Emory University alumni push back against free speech attacks

[JudoThrowFiasco]

Push back: Emory University alumni are circulating a petition calling for the university to recommit itself to free speech instead of pandering to protesters demanding “emotional comfort, ideological conformity, and yes, ‘safe environments’.”

The petition was authored by alumni Matthew Walker and Ed Thayer, who said this:

“My Emory experience, which I look upon fondly, was periodically defined by eruptions of illiberal behavior from various student groups, although nothing as shrill and totalitarian as we are witnessing today,” Thayer said, adding that Emory administrators used to err on the side of free speech. “Nowadays they seem inclined to appease the worst intolerant and alarmist instincts of some students, while undercutting the foundations of free speech, tolerance, and a robust debate, which should thrive at a university.

Matthew Walker, for his part, summed up the whole situation in one word: “Unacceptable.”

The article above begins by focusing on how the university president has backed down from his original willingness to support the squelching of free speech. I suspect this pressure from alumni, who with most universities provide a great deal of financial support, is making him rethink his positions.


https://www.thefire.org/emory-presi...sy-as-students-alumni-urge-more-action-video/

 

[method115]

The article above begins by focusing on how the university president has backed down from his original willingness to support the squelching of free speech. I suspect this pressure from alumni, who with most universities provide a great deal of financial support, is making him rethink his positions.


https://www.thefire.org/emory-presi...sy-as-students-alumni-urge-more-action-video/

I honestly never thought of alumnis pushing back. My dad got a letter from his university asking for money once. My dad is one of the cheapest people I've ever meet next to me (learned from the best) I was shocked to find out that he was indeed going to be sending them money and had been doing that for years. This guy wont donate to anyone or anything so I was shocked to know he did this. He explained to me though how when he was working two jobs and going to school full time so many of the teachers were willing to work with him and give him breaks that he feels obligated to give back in some way.

 

[JudoThrowFiasco]

I honestly never thought of alumnis pushing back. My dad got a letter from his university asking for money once. My dad is one of the cheapest people I've ever meet next to me (learned from the best) I was shocked to find out that he was indeed going to be sending them money and had been doing that for years. This guy wont donate to anyone or anything so I was shocked to know he did this. He explained to me though how when he was working two jobs and going to school full time so many of the teachers were willing to work with him and give him breaks that he feels obligated to give back in some way.

I think the Alumi at Mizzou were also pretty influential during the events of that fiasco. Probably more from the boosters side not wanting the football program to be penalized.

Like most things, people / organization side with their sources of funding.

 

[Rex Kwon Do]

 

[sloppypie]

good for them. unacceptable is the perfect word for that type of behavior.

after all, students aren't the ones in fucking charge. i can't imagine the balls it would take to challenge a professor and lecture them on what ideas are "safe and acceptable" and which ones aren't.

that's just fucking crazy.

 

[Awesomesauce]

This is something I was thinking about the other day. The damage these people are doing to the reputations of these institutions are going to be difficult to repair.

 

[JudoThrowFiasco]

This is something I was thinking about the other day. The damage these people are doing to the reputations of these institutions are going to be difficult to repair.

That is true. Past alums, who were never apart of the attention seeking initiative of safe spaces and coddling, will be affected by having 'Emery' and schools like it on their résumé.

 

[Sycho Sid]

That is true. Past alums, who were never apart of the attention seeking initiative of safe spaces and coddling, will be affected by having 'Emery' and schools like it on their résumé.

I really doubt that. Especially considering most employers do not care where you went to school.

These kids are idiots though.

 

[JudoThrowFiasco]

I really doubt that. Especially considering most employers do not care where you went to school.

These kids are idiots though.

Really? I find a lot of employers care where you went to school. Not only for academic reasoning but also just from stigma of events related to that school.

 

[Sycho Sid]

Really? I find a lot of employers care where you went to school. Not only for academic reasoning but also just from stigma of events related to that school.

They really don't. The big benefit from the bigger named schools are connections.

But honestly, to an employer, they do not care if it is a state school, or a small private college or whatever. Unless it is a super prestigious place, or a place with a lot of negative stigma (online and for profit schools) they do not care.

A bunch of kids bitching at Emory will not have any real world effect on Emory alum.

 

[JudoThrowFiasco]

They really don't. The big benefit from the bigger named schools are connections.

But honestly, to an employer, they do not care if it is a state school, or a small private college or whatever. Unless it is a super prestigious place, or a place with a lot of negative stigma (online and for profit schools) they do not care.

A bunch of kids bitching at Emory will not have any real world effect on Emory alum.

I disagree - depending on what your field of study is, the school you attended could change your perceived qualifications. At least this remains true in Canada. Employers often recruit students right out of reputable universities.

I guess your statement holds true for generic arts or humanities degrees.

We cant predict what will happen with Emory students but bad PR is bad PR - perhaps we can revisit this point in a few years.

 

[Awesomesauce]

They really don't. The big benefit from the bigger named schools are connections.

But honestly, to an employer, they do not care if it is a state school, or a small private college or whatever. Unless it is a super prestigious place, or a place with a lot of negative stigma (online and for profit schools) they do not care.

A bunch of kids bitching at Emory will not have any real world effect on Emory alum.

You don't know what your talking about. Employers most certainly do care what school you graduate from when its a school like Emory. The kind of social politics involved in high level jobs dictate success and failure to a huge extent.

 

[method115]

You don't know what your talking about. Employers most certainly do care what school you graduate from when its a school like Emory. The kind of social politics involved in high level jobs dictate success and failure to a huge extent.

Guess it depends on your field. IT no one cares. My bosses boss (IT director) just got his bachelors from the university of phoenix and got promoted and a pay bump.

 

[Anung Un Rama]

Certain schools have academic reputations (good and bad) that employers will pick up on.
Its not the only criteria, but it can be an influencing factor.
I highly doubt that campus drama has any influence at all.

 

[Bloodworth]

I honestly never thought of alumnis pushing back. My dad got a letter from his university asking for money once. My dad is one of the cheapest people I've ever meet next to me (learned from the best) I was shocked to find out that he was indeed going to be sending them money and had been doing that for years. This guy wont donate to anyone or anything so I was shocked to know he did this. He explained to me though how when he was working two jobs and going to school full time so many of the teachers were willing to work with him and give him breaks that he feels obligated to give back in some way.

Does your Dad known the price of admission these days. They have duped your father. They have more money they can known what to do with.

 

[WrestlinganJudo]

Does your Dad known the price of admission these days. They have duped your father. They have more money they can known what to do with.

I am going to say something a little unfair but with cause. I have only seen in real life the books of one university.

The books I saw show the university spent a lot more than needed and much of it I felt had little or nothing to do with education. They had little money that was not earmarked, a lot of money coming in and what I thought was a lot of waste going out.

Part of it was caused by a use it or lose it method being used in many areas.

I would not be surprised if a lot of universities had little cash reserves the way I saw what I see as needless spending being done.

 

[RetiredSlave]

About time. The voice of reason has remained silent for too long, this inevitable blowback way overdue. Hurray! That I, a pansy man, by my grandfathers generations standards would be considered a big mean hardass by todays standards is really really fuckin sad indeed. Whatever really though, I dont experience it in my day to day and if I did it would be met with a big ol fuck outta here, possibly uppercuts too.

 

[ultramanhyata]

after all, students aren't the ones in fucking charge. i can't imagine the balls it would take to challenge a professor and lecture them on what ideas are "safe and acceptable" and which ones aren't.

I don't know, man... Liberal arts university profs aren't exactly the most intimidating people I have ever come across.

 

[sangreporsangre]

This president seems to just go whichever way the wind blows.