Saturday, May 3, 2014

A Win for Rutgers Students: Condoleezza Rice Backs Out of Commencement Address

Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has backed out of delivering the commencement address at Rutgers University following protests by some faculty and students over her role in the Iraq War, reports WaPo.

Rice said in a statement Saturday that she informed Rutgers President Robert Barchi that she was declining the invitation.

The school’s board of governors had voted to pay the former secretary of state under President George W. Bush and national security adviser $35,000 for her appearance at the May 18 ceremony.

During a protest, some students held up signs reading, "No honors for war criminals,"  and "War criminals out."

Note: I believe that some would argue that Rice should be allowed the opportunity to present her views, that we need to listen to all views. And I would agree with that, provided it is in an appropriate forum, such as a guest lecture on campus or at a debate on campus, but a commencement address is a different animal. It is, afterall, a commencement speech. The last thing I would want at my graduation is advice from a warmonger on how to conduct my post-graduation life.

Of course, there is a different elitist establishment view:



9 comments:

  1. Well, yeah, you spend $XXX,XXX for education just to hear propaganda at the end as a celebration of completing something big in your life. I don't blame the students. All of these government trolls (like Rice) just need to go away.

    However, just wondering if those students wouldn't mind having Thomas Piketty as their speaker.

    ReplyDelete
  2. excellent news.

    ReplyDelete
  3. JT out of BarrowMay 3, 2014 at 8:02 PM

    The same students would probably welcome Hillary.
    .
    sigh

    ReplyDelete
  4. Message to Jack Welch: Go Away - no one cares what you think.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Does the term racist apply here? I will have to check with the NYT.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Nice to see that tuition payers' voice was heard, especially by Condi herself. She gave my commencement address back in 2006 in spite of much protest on the part of students, parents, alumni, etc. Sadly, my (Jesuit, Catholic) alma mater has decided to have John Kerry speak at this year's commencement. I haven't heard much about protest this time. Just goes to show that politicos and higher education are all in each others' pockets.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Jack, screw you and all your news gatekeeper pals

    ReplyDelete
  8. Kerry is as bad or worse than Rice. He was ready to push the war button on Syria over false intel/lies.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I havee never been so ashamed and embarassed for Rutgers and New Jersey. Rutgers is a pathetic training ground for future socialists. I wentto their football games and made donations to this institution. NEVER AGAIN! Everyone should boycott this school in every manner possible

    ReplyDelete