November 03, 2007

A small victory over PC

This was very pleasing to Charlene and me, especially since one of our sons is now a freshman at SF State, and hangs around with the Young Republicans... (for the beer and parties I imagine). Eugene Volokh quotes from the SF Recorder...

U.S. Magistrate Judge Wayne Brazil issued a temporary injunction against the CSU system Wednesday, in which he struck down a portion of the CSU conduct code that mandates students "be civil to one another." That language would likely not survive First Amendment scrutiny at trial, the magistrate found.


"It's fine to say, 'We hope you're civil to each other,'" Brazil said from the bench. "It's not fine to say, 'We'll punish you if you're not.'"


The magistrate also told the CSU system it can only discipline students for "intimidation" or "harassment" when the health or safety of another person is threatened. In addition, Brazil struck down language in the San Francisco State University student handbook that holds out the possibility of corrective action against student groups if their members behave in opposition to SFSU goals and principles.


The case grows out of an anti-terrorism rally held last year by College Republicans at SFSU. The event turned testy when the Republicans stomped on Hamas and Hezbollah flags bearing "Allah" written in Arabic script. Onlookers from the school's Muslim community objected, and one started to climb on stage to remove the flag, according to the university's court filings. The two sides engaged in heated debate.


After the protest, the school received a complaint alleging the Republicans had violated the student code by attempting to "incite violence" and create a hostile environment, the school says in its court filings. After an investigation, the complaint against the Republicans was dismissed....

Such a microcosm of the big world... If a Muslim becomes violent, then--obviously--somebody must be punished for "inciting violence."

Posted by John Weidner at November 3, 2007 07:35 AM
Comments

John, out of such small victories, wars are often won. Onwards to the fray!

Posted by: GM Roper at November 3, 2007 08:09 AM

My mood is more like, defend the Alamo even though we are doomed...

Posted by: John Weidner at November 3, 2007 12:20 PM

Meh. John, look at my alma mater, the University of Delaware. Enough people brought enough attention to their Maoist "education" program that they withdrew it. It probably helps that the U of D's president is an engineer, and has a better appreciation than most academics of the need for honesty and integrity in one's professional teaching life.

There are still many honest, decent people out there in academia. The just have to have the courage to make a stand, that's all.

Posted by: Hale Adams at November 3, 2007 03:46 PM
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