this 29-year old been majoring in recreation?
Wed Jan 9, 2013, 08:47 PM
Jan 2013

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.

0rganism

(23,954 posts)
7. my question too
Wed Jan 9, 2013, 09:17 PM
Jan 2013

Recreation major? WTF is that? Is it a BA or a BS? (leaning to BS, alternate usage)

Nevernose

(13,081 posts)
17. That's a real career
Thu Jan 10, 2013, 10:30 PM
Jan 2013

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)
19. Yep, you've got the proof in your (college) backyard!
Thu Jan 10, 2013, 10:53 PM
Jan 2013

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.

DonViejo

(60,536 posts)
3. What does someone do...
Wed Jan 9, 2013, 08:54 PM
Jan 2013

with a degree in recreation? Gym teacher? Football coach? Organize activities on cruise ships or resort hotels?

Warpy

(111,261 posts)
4. Looks like a typical bigot blew a fit and got disciplined,
Wed Jan 9, 2013, 08:55 PM
Jan 2013

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?"

 

alcibiades_mystery

(36,437 posts)
13. Today's installment of "What the Right Wing Blogs are Outraged About"
Thu Jan 10, 2013, 08:42 PM
Jan 2013

from our favorite reporter on what the right wing blogs are outraged about.

alp227

(32,025 posts)
15. Well, arent there a lot of OTHER reporters on such fauxrage
Thu Jan 10, 2013, 10:25 PM
Jan 2013

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.

cecilfirefox

(784 posts)
14. Trust me, the people like this clamoring with lawsuits were generally just asshats and got punished.
Thu Jan 10, 2013, 08:43 PM
Jan 2013

Although I admit the term 'white savage' seems less than glowing.

Nevernose

(13,081 posts)
18. I think it's a pun
Thu Jan 10, 2013, 10:34 PM
Jan 2013

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)
21. I'm guessing he violated university rules.
Thu Jan 10, 2013, 11:04 PM
Jan 2013

And as many have already pointed out... How long has this .... been working on his major?

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