The Red and Black

Originally posted by

Kate

I think it is a shame how people, especially professors are reacting to this decision. Graduation is about the students, not them. Furthermore, the University should feel honored to have someone of Justice Thomas caliber speak at our graduation. I graduated in December to the tune of another university professor speaking. It is discouraging to always hear people complain about not having "important" people speak at graduation and now it is finally happening and all some people can do is complain because they want everyone to know their biased political stances and opinions. It is downright disgraceful and embarrassing that some members of the University faculty and student body act they way they do.

Originally posted by

Kacie Versaci

Come off of it, all of you. First of all, I wish all of the non-seniors would keep their mouths shut about this. This has nothing to do with them. They have no idea how I, a graduating senior, feels about this and they also have no right to judge me and say I don't deserve a diploma.

Secondly, I would feel equally uncomfortable if Bill Clinton was brought in to speak for similar reasons, not to mention the stink you over-bloated uber-conseratives would be making, probably using the same arguements we are using now against Justice Thomas.

Number three: Anita Hill is not a "jealous, attention-seeking blood sucker who tried to ruin the career of a great American," as one of you so eloquently put it. Not only is this language offensive and downright inaccurate, it undermines ALL victims of sexual harrassment and other sexual violence, reducing them to evil, lying whores who only "cry rape" for personal gain. It's attitudes like this that make it nearly impossible for a woman to report sexaul misconnduct or violence, for fear of being slut-shamed. Then, if she does come forward, sympathies lie with the rapist/harraser.

Next, this is not about race. How dare you even accuse the women studies department of being racist here? They are one of the most racially-conscious departments on campus, but you guys would know that if you ever even bothered to take a womens studies class or crack open a book on feminist theory. Anita Hill is black as well, so I find it hard to chew that we nay-sayers are trying to bring down a man because he is black while the victim we are supporting was also black?

Then, this idea about convictions and non-guilt and what not. JUSTICE THOMAS WAS NEVER TRIED IN COURT!! And, Anita Hill did NOT come forward on her own. There was an anonmyous tip that Justice Thomas was harassing women in his workplace, and the Senate confrimation hearing FORCED HER to come forward and TESITFY so they could have a measure of his character. THIS WAS NOT A "TRIAL" FOR THE ACTUAL CRIME!!! They never decided if he was guilty or not; they voted him into the position as Supreme Court Justice anyway. And, furthermore, just because you are found not-guilty does not mean it didn't happen.

Which brings me to this: This has little to do with whether Justice Thomas actually harassed her or not. What it has got the bulk of us upset is that the University would give us a speaker with this sort of scandal on his track record THE SAME YEAR IT WAS CAUGHT TURNING A BLIND EYE TO A NUMBER OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT CASES AND DID NOT TAKE ANY OF THEM SERIOUSLY! Maybe you boys will never understand because the chances of you being harassed by a superior are slim, but to know that professors were getting away with this for years is disconcerting. Whether it was Michael Adams intent to piss off the strongest voices against the harassment or it was just plain "gee-wilikers, what a coinkydink!" moment, the message following the backlash was this: all of us women better shut up and get over it. Harassment is at worst embarassing, at best an annoyance, and either way a good man's career is ruined. Oh, and chances are the victims are lying anyway because every girl's dream is having her name dragged through the mud over and over and be slut-shamed repeatedly.

I am about to graduate, and I love this school. However, if anyone wants to protest my ceremony, it will not be ruined for me. IT WILL BE A MILLION TIMES BETTER TO KNOW THAT I AM NOT THE LONE VOICE AT THE UNIVERSITY, THAT PEOPLE CARE ABOUT THESE ISSUES AND WON'T BACK DOWN! I fully support anyone who cares to protest.

Finally, Red and Black, this might not be your fault, but I am sick of only reading male-reader's opinions in the mail box on this issue. I am sure there are female students (on both sides) who have written in and I want to read their piece too. After all, sexual harasment is a predominantly female issue.

But then again, what do I know? I am just an evil, stupid female bent on destroying good men's lives.

Originally posted by

Kacie Versaci

Come off of it, all of you. First of all, I wish all of the non-seniors would keep their mouths shut about this. This has nothing to do with them. They have no idea how I, a graduating senior, feels about this and they also have no right to judge me and say I don't deserve a diploma.

Secondly, I would feel equally uncomfortable if Bill Clinton was brought in to speak for similar reasons, not to mention the stink you over-bloated uber-conseratives would be making, probably using the same arguements we are using now against Justice Thomas.

Number three: Anita Hill is not a "jealous, attention-seeking blood sucker who tried to ruin the career of a great American," as one of you so eloquently put it. Not only is this language offensive and downright inaccurate, it undermines ALL victims of sexual harrassment and other sexual violence, reducing them to evil, lying whores who only "cry rape" for personal gain. It's attitudes like this that make it nearly impossible for a woman to report sexaul misconnduct or violence, for fear of being slut-shamed. Then, if she does come forward, sympathies lie with the rapist/harraser.

Next, this is not about race. How dare you even accuse the women studies department of being racist here? They are one of the most racially-conscious departments on campus, but you guys would know that if you ever even bothered to take a womens studies class or crack open a book on feminist theory. Anita Hill is black as well, so I find it hard to chew that we nay-sayers are trying to bring down a man because he is black while the victim we are supporting was also black?

Then, this idea about convictions and non-guilt and what not. JUSTICE THOMAS WAS NEVER TRIED IN COURT!! And, Anita Hill did NOT come forward on her own. There was an anonmyous tip that Justice Thomas was harassing women in his workplace, and the Senate confrimation hearing FORCED HER to come forward and TESITFY so they could have a measure of his character. THIS WAS NOT A "TRIAL" FOR THE ACTUAL CRIME!!! They never decided if he was guilty or not; they voted him into the position as Supreme Court Justice anyway. And, furthermore, just because you are found not-guilty does not mean it didn't happen.

Which brings me to this: This has little to do with whether Justice Thomas actually harassed her or not. What it has got the bulk of us upset is that the University would give us a speaker with this sort of scandal on his track record THE SAME YEAR IT WAS CAUGHT TURNING A BLIND EYE TO A NUMBER OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT CASES AND DID NOT TAKE ANY OF THEM SERIOUSLY! Maybe you boys will never understand because the chances of you being harassed by a superior are slim, but to know that professors were getting away with this for years is disconcerting. Whether it was Michael Adams intent to piss off the strongest voices against the harassment or it was just plain "gee-wilikers, what a coinkydink!" moment, the message following the backlash was this: all of us women better shut up and get over it. Harassment is at worst embarassing, at best an annoyance, and either way a good man's career is ruined. Oh, and chances are the victims are lying anyway because every girl's dream is having her name dragged through the mud over and over and be slut-shamed repeatedly.

I am about to graduate, and I love this school. However, if anyone wants to protest my ceremony, it will not be ruined for me. IT WILL BE A MILLION TIMES BETTER TO KNOW THAT I AM NOT THE LONE VOICE AT THE UNIVERSITY, THAT PEOPLE CARE ABOUT THESE ISSUES AND WON'T BACK DOWN! I fully support anyone who cares to protest.

Finally, Red and Black, this might not be your fault, but I am sick of only reading male-reader's opinions in the mail box on this issue. I am sure there are female students (on both sides) who have written in and I want to read their piece too. After all, sexual harasment is a predominantly female issue.

But then again, what do I know? I am just an evil, stupid female bent on destroying good men's lives.

Originally posted by

Kacie Versaci

Come off of it, all of you. First of all, I wish all of the non-seniors would keep their mouths shut about this. This has nothing to do with them. They have no idea how I, a graduating senior, feels about this and they also have no right to judge me and say I don't deserve a diploma.

Secondly, I would feel equally uncomfortable if Bill Clinton was brought in to speak for similar reasons, not to mention the stink you over-bloated uber-conseratives would be making, probably using the same arguements we are using now against Justice Thomas.

Number three: Anita Hill is not a "jealous, attention-seeking blood sucker who tried to ruin the career of a great American," as one of you so eloquently put it. Not only is this language offensive and downright inaccurate, it undermines ALL victims of sexual harrassment and other sexual violence, reducing them to evil, lying whores who only "cry rape" for personal gain. It's attitudes like this that make it nearly impossible for a woman to report sexaul misconnduct or violence, for fear of being slut-shamed. Then, if she does come forward, sympathies lie with the rapist/harraser.

Next, this is not about race. How dare you even accuse the women studies department of being racist here? They are one of the most racially-conscious departments on campus, but you guys would know that if you ever even bothered to take a womens studies class or crack open a book on feminist theory. Anita Hill is black as well, so I find it hard to chew that we nay-sayers are trying to bring down a man because he is black while the victim we are supporting was also black?

Then, this idea about convictions and non-guilt and what not. JUSTICE THOMAS WAS NEVER TRIED IN COURT!! And, Anita Hill did NOT come forward on her own. There was an anonmyous tip that Justice Thomas was harassing women in his workplace, and the Senate confrimation hearing FORCED HER to come forward and TESITFY so they could have a measure of his character. THIS WAS NOT A "TRIAL" FOR THE ACTUAL CRIME!!! They never decided if he was guilty or not; they voted him into the position as Supreme Court Justice anyway. And, furthermore, just because you are found not-guilty does not mean it didn't happen.

Which brings me to this: This has little to do with whether Justice Thomas actually harassed her or not. What it has got the bulk of us upset is that the University would give us a speaker with this sort of scandal on his track record THE SAME YEAR IT WAS CAUGHT TURNING A BLIND EYE TO A NUMBER OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT CASES AND DID NOT TAKE ANY OF THEM SERIOUSLY! Maybe you boys will never understand because the chances of you being harassed by a superior are slim, but to know that professors were getting away with this for years is disconcerting. Whether it was Michael Adams intent to piss off the strongest voices against the harassment or it was just plain "gee-wilikers, what a coinkydink!" moment, the message following the backlash was this: all of us women better shut up and get over it. Harassment is at worst embarassing, at best an annoyance, and either way a good man's career is ruined. Oh, and chances are the victims are lying anyway because every girl's dream is having her name dragged through the mud over and over and be slut-shamed repeatedly.

I am about to graduate, and I love this school. However, if anyone wants to protest my ceremony, it will not be ruined for me. IT WILL BE A MILLION TIMES BETTER TO KNOW THAT I AM NOT THE LONE VOICE AT THE UNIVERSITY, THAT PEOPLE CARE ABOUT THESE ISSUES AND WON'T BACK DOWN! I fully support anyone who cares to protest.

Finally, Red and Black, this might not be your fault, but I am sick of only reading male-reader's opinions in the mail box on this issue. I am sure there are female students (on both sides) who have written in and I want to read their piece too. After all, sexual harasment is a predominantly female issue.

But then again, what do I know? I am just an evil, stupid female bent on destroying good men's lives.

Originally posted by

James

I have a sincere question for you seniors. Do you honestly feel you received a good unbiased education at UGA or do you feel many professors have tried to "indoctrinate" you including issues such as the current one on the selection of Judge Thomas?