http://www.businessinsider.com/colorado-college-student-suspended-for-a-yik-yak-post-2015-12
I am not making this up. Though it could be phony...at least I hope so.
I am not making this up. Though it could be phony...at least I hope so.
On the other hand I am failing to see why this should get 6 month suspension. Or even 21.
College student suspended for calling blacks ugly.... let me guess, microagression? or do I need to read the article?
"I have considered your request carefully, and I see no grounds for appeal. In your own words, you accepted responsibility for your comment, which you deemed hurtful and distasteful, and stated you deserve to be held accountable for your actions," a Colorado College official wrote Pryor in a letter posted by the College Fix.
Pryor says he immediately regretted his remark. “I was ashamed, because some people were clearly upset,” Pryor told The College Fix. “So I deleted it.”
Sounds like he agrees with the assessment. Except for the consequences part.
What assessment? That it was "hurtful" and "distasteful"? I tell you something. When I fart on crowded bus I also feel ashamed, and will try to hold next one, but I do not think its hurtful nor distasteful. Hurtful ok, we can get some data on this, but distasteful? wtf is that?
I'm not quite certain the analogy works, but if you have willful control over fart production, and releasing the foul stench on the bus reveals something about your character and motivations, then I suppose we can run with it.
So, you fart on the bus. We (the other people on the bus and the driver) worry that you might not be the sort of person we want to ride the bus with. It seems natural to ask you to get off the bus as punishment.
I'm not quite certain the analogy works, but if you have willful control over fart production, and releasing the foul stench on the bus reveals something about your character and motivations, then I suppose we can run with it.
So, you fart on the bus. We (the other people on the bus and the driver) worry that you might not be the sort of person we want to ride the bus with. It seems natural to ask you to get off the bus as punishment.
In your own words, you accepted responsibility for your comment, which you deemed hurtful and distasteful ...
You've NEVER had a fart slip the gate without intent?
That's where the analogy breaks. I've never sent a tweet without intent. I might change my mind and regret it later, but typing a message and sending it hardly counts as an uncontrolled biological process.
A cursory examination of the Twitterverse proves you wrong.![]()
The punishment seems quite a bit excessive, but it's all too typical of today's "can't offend anyone" college campuses.
What assessment? That it was "hurtful" and "distasteful"? I tell you something. When I fart on crowded bus I also feel ashamed, and will try to hold next one, but I do not think its hurtful nor distasteful. Hurtful ok, we can get some data on this, but distasteful? wtf is that?
I suspect he "agreed" because he was either told to (apologize its the right thing to do) or he was simply pressured by peers. When he was posting it he probably did not think it was hurtful and distasteful. I do not think it is. That hatters gonna hate and carebears gonna cry, well, as I said .. young young man.
From what little I've read it appears that an opinion was stated. That's ipso facto grounds for suspension in some places.
The difference is that a fart is an involuntary bodily action, whereas a post involves some level of thought.
Why do you think it isn't hurtful or distasteful? It was said against a hashtag used to advocate for people who have died. It wasn't just said in something random.
The difference is that a fart is an involuntary bodily action, whereas a post involves some level of thought.
Why do you think it isn't hurtful or distasteful? It was said against a hashtag used to advocate for people who have died. It wasn't just said in something random.
Maybe the punishment was excessive -- especially given that they were originally going for 21 months and also considering that he deleted the comment -- but it shouldn't have just been ignored, either.
And ? Reread again. While agreeing with the hashtag it simply stated he doe snot find black women good looking. It is distasteful yes, but how the **** is that a ground for 6 months suspension ? Or even 21 ? I have no idea about your college and school but a suspension so long was reserved only for incredibly bad incident. Not distasteful qips. What sort of free speech are you entertaining there when such a simple sentence garner 6 months ?
Why shouldn't it have been ignored? Seriously, I honestly don't understand why he's being subjected to disciplinary action.
I don't see how the posting of his personal opinions on an anonymous internet service are any business of the college.
He could have been posting highly vitriolic Nazi propagana and, as far as I'm concerned, it still wouldn't be any business of the college. (Unless of course he was making references to the college in his posts, or posting as part of a school project, or directing his comments to university staff or students.)
But maybe there's something I'm missing. The article linked to in the OP seems to skip over a couple of important details.
It says that the social media service is anonymous, so why was he, specifically, accused of posting almost all of the offensive messages?
What did the numerous other offensive messages say, and has anyone else gotten into trouble for posting them?
And why, having seen the huge over-reaction occurring as a result of these messages, would he admit that any of them had been posted by him?
Abusive Behavior: The college prohibits abusive behavior, which is any act that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student or group, or which destroys or removes public or private property, or which produces ridicule, embarrassment, harassment, intimidation or other similar result. Spectators at athletic events should convey enthusiasm and team support; demeaning, disrespectful or vulgar behavior may be found to be in violation of this policy.
Collusion: Collusion is action or inaction by someone who is aware of a policy violation and does nothing to address the behavior. This includes assisting in the violation of a policy, as well as knowingly failing to take preventative measures relative to violations of policy. Students are expected to confront their peers and/or remove themselves from the situation, then report the information to a conduct authority for action.
Students may be summarily dismissed from Colorado College by the president of the college, the vice president for student life/dean of students, or the dean’s designee if the student's conduct is not in the best interest of the college or their behavior is deemed in violation of these standards.
We expect that all students treat themselves and others with respect as demonstrated through their behaviors and interactions and inappropriate conduct that is disorderly, disruptive, or indecent while on- or off-campus is prohibited.
The comment does come across as insensitive and dickish to me though given the context under which it was announced. It wasn't like he was just on a dating forum discussing his dating preferences, or something. He specifically replied to a hashtag that is used to advocate for people who have died.
I think it would have been sufficient to have to both apologize and explain the comment in front of all the Black students who objected to it, including taking questions, perhaps for the length of a class period. If he is really responsible then that should be sufficient. If it became a pattern, then more serious measures could be ratcheted up.
I call these "dead mouse" threads, like the little offerings cats bring home.
It was off campus speech, and he should win a lawsuit if he files one.
The comment does come across as insensitive and dickish to me though given the context under which it was announced. It wasn't like he was just on a dating forum discussing his dating preferences, or something. He specifically replied to a hashtag that is used to advocate for people who have died. Maybe the punishment was excessive -- especially given that they were originally going for 21 months and also considering that he deleted the comment -- but it shouldn't have just been ignored, either. He definitely seems like he was in the wrong on this one. I think it would have been sufficient to have to both apologize and explain the comment in front of all the Black students who objected to it, including taking questions, perhaps for the length of a class period. If he is really responsible then that should be sufficient. If it became a pattern, then more serious measures could be ratcheted up.
Well, it wasn't off-campus.
And ? Reread again. While agreeing with the hashtag it simply stated he doe snot find black women good looking. It is distasteful yes, but how the **** is that a ground for 6 months suspension ? Or even 21 ? I have no idea about your college and school but a suspension so long was reserved only for incredibly bad incident. Not distasteful qips. What sort of free speech are you entertaining there when such a simple sentence garner 6 months ?
Does internet-speech only count as off-campus speech if it wasn't posted while physically on the campus?