'This isn't what our campus supports'
Kelly Kiesel
Issue date: 4/30/09 Section: News
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Professor of history Jerry Hirsch moderated the AAUP forum Monday. The panel for the forum spoke about different issues, including a brief summary of Ashcroft's career, the process behind choosing a commencement speaker and students' views on the decision. Then the forum was opened to debate from former graduates and faculty, graduating seniors and current students and faculty.
James Guffey, professor of mathematics and president of the Faculty Senate, said he supports the idea of honorary degrees.
"The Faculty Senate back in 2000 had a resolution that supported the notion of honorary degrees," Guffey said. "[The resolution] recognized what it can be good for and useful for but that does not specify any sort of process."
Guffey said a process for nomination and confirmation had not been established and was left up to the Board of Governors, who decided to establish a committee.
"There is no process, which at this point, says it is supposed to go to the Faculty Senate to be approved," Guffey said. "People may not be happy [with] how it went, but that is two different issues."
Guffey said they only have conferred one honorary degree before.
"It is going to take a little time for us to figure out how this best works and operates for us with our history, our culture
Please see ASHCROFT, Page 9
Continued from Page 1
and our way of doing things," Guffey said. "It is going to take some conversation to do that."
Guffey said this is rather new for the University.
"We have a start," Guffey said. "I think there may well be some suggestions for changes, [but] where the suggestions go and how exactly we choose to proceed with those has not been part of the campus conversation yet."
Sophomore Chris Steinauer, a member of the panel, said the students at the forum amazed him.
"It really got the ball rolling on some other things to share our discontent," Steinauer said. "This has been completely run by a very organized group of dissatisfied students."
Senior Andrew McCall, member of the panel, said he was encouraged by the outcome of the forum.
"I really feel like this man does not in any way represent the values we ostensibly hold," McCall said. "I think this University is above what is going on right now."
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 25
april
posted 4/30/09 @ 2:53 AM CST
Alumnus Steve Baldwin had strong feelings against awarding Ashcroft a degree.
"For the last 28 years, I've been washing toilets and cleaning vomit, but nothing has disgusted me more than giving [Ashcroft] a degree," Baldwin said. (Continued…)
B
posted 4/30/09 @ 6:20 AM CST
"McCall said their best plan would involve holding up newspapers instead of applauding during Ashcroft's speech and his reception of the degree.
"We want to find a strategy that will demonstrate our disagreement while being respectful of the accomplishments of every one of those graduates and their families for putting them through a Truman degree," McCall said. (Continued…)
Brian S.
posted 4/30/09 @ 9:43 AM CST
After reading this article I still don't understand why John Ashcroft isn't what the University supports? After all, wasn't it Ashcroft in 1985 who signed legislation transforming Truman (NMSU) from a regional university to a statewide public liberal arts and sciences university. (Continued…)
Jim
posted 4/30/09 @ 10:10 AM CST
This article is unintentionally sad. I'm no Ashcroft cheerleader, but the display of "diversity" from some of the students protesting the honorary degree is insipid. (Continued…)
Stuart
posted 4/30/09 @ 1:38 PM CST
I attended this "Forum" and would like to say, after witnessing the behavior of the professors and students in attendance, that I am ashamed I came to Truman. (Continued…)
Jordan Cantoni
posted 4/30/09 @ 5:15 PM CST
I think it is ironic that in a so-called liberal arts institution that prides itself on intellectual stimulation, discourse, and debate that there is such a fascist mentality when it comes to diverging opinion. (Continued…)
Phil Jarrett
posted 4/30/09 @ 11:11 PM CST
As a recent alum, I can say I'm not pleased with the selection of Ashcroft to speak, but it is understandable. Is it going to ruin graduation? No. Graduation speakers are almost always a let down, the whole thing feels thrown together at the last minute. (Continued…)
n
posted 5/01/09 @ 12:03 AM CST
maybe Truman folks should just be glad it's not Phyllis Schlafly.
Brad S.
posted 5/01/09 @ 12:45 AM CST
The problem is not that Ashcroft is speaking, it's that the University went out of its way to bestow upon him only the second honorary degree in its history. (Continued…)
tyler
posted 5/01/09 @ 8:21 AM CST
John Ashcroft is a slap in my face. I'm embarrassed for my school and of my education, as people I care about will be here to support me and will have to listen to such a poor representation of the values of liberal arts education. (Continued…)
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