V-I-C-T-O-R-Y!!!!!!

At 1729 hours, December 13, 2007, the University of Florida administration surrendered. In so doing, it capitulated to the demands of various defenders of free speech. The white flag was raised by President Bernie Machen and VP Patricia Telles-Irvin personally:

Sender: “Dr. Machen and Dr. Patricia Telles-Irvin”
To: UF-STUDENTS-L@LISTS.UFL.EDU
Date: Thu Dec 13 17:29:17 EST 2007
Subject: Obsession Email

We are writing to comment on recent developments regarding free speech and open discourse on campus related to advertising for the film “Obsession.”

A misunderstanding of free speech concerns led to the suggestion that the film’s sponsors apologize for the posters advertising the film and clarify their message.

Upon reflection, the suggestion of an apology was not appropriate and is retracted.

First Amendment protected speech is of paramount importance and foundational to our institution. Therefore, we plan to ask experts to help us develop a website, which will provide information on the First Amendment and rights of expression on campus. This resource should be valuable to all constituents of the university community.

We encourage suggestions for topics to be covered in this website.

The Law School Republicans are terribly excited by this announcement. It means that all parties involved are satisfied. Although the UF administration’s image was tarnished during the conflict, its courage in ignoring its pride and admitting error must be praised.

While much credit must go to Representative Hasner and Attorney General McCollum for their resolute defense of free speech principles, the indispensable knight of the cause was Professor Steven Willis. He is the lone Republican amongst tenured faculty not on retirement track, amongst several dozen faculty. From the moment the administration told us to apologize, not just to allegedly harmed students but also to the entire campus, Professor Willis took the offensive in his defense of us. His devotion to the cause and dedication of time proved to be the absolutely indispensable part of our campaign. At the moment he sent his letter to the administration, a copy you will find linked from the free speech blog, the tide of the battle turned decisively in our favor. His actions may come at some cost in terms of the UF administration’s ire and potentially even the law school administration’s ire. Therefore, his courage must not be forgotten.

If you get a chance, please email him at willis@law.ufl.edu and let him know your appreciation. Better still, take one of his classes. The organization is forever in his debt.

100.7 FM WFLA Morning Show Highlights Pointlessness of Administration Actions

If you scroll down to December 13th, you will find a link to about 14 minutes of audio from 100.7 FM WFLA discussing the controversy here at the University of Florida. One caller makes an outstanding analogy to the Germans. The host then says that political correctness is the reason behind the administration’s actions. Another host defends the administration but same caller points out that the Law School Republicans stated a fact. Gainesville Sun editorial writers are criticized for a ludicrous comparison between the “Don’t Taze Me Bro” incident and this controversy. In an editorial today, the Sun questioned the selectivity of free speech defense on the part of the political actors. If the selectivity of the enforcement is all they have on us, then we’re in good shape, since they’re not denying the actual claim.

After reading the editorial, we wonder why it was even written since it has nothing about the issue. All it does is throw out an insult that conservatives don’t go out of their way to defend liberals. Odd.

St. Petersburg Times Recaps Controversy; Highlights Administration Double Standard

The St. Petersburg Times has a front page article on the controversy today, December 13, regarding the continuing controversy over the UF administration’s chilling of free speech at the University of Florida. The article makes an effort to be fair to all the sides represented, though it unfortunately conflates the issue of an email sent by a LSR member with being related to the administration’s email, which says we should apologize for the flyers. Once again, only brief mention occurs of how the flyers were torn down — actually multiple times. This is perhaps the most disturbing prevention of free speech of all in this sad story.

To quote from the article:

[Dr. Telles-Irvin] said the ads promoting the film offended Muslim students on campus and that the students responsible for the posters should apologize. Her letter touched off a flurry of blog chatter, radio show debates and reprimands from elected officials, culminating with McCollum’s recent letter.

State Rep. Adam Hasner, R-Delray Beach, called Machen shortly after Telles-Irvin’s letter went out, expressing his concern that she reacted unfairly and inappropriately. Machen responded in a letter Nov. 28, defending his vice president. He told Hasner the message from Telles-Irvin was “intended to promote tolerance and diversity,” and to ensure “civility.”

President Machen defends his subordinate’s actions by referring to Dr. Telles-Irvin’s intentions. Unfortunately, this does not address the issue of depriving students of free speech rights. Actually, it only reflects a double standard on the part of the administration. In her original email, Dr. Telles-Irvin herself dismisses the intentions of the Law School Republicans, instead referring to the effects:

Regardless of its original intent, the language reinforced a negative stereotype, created unnecessary divisiveness and contributed to a generalization that only furthers the misunderstanding of the religion of Islam.

It is time for the UF administration to come clean and realize that regardless of intent, the administration committed a serious error — one for which it should apologize.

FOXNEWS: Who’s Sorry Now?

The UF administration originally suggested we apologize for the flyers that stated “Radical Islam Wants You Dead”. This graphic suggests that the second email from the UF administration represents an act of contrition.

Certainly, the tide of public opinion long ago went over to our side. Unfortunately, it has come to light that not everything in the second email from the administration may have been accurate either. The story, despite us being in exam period, continues to develop. Stay tuned.

FOXNEWS Special Report with Brit Hume Covers the UF Administration’s Actions

Tonight on FOXNEWS top-rated 6 pm news program, Special Report with Brit Hume, the UF Administration’s actions were again the subject of scrutiny. The national media have once again taken an interest in this important free speech case. Brit Hume reported:

A student advocacy group reports an administrator at the University of Florida has backed down after demanding an apology from a students showing a movie about radical Islam. Several student groups advertised a screening of a film called “Obsession — Radical Islam’s War Against the West.” On the fliers was the phrase – “Radical Islam wants you dead.”

Florida vice president for student affairs Patricia Telles-Irvin e-mailed all students and said the groups owe the campus, and particularly Muslim students, an apology.

But the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education quickly reminded Telles-Irvin that the flier was unquestionably protected free speech under the constitution.

A week later, Telles-Irvin wrote a second e-mail — assuring students of their right to — “freely express themselves on any issue” — and saying there would be no disciplinary action against the groups.

One of my favorite FOXNEWS moments. The Law School Republicans did not ask for this fight, rather, it was thrust upon them. It is important to defend free speech when challenged like this.

The Glenn Beck Interview

Today, we were fortunate to have a national media presence pick up the story of the subtle erosion of free speech: Glenn Beck. Mr. Beck has long been a proponent of open, frank discussion on the subject of radical Islam. He featured the movie we showed at UF, Obsession, about a year ago and really got people talking about the issue at a time when most people were tired of hearing about Iraq. I confess that I was one of those people. Since then I have remedied the situation with a healthy diet of Michael Yon, amongst other blogs.

In any case, please check out the Glenn Beck interview conducted with me:

• Audio
• Text
  

Apparently, when Mr. Beck went on The O’Reilly Factor, he mentioned the UF situation. More on that soon.

The Setting

I wanted to post some of the important documents that you may not have read regarding the “Radical Islam” controversy at the University of Florida. You know the basic story: the UF administration has requested that we apologize to the entire campus, not just those potentially harmed by the ads, and we have refused.

1. The advertisement that we have been asked to apologize for said “RADICAL ISLAM WANTS YOU DEAD … Obsession: The Movie. Radical Islam’s War Against the West. Screening at UF on Tuesday, Nov. 13 in the Reitz Union Movie Theater at 7:00 pm. Special Guest Speakers and a panel to follow. Sponsored by the Law School Republicans, Gators for Israel, Jewish Student Union, the College Republicans, and Jewish Law Students Association.”

2. The UF administration’s official response saying that we did not have accurate information (?!), should apologize, and that we unnecessarily divided our campus

3. Official Law School Republican response to the UF administration

4. Response to the UF administration from Professor Willis, the Law School Republicans faculty advisor (while not a fan of the tone, I think that you should read this stirring defense — for which all LSRs are very grateful)

5. Response to the UF administration from FIRE (Foundation for Individual Rights in Education)

6. Response to the UF administration from Congressman Jeff Miller (R-FL)

What do you think? Check out Islam on Campus’s website for a different perspective.

[Cross-posted at Awkward Utopia]