the happy conservative

Washu decided to give Phyllis Schlafly an honorary degree.

Naturally, this raised an uproar. Here she is giving a speech at Depaul, where they’re much more into diversity. We don’t like that kind of thing at WashU, we want everyone to think exactly the same thing.

And here are some excerpts from the Facebook Group (with some 1,100 members):

We view the sexist and anti-intellectual views expressed by Ms. Schlafly as offensive and feel an honorary degree from our university is completely inappropriate. While we support her right to speak her mind we also wish to use our own right to free speech. Regardless of your political convictions, if Ms. Schlafly’s views on the rights of women (especially the status of married women) are completely out of touch with what you believe, then join us in protesting at commencement.
Schlafly claims that intelligent design is unfairly being censored in the classroom. She portrays evolution as a ridiculous theory and evolutionists as backwards people who reject any controversy. These attacks polarize the discussion to a point where the intellectual freedom of both sides is harmed. How is the University’s mission of rational discussion of evidence furthered by the comments of Ms. Schlafly?

Hooray for encouraging diversity on campus. So we’re all supposed to bow to the whims of the feminazis with their brains full of mush?

It seems that Chancellor Wrighton has decided to bow to them. Check out his statement below, sent in an email to all students:

Following the public announcement of the honorary degrees, many in the
University community have called for the University to rescind that offer,
stating that Mrs. Schlafly is associated with some views, opinions and
statements that are inconsistent with the tolerant and inclusive values of
the Washington University community. Personally, I do not endorse her
views or opinions, and in many instances, I strongly disagree with them.

However, after further consultation with members of the University’s Board
of Trustees, the University has concluded that it will fulfill its
commitment to award the degree to Mrs. Schlafly. I apologize for the
anguish this decision has caused to many members of our community.

In bestowing this degree, the University is not endorsing Mrs. Schlafly’s
views or opinions; rather, it is recognizing an alumna of the University
whose life and work have had a broad impact on American life and have
sparked widespread debate and controversies that in many cases have helped
people better formulate and articulate their own views about the values
they hold.

But at least we’re trotting out a member of the diversocrats to award her the degree. This makes everything ok:

At Commencement, Trustee Emerita Margaret Bush Wilson has volunteered to
read the citation to award the degree to Mrs. Schlafly. As the first woman
of color to serve as the national chair of the NAACP, the second woman of
color admitted to practice law in Missouri, and as a prominent St. Louis
civil rights attorney for more than 40 years, she provides a strong voice
for the importance of tolerance and discourse as hallmarks of the
Washington University community.

We’re still trying to get diversity, even if it means making a eunuch of our Chancellor. Thanks for sticking up for diversity, sir.

In the midst of this controversy, I want to affirm my personal and the
University’s institutional commitment to strengthening diversity and
inclusiveness and to improving gender balance. Additionally, I have made a
commitment that the University will review the process for awarding
honorary degrees and will propose appropriate changes.

I’m disgusted by the Chancellor rolling over in the face of a facebook protest by the Buddha of the diversity religion. He doesn’t owe them anything. I don’t owe them anything. And I’m glad that someone at the top of the University had the chutzpah to nominate Mrs. Schlafly for an honorary degree. After all, she graduated WashU back when that meant something.