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.

Tampa Tribune: Administration’s Actions Harm UF

The Tampa Tribune published a very strong editorial against the UF administration’s actions in today’s paper. To date, it is the strongest indictment against the lunacy of saying the Law School Republicans should apologize for stating the truth. Here is an excerpt:

For the sake of diversity, the University of Florida threw water on free speech. For the sake of political correctness, the university demanded an apology from students who posted fliers about a movie on radical Islam. Now for the sake of the university’s reputation, Patricia Telles-Irvin, the overly sensitive vice president of student affairs, should go. [...]

And it’s distressing that a vice president would so easily sacrifice a protected constitutional right for the sake of diversity. Law professor Steven Willis, faculty advisor for the Law School Republicans, who sponsored the film, clarified her lapse in judgment. “Your arguments about ‘diversity’ and ‘responsibility’ and ‘divisiveness’ are irrelevant to that fundamental issue: The actions are protected speech and you have no right – in your “official” capacity – to censure them, either before or after the fact. Indeed, you have the obligation not to do so,” he said.

Boca Raton News Weighs In

Today, I found out that the Managing Editor of the Boca Raton News had offered his perspective on the controversy regarding Radical Islam.

Hasner criticizes University of Florida

Published December 11th, 2007

News Analysis And Commentary

By John Johnson
Managing Editor

Nothing is free, including free speech. Speech uttered without responsibility or accountability is not what the founders had in mind. Irresponsible speech in fact ends up ultimately hindering the very freedom it professes by example to symbolize.

In short – free speech permits a multitude of things to be written, said, portrayed, filmed, acted, etc, etc. What free speech doesn’t do is give someone the right to harm others in its name, i.e., free speech doesn’t give a person the right to yell “fire” in a crowded theater.

What it also doesn’t do, according to House Majority Leader Rep. Adam Hasner, (R-Delray Beach), is give University of Florida professors the right to shut up or shut down students there who want to promote a film that portrays radical Islam as what radical Islam in fact declares itself to be – murders of non-believers.

Some of the fliers used by the students to advertise the film read in part, “Radical Islam wants you dead.”

That prompted University of Florida’s Vice President of Student Affairs, Dr. Patricia Telles-Irvin, to distribute a campus-wide email condemning certain students and calling for them to apologize for posting an advertisement in advance of the showing of the film “Obsession: Radical Islam’s War Against the West.”

“Offensive”

In a campus-wide email to approximately 50,000 students, Dr. Telles-Irvin condemned the posting of the flyers as “offensive behavior,” and demanded that the film organizers — which included the Law School Republicans, Jewish Student Union, College Republicans, Gators for Israel, and the Jewish Law Students Association — apologize.

In turn, Rep. Hasner called upon on University of Florida President Dr. James Bernard Machen to admonish the Florida’s Vice President of Student Affairs “and take steps to repair the University’s image after a troubling freedom of speech episode which has drawn criticism from conservative pundits, free speech advocates and Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum,” said Hasner.

“Tolerance”

In sum, Hasner said that the film’s organizer’s “rights to free speech were being unfairly targeted.”

Dr. Machen responded to Rep. Hasner in a letter that the email was meant to “promote tolerance and diversity” and that “as educators we must speak up when the debate is inaccurate or when students do not feel safe on campus.”

Putting it in corporate terms, Dr. Machen noted one Muslim student group had expressed safety concerns, and the email communication was to make students feel safe and to “help ensure accurate debate.”

There is absolutely nothing inaccurate about Radical Islam’s stated and oft demonstrated belief in death for all non-believers.

Feel safe? How about be safe.

“Dangerous”

Responding to Machen’s letter Hasner said, “I fully recognize the University’s obligation to preserve campus safety and its interest in encouraging accurate debate. But the dissemination of the poster in question and publicly addressing the dangers of Radical Islam are not inherent threats to campus safety. Moreover, the University’s call for “accurate” debate of this subject implies that the University’s official position is that the advertisement was inaccurate.

“According to the administration’s view of the world, elements of Radical Islam do not want to kill us,” Hasner said. “Not only is this view wrong, but it is itself dangerous.”

Hasner is plainly and simply correct. Radical Islam is intent on killing. Its extreme views sanction the death and destruction of those who are non-believers – including in fact Muslims – and whose non-radical members hold beliefs only culturally different than most Americans.

But Radical Islam’s mission is everyone’s death, except those who are equally as insane as its followers.

“That is a fact. It is documented. It is undeniable,” says Hasner.

“By failing to differentiate between the Muslim students on campus whom they sought to protect and the elements of Radical Islam who pose a real threat, the University has breached its responsibility to its students by creating its own atmosphere of inaccuracy,” Hasner continued, adding:

“Furthermore, true and accurate debate cannot commence at UF while its administration adopts a position that is one of appeasement and denial.”

McCollum Agrees

State Attorney General Bill McCollum agrees.

In a Dec. 3 letter to Dr. Machen, Attorney General Bill McCollum stated Dr. Telles-Irvin’s letter “may have violated the free speech rights of the students and organizations who posted this ad and sponsored the movie.” Added Attorney General McCollum, “At the very least it has created a chilling effect on the free speech rights of students enrolled at the University of Florida.” Attorney General McCollum asked Dr. Machen to review the incident with his staff, legal counsel and the Board of Trustees to “formulate and take some appropriate remedial action.”

In his follow-up letter to Dr. Machen’s reply, Hasner said, “In light of Dr. Telles-Irvin’s actions today and the University’s inadequate initial response, I believe the following actions are appropriate in order to restore confidence in the University of Florida’s commitment to free speech:

• A public apology by Dr. Telles-Irvin to the students who were attacked for promoting the film.
• A public reprimand by the University of Dr. Telles-Irvin.
• A substantive and enunciated policy expressing Florida’s commitment to free speech and an action plan for how incidents like this can be avoided in the future.”

“As a proud product of Florida’s public university system and an elected representative of the state, this is not something I take any joy in,” Hasner concluded. “However, I believe that remaining silent will only contribute to the erosion of confidence in the University’s ability to promote serious discussions about the important issues facing the students.”

Bottom line: there are two things you do with a howling beast bent on your destruction: You cage it, and if you run out of food to keep it alive, you kill it.

That’s humane thing to do; it’s also the sane thing to do.

UF Administration Clarifies Previous Email

In a follow-up to its email of last week, the University of Florida administration, by way of Dr. Telles-Irvin, sent an email to all UF students in order to clarify some of its points.

To: All UF students
From: Patricia Telles-Irvin, Vice President for Student Affairs
Subject: My e-mail last week

There has been much discussion about an e-mail I sent Nov. 26 regarding the posters advertising the movie “Obsession.”

Since that time, some important dialogue has been exchanged between members of the student groups involved. But over the last week, there has been some misunderstanding on the university’s position on certain points. Please allow me to clarify.

* The university supports the rights of students to freely express themselves on any issue.

* The university condemns terrorists acts and those who perpetrate them, regardless of who they are. And we clearly recognize there are people who use Islam to support violence.

* The university has no intention of taking disciplinary action against anyone involved in creating or distributing the posters. That was never a consideration.

* The university has heard allegations that the posters were removed by people who opposed their message. Efforts by the University Police Department and Student Affairs to confirm this or identify offenders were unsuccessful. Removal of posters from proper venues is prohibited by the university’s policies and will not be tolerated.

The original intent of my e-mail was to foster greater understanding and communication among groups. As we all surely know, free speech is a cherished right not only in this country but also on this campus. We should always feel comfortable expressing our diverse opinions.

What do you think?

Bill O’Reilly: Gainesville is the only place in the world that missed 9/11

A few days ago, Glenn Beck appeared on The O’Reilly Factor to promote his book. His interview with the Law School Republicans was fresh on his mind. In the middle of this clip, exasperated by the UF administration’s actions, Glenn Beck talks about the fight for free speech at UF and Bill O’Reilly makes some witty remarks.

Florida House Majority Leader Hasner Admonishes UF; Demands Apology to Students

The Florida House Majority Leader, Adam Hasner, is a great one for doing what is right. Recently, he called for the swift resignation of a State Representative who had been “sentenced to probation and to pay a fine for solicitation.” Now, Representative Hasner, like the Florida Attorney General, patriots all, have come to the aid of all who stand to gain from free speech at the University of Florida:

TALLAHASSEE – Representative Adam Hasner (R-Delray Beach) is calling on University of Florida President Dr. James Bernard Machen to admonish the Florida’s Vice President of Student Affairs and take steps to repair the University’s image after a troubling freedom of speech episode which has drawn criticism from conservative pundits, free speech advocates and Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum.

Last month, University of Florida’s Vice President of Student Affairs, Dr. Patricia Telles-Irvin, distributed a campus-wide email condemning certain students and calling for them to apologize for posting an advertisement in advance of the showing of the film “Obsession: Radical Islam’s War Against the West.”

Some of the fliers used by the students to advertise the film read in part, “Radical Islam wants you dead.”

In a campus-wide email to approximately 50,000 students, Dr. Telles-Irvin condemned the posting of the flyers as “offensive behavior,” and demanded the film organizers – which included the Law School Republicans, Jewish Student Union, College Republicans, Gators for Israel, and the Jewish Law Students Association – apologize.

Upon learning of this situation, Rep. Hasner contacted the office of UF President Machen to express his concerns that Dr. Telles-Irvin’s email was inappropriate and that the film’s organizer’s right to free speech were being unfairly targeted. Dr. Machen responded to Rep. Hasner in a letter that the email was meant to “promote tolerance and diversity” and that “as educators we must speak up when the debate is inaccurate or when students do not feel safe on campus.” Dr. Machen noted one Muslim student group had expressed safety concerns, and the email communication was to make students feel safe and to “help ensure accurate debate.”

At the time, Rep. Hasner stated, “I fully recognize the University’s obligation to preserve campus safety and its interest in encouraging accurate debate. But the dissemination of the poster in question and publicly addressing the dangers of Radical Islam are not inherent threats to campus safety. Moreover, the University’s call for “accurate” debate of this subject implies that the University’s official position is that the advertisement was inaccurate. According to the administration’s view of the world, elements of Radical Islam do not want to kill us. Not only is this view wrong, but it is itself dangerous.

Radical Islam is intent on killing. Its extreme views sanction the death and destruction of those who are non-believers – including Muslims. That is a fact. It is documented. It is undeniable.

By failing to differentiate between the Muslim students on campus whom they sought to protect and the elements of Radical Islam who pose a real threat, the University has breached its responsibility to its students by creating its own atmosphere of inaccuracy.

Furthermore, true and accurate debate cannot commence at UF while its administration adopts a position that is one of appeasement and denial.”

In a December 3 letter to Dr. Machen, Attorney General Bill McCollum stated Dr. Telles-Irvin’s letter “may have violated the free speech rights of the students and organizations who posted this ad and sponsored the movie.” Added Attorney General McCollum, “At the very least it has created a chilling effect on the free speech rights of students enrolled at the University of Florida.” Attorney General McCollum asked Dr. Machen to review the incident with his staff, legal counsel and the Board of Trustees to “formulate and take some appropriate remedial action.”

In his follow-up letter to Dr. Machen’s reply, Representative Hasner states, “In light of Dr. Telles-Irvin’s actions today and the University’s inadequate initial response, I believe the following actions are appropriate in order to restore confidence in the University of Florida’s commitment to free speech: A public apology by Dr. Telles-Irvin to the students who were attacked for promoting the film; A public reprimand by the University of Dr. Telles-Irvin; A substantive and enunciated policy expressing Florida’s commitment to free speech and an action plan for how incidents like this can be avoided in the future.”

“As a proud product of Florida’s public university system and an elected representative of the state, this is not something I take any joy in,” added Representative Hasner. “However, I believe that remaining silent will only contribute to the erosion of confidence in the University’s ability to promote serious discussions about the important issues facing the students.”

The Law School Republicans are proud to call Representative Hasner a friend. We hope that his support and voice, representing millions in the state of Florida, will be heard by the administration.