Thread: Univ. Of N.C. Apologizes For Tancredo Protest

Univ. Of N.C. Apologizes For Tancredo Protest
Investigation Under Way

POSTED: 5:42 am MDT April 16, 2009
UPDATED: 8:06 am MDT April 16, 2009


CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- The leader of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill says investigators will see whether charges are warranted following the protest that cut short a controversial speaker earlier this week.

UNC Chancellor Holden Thorp said in an e-mail to students and faculty that an investigation might result in criminal charges or campus honor court charges against students.

"Our Division of Student Affairs is also investigating student involvement in the protest," Thorp wrote. "If that investigation determines sufficient evidence, participating students could face Honor Court proceedings."

Former Republican presidential candidate Tom Tancredo was invited to speak Tuesday about his opposition to granting in-state college tuition to illegal immigrants. The former Colorado congressman had to halt his speech because of protesters who held banners in front of him, shouted and broke a window.

Thorp said the university also will study what to do for future controversial speakers.

"There's a way to protest that respects free speech and allows people with opposing views to be heard," Thorp wrote. "Here that's often meant that groups protesting a speaker have displayed signs or banners, silently expressing their opinions while the speaker had his or her say."

Thorp as well as UNC System President Erskine Bowles called Tancredo to apologize.

UNC Chapel Hill board chairman Roger Perry said the protesters' behavior was "shameful" and that everyone should have a right to speak on campus.

Tyler Oakley, a graduate student who helped organize the rally, said the protest was peaceful and successful.

"It was only when confronted with police brutality -- pepper spray, Tasers, and pushing -- that the protest intensified to a pitch that might be called disorderly," Oakley said in an e-mail.

Jennifer Rudinger, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union in North Carolina, said the protesters engaged in "de facto censorship."

Rudinger said Tancredo had a right to express his views about immigration as much as students at N.C. State had the right to paint racist remarks about President Barack Obama on a campus tunnel.

"Censorship is not the answer to hate speech. Hate speech is protected by the Constitution," Rudinger said.


http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/19 ... etail.html

INTERESTING

Rudinger said Tancredo had a right to express his views about immigration as much as students at N.C. State had the right to paint racist remarks about President Barack Obama on a campus tunnel.

"Censorship is not the answer to hate speech. Hate speech is protected by the Constitution," Rudinger said.

Conservative State. INTERESTING

More Gossip in NC COMM. Colleges ;(
NC Comm Colleges Meeting With Consultant Regarding Illegals
http://www.alipac.us/ftopicp-883632-.html#883632

It's typical Bolshevik behavior on the part of the protestors. They're all for the freedom of speech - their own; but when it comes to something they oppose, they'll do anything to stop the freedom of their opponents' speech. Just ask anyone who legally immigrated here from Russia.

It's typical Bolshevik behavior on the part of the protestors. They're all for the freedom of speech - their own; but when it comes to something they oppose, they'll do anything to stop the freedom of their opponents' speech.

So true. Universities across America better listen to this outcome because they are HUGE breeding grounds for attitude bias. I liked the girl who said she was a conservative and had practically no opportunity at college to hear her side in a forum. She should be given a chance to listen and learn without being attacked by virulent leftist protesters.