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Another Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week is about to begin, and for the next three weeks, actually, I will be traveling all over the country to speak at various universities. But not to East Tennessee State. As I have made clear recently here and here, and in many other places, I am ready and willing to discuss issues involving jihad and Islamic supremacism with any serious opponent. Yet again and again I find that those who oppose my work are unwilling to accept that challenge. Recently I heard from a professor at this university, who explained to me that he had invited the local Muslim leaders -- as is explained in the article below as well -- so that we could have a give-and-take about these issues. But apparently the university, making a mockery of its commitment to free inquiry and the exchange of ideas, is unwilling to allow such a discussion to take place.
"Stifling Debate at Eastern Tennessee State" at FrontPage Magazine, October 10:
When East Tennessee State University (ETSU) grad student Sean Rife tried to bring author Robert Spencer to campus, he wasn’t looking to start a fight. As the president of ETSU’s Society for Intellectual Diversity (SID), a non-partisan student group that champions free debate and academic freedom, Rife was just looking to stir discussion about a subject, Islamic terrorism, which increasingly has come to dominate Americans’ concerns. But a fight – and a lesson in politically correct bullying – is exactly what he got.It began when Rife presented his request to the school’s Student Government Association. Like any other student, Rifled filled out the required paperwork, and submitted a funding request to a student government committee. Then, on Monday, he went before the committee to discuss his request – and that’s when the trouble started.
“I immediately got the impression that they were never seriously going to consider approving our request,” Rife said. Confirming the impression was the loaded question put to him by one the student representatives, Chad Hall. “He asked whether inviting Robert Spencer to campus would make Muslim students feel ostracized,” Rife recalls. “I thought that was pretty telling.”
Still, Rife tried to defend the request. He pointed out that the idea was not to cause offense but to have a reasoned debate. As the author of a popular book on the subject, moreover, Spencer was more than qualified to lead a discussion under the title “Is Islam a religion of peace?” Rife further noted that SID’s faculty sponsor, Paul Kamolnick, an associate professor in the department of sociology and anthropology, had written a letter to Taneem Aziz, the leader of an Islamic community center in neighboring Johnson City, Tennessee, inviting him to attend Spencer’s talk and present his own views. So far from ostracizing Muslims, the idea was to include them in the discussion. None of that made a difference to the student government committee. “They had their minds made up,” Rife says. “They were asking questions just to make sure they checked all the boxes.”Rife was thus unsurprised when, on Tuesday afternoon, his request to host Spencer was officially rejected. But he was taken a back at the reason for the rejection. Chad Hall, the same student who had asked whether Spencer would ostracize Muslims, explained that the request would be denied “due to the controversial issues that [David] Horowitz’s society condones is degrading Muslims.” (Hall could not be reached for comment.) Spencer’s name was hardly even mentioned, nor was there any evidence given of Horowitz allegedly anti-Muslim views. Instead, the mere association with Horowitz was sufficient to keep Spencer from campus. “I’m surprised they were as candid as they were,” Rife says. “I would have expected them to chalk it up to some financial reason.”
But budget constraints seemed to have little to do with the decision. For instance, in the same week that Rife’s request was turned down, the student government awarded the Student Photography Association $3,500 to sponsor a campus visit by photographer Mark Steinmetz – a sum that was $500 more than the $3,000 that Rife and SID were asking to cover Spencer’s visit. In addition, even as it vetoed Spencer’s speech, the Student Government Association granted itself $4,480 to attend the Tennessee Intercollegiate State Legislature. Money clearly was not the issue.
For Rife, there is no doubt that politics are at play. While ETSU does not fit the stereotype of the ultra-liberal academic fiefdom – “This is not UC Berkeley,” Rife observes, “We’re a fairly conservative campus.” – it does share something in common with such bastions of political correctness: the speakers invited to the school are almost without exception from the political Left. In the past several years, the school has hosted such far-Left activists as actors Felix Justice and Danny Glover, the latter an outspoken supporter of Cuba’s dictatorial regime; radical education activist Jonathan Kozol; and black-power filmmaker Spike Lee. Just last week, the school hosted self-described “sex and relationship educators” Marshall Miller and Dorian Solot, who delivered an instructional lecture titled “I Heart Female Orgasm.” A fall 2006 speech by David Horowitz was one of the only times in recent years that a non-liberal speaker has been welcomed at the school.
Such deliberate one-sidedness is a serious problem, says Professor Paul Kamolnick. “The school is not a smorgasbord of left-wing sects, but overall there is a left-liberal slant to the programming,” he says. Kamolnick is especially disturbed by the student government’s self-appointed role as the arbiter of campus debate. “I don’t know that they know what academic freedom means or that they understand that what they said [to Rife] is blatantly inappropriate. They took it upon themselves to determine what the campus should hear and they turned their fellow students into schoolchildren.”
They also violated the school’s academic freedom policy. Kamolnick points out that the students government’s politically inspired decision to refuse Spencer’s appearance contradicts two of the school’s foundational documents on academic freedom: ETSU’s vision statement, which avers that “diversity of people and thought is respected,” and the Student Bill of Rights in the ETSU student handbook, which states that “The freedom to learn depends upon appropriate opportunities and conditions in the classroom, on the campus, and in the larger community.” Denying his request to host Robert Spencer on political grounds, Rife says, “is antithetical to the purpose of the university, which is to stimulate discussion.”
Although he didn’t start the fight, Rife isn’t about to give it up. He intends to bypass the student government and file a formal appeal with the administration to have Spencer’s speech approved. But even at this moderately conservative school, Rife is realistic about his chances. “As long as I’ve been here there has been no major discussion related to Islamic terrorism,” he says. If the student government’s censors have their way, that won’t change anytime soon.
Posted by Robert at October 10, 2008 8:27 AM
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Most of our institutions of higher learning have become mockeries and actually suppress any freedom of speech which doesn't support their leftism and whitewash of Islam.
It is disheartening to see the above plague spreading from the Ivy League schools to the smaller and less-eminent institutions.
Posted by: Always On Watch![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jihadwatch.org/nav-commenters.gif)
at October 10, 2008 9:11 AM
Can anyone find the link to this school's student newspaper? I's like to see if there are any articles on the above. Thanks!
Posted by: darcy at October 10, 2008 9:24 AM
Disgraceful.
Posted by: awake at October 10, 2008 9:53 AM
"Can anyone find the link to this school's student newspaper?"
http://www.easttennessean.com/
Posted by: PRCS at October 10, 2008 9:58 AM
In other words, RS is right and would pummel "local Muslim leaders", thus making moslems "uncomfortable" in the presence of truth. Can' make moslems uncomfortable or insult them. We all know what happens next.
Posted by: interestinconundrum at October 10, 2008 10:16 AM
“He asked whether inviting Robert Spencer to campus would make Muslim students feel ostracized,” Rife recalls.
But it's okay to let Robert's supporters and all who wanted to hear him feel "ostracized"?
For a college student, this person is not very bright. He doesn't even know what it means to "ostracize". And if a Muslim is going to feel excluded by someone expressing a view that is different from his (one that no one is forcing him to listen to, anyway), it is only further proof that Islam is incompatible with American democracy.
Random House Dictionary:
ostracize: to exclude, by general consent, from society, privileges, etc.
Posted by: PMK at October 10, 2008 10:37 AM
another "Allah sAkbar" moment brought to the table of apologist PC table of gluttony by the ignorant dumbasses of academia.
Posted by: AllahSnackbar at October 10, 2008 11:14 AM
another "Allah snAkbar" moment brought to the table of apologist PC table of gluttony by the ignorant dumbasses of academia.
Posted by: AllahSnackbar at October 10, 2008 11:14 AM
It's obvious that Chad Hall has already learned tha to get along in academe, it is helpful to go along. Let's hope that someday Mr. Hall is ashamed of the role he has decided to play - that of the good little brown-nosing apparatchik
Posted by: MP at October 10, 2008 11:19 AM
This is the kind of restriction of speech that you get when political correctness and multiculturalism reign. Our institutions of higher learning have become, with few exceptions, studies in cowardice and nonsense, though masquerading as places of fortitude and enlightenment. Dennis Prager is correct when he observes that the two things most contributing to the stupidity of the modern age over the past half century or so are television and college education. No exception here.
Posted by: Wellington at October 10, 2008 11:40 AM
Good Lord, if they let the likes of Robert Spencer speak, they might have to allow their students the right to THINK! Go Sean Rife, you da Man.
Posted by: mustang65 at October 10, 2008 11:54 AM
Don't upset the Mohammadans...
Ostracized is not the right word, 'insecurity' would be better.
Spencerphobia...A phenomena...
So the mere appearance of Spencer causes Mohammadans in the area to feel 'insecure'.
What power, I wish I had it. The power to make Mohammadans feel insecure, that's right next to Allahood. Usually that's Allah's job...
But Spencers power of casting insecurity is not limited to Mohammadans only, he makes Chad feel insecure as well. Chad is fearful of a Mohammadan backlash against 'him' for allowing this kufr insecurity monger to talk.
Good luck to Rife...he is up against ego insecurity...
at October 10, 2008 12:33 PM
This shouldn't be surprising that most colleges and universities are hotbeds of anti-Americanism, Marxism, multiculturalism and political correctness.
And the last thing the left that runs these places wants is open discussions with views that oppose their own.
Take Harvard Divinity School its a cesspool of Black liberation theology, Marxism, gay-lesbian studies, etc.
Emerson wouldn't even recognize it.
Posted by: waltc at October 10, 2008 1:13 PM
ETSU Brutus?
East Tennessee State University? Wow how voluntarily cosmopolitan of them. Thank you, thank you very much. ETSU's actions help to shorten the list of schools my kids will consider attending.
Lan astalem,
GoingThere
Posted by: GoingThere at October 10, 2008 1:47 PM
Not that it would come as any eye opening revelation to posters here, but truly take the time to peruse a site such as DailyKOz or currently any mainstream site like ABC news for that matter, and one truly will find not only similar close minded lockstep attitudes on display, but calls for "authoritarianism as a tactic" and "Gitmo" style facilities to "deprogram the wingnuts"!? These types are taking this ideology a little further than just the realm of censorship and will likely be putting their cards on the table very soon resulting in possibly the most severe civil strife this nation has witnessed since, well 1865. And there shall be no reason to go looking for this fight, it shall ultimately come to visit itself upon you at your supermarket, workplace, public park, your front door.
Posted by: We need G.C. Scott at October 10, 2008 1:51 PM
Can anyone find the link to this school's student newspaper? I's like to see if there are any articles on the above. Thanks!
Posted by: darcy at October 10, 2008 9:24 AM
Sorry for the typo - I'd!
And thanks, PRCS! I'm checking the link out now.
Posted by: darcy at October 10, 2008 2:06 PM
How much does it cost to be Brainwashed at ETSU?
An Institution of higher stupifacation.
Posted by: flowerknife_us at October 10, 2008 2:26 PM
I think it's time for the right wing to co-opt female orgasm. No reason we should leave that one to the lefties. In fact, Robert could probably slant his talk toward that theme: how female orgasm is prevented in Islamic societies by genital mutilation.
Posted by: Karl Pov at October 10, 2008 3:49 PM
In Islamic societies, criticism of Islam is punishable by death. Under the guise of "don't make us violent by criticizing us" and "all criticism (of Islam) is hate," Muslims are accomplishing the first step toward Sharia.
These liberals refuse to realize that they will be the first to go once Islam is dominant. Anyone noticed any "I Heart Female Orgasms" talks in Saudi Arabia lately?
Posted by: Cyril Lucar at October 10, 2008 4:45 PM
For waht it's worth ETSU SGA contact page is: http://www.etsu.edu/sga/contactus.htm
Posted by: crafty jack at October 10, 2008 5:32 PM
For what it's worth ETSU SGA contact page is: http://www.etsu.edu/sga/contactus.htm
Posted by: crafty jack at October 10, 2008 5:33 PM
Hello to those across the pond.
Correct me if I'm wrong but is your First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution not the right to freedom speech and to peacefully assemble? What is a public debate about Islam, if it is not the above?
It seems to me that the ETSU is actually breaking that are they not?
Your country, like our country prides itself on its 'freedom of speech'(FOS) and yet it seems that the more Islam grows and the Left gain more and more power, FOS seems to be disappearing at an alarming rate.
I always used to wonder why riots started and why people got so angry as to do so. I then started to put the pieces together and got this:
1. You write to your MP/Ombudsman/senator about a problem in your city/society and nothing happens.
2. You then get together with people in your city/society for a public debate on the matter and no one turns up or those who you wished for never showed up due to other 'pressing engagements'.
3. You then get a petition together signed by many to do something about the 'problem'. It is ignored or nothing constructive comes out of it.
4. You then organise a mass march in order to show by sheer numbers that many people are aggravated. This does nothing to sort out the problem.
What then do you do after you've tried everything and yet people are not listening?
5. Violent protest, bombing of society, chaos, deaths....
Point 5 was the action that the IRA took in order to remove the British out of Ireland. A peace deal was struck but they still never won as Northern Ireland still remains British 'property'.
There are many terrorist groups around the world who have sprung up like this. They have taken umbrage at no one listening to them.
So will this be our only way of letting the politicians know that we DO NOT WANT TO BECOME ISLAMISED? Does this mean that there really will be Civil War/Revolution resulting in Martial Law, Chaos and bloodshed, which will also result in serious damage to the Economy? All we have to do is look at many African Nations and other 3rd World countries.
To finish off, I wonder if Sean Rife will go down the road and claim the First Amendment as reason to allow this debate.
at October 10, 2008 5:54 PM
Mark,
In addition to speech and assembly, the First Amendment also includes freedom of religion and freedom of the press.
All are threatened by Islam.
Posted by: PMK at October 10, 2008 6:09 PM
Welcome to academia in Obamaland. Soon Weatherman chapters will be formed in said universities inspiring community action and force against anyone who defames the principles diversity and dares to promote free speech.
Posted by: Briars at October 10, 2008 6:21 PM
Yes PMK,
I did know that and I also know how grave the freedoms are in the West FULL STOP. I am currently doing a degree in Politics in London(mature student) and I actually intend to possibly branch out into American Politics in my second year, although I have done some reading on it. I suppose I'm also going to go into American Politics due to the serious though of leaving the UK as soon as I've finished, well possibly after a masters degree.
I already know quite a bit on British and European Politics having read about it and realise that with the continued immigration and population boom of Islam, not forgetting our very liberal and tolerant society, then unless something major happens in the UK, it will be Islamised within 60 years.
Back to the article though, I am correct in that not allowing Robert Spencer to debate at a University, is completely against your Constitution?
This really is despicable and what worries me more is that the deadheads of society "The musicians and actors" all seem to be majority left. Where once musicians and actors were merely entertainment, they are now becoming more and more involved in society and the running of the country. They are of course the role models of the young and whatever their political affiliation you can be sure that many of the young will instantly be attracted to it too. It sickens me when I watch the American election and out come all the actors to speak for Obama. I rush to the toilet to vomit.
Posted by: Mark at October 10, 2008 6:24 PM
Mark,
ETSU is not breaking the First Amendment, which guarantees the rights noted earlier. It prevents government from enacting laws that jeopardize them. The students have just as much right not to invite Robert as they do to invite him. The Student Government Association is more like a private organization, with the freedom to associate.
at October 10, 2008 6:30 PM
PMK wrote...
The students have just as much right not to invite Robert as they do to invite him. The Student Government Association is more like a private organization, with the freedom to associate.
And apparently the power to prevent others from associating. If $3000 was the issue I suspect it could be raised here in about 15 minutes. Screw islamic sensitivities.
Posted by: Rick at October 10, 2008 7:08 PM
"“I immediately got the impression that they were never seriously going to consider approving our request,” Rife said.
Welcome to liberal, leftist, academia..where debates are not really debates...but more like propoganda rallies..
Posted by: pulsar182 at October 10, 2008 7:58 PM
pulsar182 wrote:
"Welcome to liberal, leftist, academia..where debates are not really debates...but more like propoganda rallies.."
It appears that here in the UK, we are not the only ones suffering under Left wing, Liberal, loonies destroying the fabrics of our society, intent on removing our culture and turning it into a hell hole! They've been doing it since the 60's and now we see just how far they've got. Our Education System and Media are almost 100% left wing. I wonder how long it is before America goes the same way?
Posted by: Mark at October 10, 2008 8:53 PM
I disagree with the notion that the "Leftists" will be the first to go under Islamic rule. The "leftists" are the useful Idiots who would(are) helping them gain power. Islam will use them to get rid of "our types" first. They are the Baltars of the World. Useful until there own time comes.
You will know the time has come when they finally get your Gun taken away.
Demoncrat House
Demoncrat Senate
Demoncrat President
Appointing
A Demoncrat Supreme Court.
It is one thing to let those who wish to jump off a cliff if they so choose, to do so. It is just that they feel compelled to tie a Rope around the rest of us to insure there is no one left to say I told you so.
Posted by: flowerknife_us at October 10, 2008 10:33 PM
flowerknife_us,
I agree.
What it really is with the left wingers, Democrats, Labour supporters(UK) is that they just happen to be exceptionally far behind the thought processes of those in the centrist right/ right wing.
Once the centre right and right have fled mine and your countries, the left wing will of course be left with Islam, who will then start to persecute the Hindus, the Sikhs, The Christians and the Jews of left wing orientation. They will also be persecuting the feminists(America has lots of them) and the gays(you have lots of them too).
Once the above starts happening the Left Wing will then start doing just what we're doing here on Jihad Watch, trying to unite together to remove Islam, but nobody will be listening and there will be no centre right/right wing to help them either. I would also be very interested to know just what the political affiliations are of the Police and Armed Forces as I have a feeling they are majority wise quite right wing in thought.
So what will happen too is that the left wing will then turn into paramilitary, terrorist organisations, just like the Islamists, however their government, police and armed forces will be predominately Muslim and once caught, will be hauled up in front of kangaroo courts, tried, found guilty and subsequently executed as enemies of Allah and America(I know Ironic eh..the land of the Free).
Worse of all, the left will look back at history and realise that the right and centre right did their best to warn them of impending doom, but they didn't listen as they believed, like they always have, that they know best.
Posted by: Mark at October 10, 2008 10:47 PM
And this passes as diversity on our campuses? They don't know the meaning of diversity nor do they really want diversity. They want diversity like Chavez wants diversity.
Posted by: Spot on at October 11, 2008 8:09 AM
Etsu , the symbol of the State Of Tennessee..... a state so corrupt from head to toe, education one of the lowest level in the country. crime is flourishing and one the biggest city Memphis is rated worse than Chicago.
A state with corrupt leaders,look at Marsha Blackburn records. a judicial system as corrupt as it can be in both republican party and democrat party.
SO WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT.... THAT THEY WILL WELCOME SOMEONE LIKE ROBERT SPENCER.....CERTAINLY NOT
THe truth is when people are not educated and corrupt , IT IS THE IDEAL PLACE FOR THE MUSLIMS TO GROW. and they found a safe home in Tennessee where they can spread all the bullshit possible about Islam being a religion of peace, they can manipulate CEO like Dell computers , Tyson and get away with imposing a part of the Sharia law.
It is sad but it is the truth.
at October 11, 2008 2:31 PM
I serve on the ETSU Student Government Association, as well as the committee that denied funding to the Society for Intellectual Diversity's proposal. Let me explain a couple of key points here.
First, the Student Government Association did not by any means refuse Mr. Spencer's appearance; rather, they refused to fund it with student fees. Mr. Rife's group was still free to bring Mr. Spencer to campus, provide they were able to fund it on their own.
Second, their proposal for funding did not include any mention of previous attempts at fundraising. There is significant precedent for the Student Government to fund only organization who have made such attempts.
If you are all so adamant about bringing Mr. Spencer to East Tennessee, I would suggest that you contact the ETSU chapter of the Society for Intellectual diversity and make donations. That is essential what they were asking the Student Government Association for last week.
Senator Brian Bowman
East Tennessee State Student Government Associaton
at October 12, 2008 1:02 PM
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