Absolutely Wash U should honor her. Few women are as politically astute or have achieved what Mrs Schlafly has over the decades. I don’t always agree with her politics but I respect her intellectual honesty, cogent representation of issues, and personal drive. One of the things that make self-described feminists foam at the mouth at the very mention of her name is the fact she’s a living example of their contradictions.

I predict all comments to not have her speak will be based soley on ad hominems and misrepresenation of her views.

Wash U and the majority of its students are notoriously liberal, but the students should at least show some degree of open-mindedness and good manners. Unfortunately, many of them don’t respect authority, conservatism, or achievement. Some of them may improve as they grow up. Unfortunately, true adulthood cannot be measured chronologically.

It is difficult to imagine anyone not being eager to hear from a speaker as distinguished as Phyllis Schlafly.

The Platform respects ideological diversity? Thanks for the good laugh, Kevin. To the extent that they don’t delete all the conservative posts, I suppose it’s true … but the posts themselves are not exactly what I’d call fair and balanced.

Go_Fish and Bob Hutton offering interesting, although inaccurate, responses to this piece. Contrary to Go_Fish’s assessment, countless women are as politcially astute as Ms. Schlafly, if not more so, and have made important political achievements. And while I’ll grant Ms. Schlafly personal drive, I beg to differ with her “intellectual honesty” and “cogent representation of issues”. If one thinks either of these things are true, then he or she clearly has not looked at any of the issues on which Ms. Schlafly has spoken from all sides. Feminists aren’t “foaming at the mouth” over Ms. Schlafly, as this is something animals do. Men and women proud enough to call themselves women and many others who do not wear this label are outraged not because Ms. Schlafly is a living contradiction of her views, but because she degrades and disprespects not only women, but immigrants, gays and lesbians, American Indians, and others. No comments are being made to “not have her speak” because, fortunately, she will not be given an opportunity to speak at our commencement. Comments are, however, being made to show our disgust that Wash U would honor Ms. Schlafly with an honorary degree. Doing so is in direct contradiction to everything the university claims to stand for. Finally, these comments are not being made based on misrepresentations of her views–please don’t insult our intelligence in this manner. Our comments are being made based on well-researched information about Ms. Schlafly with which we strongly disagree.

Mr. Hutton, Wash U and it’s students are notoriously liberal? Are you talking about Washington University in St. Louis? Liberal is the farthers word from my mind when I think about Wash U. I sir, am 31 years old and consider myself to be well in to adulthood. Still, I plan to continue to express my outrage (not to mention there was more than one faculty member at our planning meeting today). For you to assume that everyone involved with this issue is young is quite ignorant. Furthermore, I am immensely proud of the young people who are standing up on this issue. Clearly they are open-minded–so much so that they are willing to think outside the box and come up with creative solutions for a difficult situation.

I am not eager to her Ms. Schlafly speak and I am extremely grateful that she won’t be given the opporutnity to do so come graduation day next week!!!

There are obviously a couple of typos in my first post! The most important one being “Men and women proud enough to call themselves women”. This should read “Men and women proud enough to call themselves FEMINISTS!!!!!”

My concept of the Washington University on Skinker Boulevard in St. Louis is based primarily on word of mouth from friends and relatives who have, over many years, always described the school, the faculty and the students as very liberal. It is well known as a getaway for children of wealthy east-coast liberals. Some of us still recall a fire that destroyed the ROTC building there years ago, reportedly a liberal anti-war protest.

I was pleased with the highly acclaimed General Motors Institute (now Kettering University) for my BSME and Southern Illinois University for an MBA. GMI was pretty middle-of-the road politically, even our industrial psychology professor (although he had put in some time in Messerschmitt 109’s).

Dear Kevin Horrigan: Off the subject, but you may recall that I stated some time ago that Lt. Col. David Hackworth had served as an aide to President Clinton, and referenced Hackworth’s book titled “Hazardous Duty”. My comment was an honest mistake. I’m reading Hackworth’s book now for the first time.

The correct reference, which I did read and later gave to a friend, was “Dereliction of Duty” by Lt. Col. Buzz Patterson, who WAS assigned as Clinton’s senior aide, and who carried the “Nuclear Football” briefcase. I respectfully submit the following, as presented on the Internet:.

Dereliction of Duty Media
TOP CLINTON MILITARY AIDE REVEALS SHOCKING DETAILS OF HOW THE FORMER PRESIDENT COMPROMISED OUR NATIONAL SECURITY

EXPLOSIVE NEW BOOK CITES DISTURBING EXAMPLES OF
BILL CLINTON’S DERELICTION OF DUTY

WASHINGTON, DC—On September 13, 1996 the U.S. military was on edge as they waited for orders from their commander in chief to begin a bombing mission over Iraq. Pilots were in the cockpits waiting to launch, targets were identified, and everything was in place. All they needed was the green light—but President Bill Clinton was too busy watching a golf match to respond to the situation, despite several urgent requests from National Security Advisor Sandy Berger. The mission was scrapped. Lieutenant Colonel Robert “Buzz” Patterson (Ret.), military aide to the president and carrier of the “nuclear football,” exposes this and provides numerous other firsthand accounts of Bill Clinton’s reckless and cavalier disregard for America’s national security in his new book, Dereliction of Duty: The Eyewitness Account of How Bill Clinton Compromised America’s National Security (Regnery, 2003).

Patterson describes decisions Clinton made that had a direct and negative impact on our nation’s defense capabilities—some of which have affected the current war on terrorism and the possible war with Iraq. Dereliction of Duty uncovers outrageous examples of Clinton’s contempt for the military and offers never-before-heard stories, including:

• How Clinton remained “unavailable” and missed out on a golden opportunity to take out Osama bin Laden long before September 11.

• How President Clinton jeopardized national security when he lost the nuclear codes required to launch a nuclear attack—and never found them.

Lieutenant Colonel Robert “Buzz” Patterson was Senior Military Aide to President Bill Clinton and was responsible for the President’s Emergency Satchel—otherwise known as the “nuclear football.” He served nineteen active years in the military with distinction and saw tours of duty in Grenada, Somalia, Rwanda, Haiti, and Bosnia. Patterson received the Defense Superior Service Medal for accomplishments while at the White House and was awarded the Air Medal for flying fifteen combat support missions into Sarajevo.

If you would like to schedule an interview with Lt. Col. Robert “Buzz” Patterson,
please contact Kristen Schremp at 202-216-0601 ext 412.

Lt. Col. Robert “Buzz” Patterson Atlanta, GA
info@buzzpatterson.com http://www.buzzpatterson.com

Thanks grad for proving my prediction. All that verbiage and not a single example of a supposedly degrading or disrespectful remark made by Ms Schlafly. Thanks also for affirming the charge that many Wash U staff, students, and alumni couldn’t care less about the free exercise of ideas. You are certainly well within your rights not to attend the ceremony. Demanding that others be denied that opportunity, however, is demonstrably anti-intellectual and fascist. The only people who want to keep Phyliss Schlafly from receiving the honor are those who don’t want others to hear what she has to say.

#4 Grad Student…. Based upon your comments it is not surprising that you are still a student at 31 years old. Your narrow minded attitude explains why you have learned so little thus far.

Since your parents, prep schools, and the University failed to teach you about tolerance, graciousness, and diversity, it will be up to you to at some point open your mind and lay aside your prejudice. Otherwise you are doomed to remain in the ranks of the intellectual spoiled brats chanting na-na-na….na with your hands over your ears.

Wash U Graduate Student (post #4)

As a member of the class of ‘79, I know that Wash U was liberal then, has been all along and remains so today. Your post helps prove the point.

Academic freedom in higher education is a cruel joke, and always has been.