Monday, November 19, 2012

The Fordham University "Trainwreck"

We appreciate your statement distancing the University from Ms. Coulter’s hateful rhetoric and defending free speech and academic freedom. We remain deeply troubled, however, by the University’s inconsistency regarding which events it denies funding or otherwise censors on campus. We would like you to explain how the decision was made to allow the College Republicans to use student activity funds to pay for the Coulter event while denying the use of such funds for other purposes deemed not to be in keeping with the University’s mission. For example, we understand that student groups may not use their budgets for the productions of the Vagina Monologues mounted by Fordham undergraduates each year to raise funds to combat violence against women. Along these same lines, Fordham’s anti-abortion club receives funding while pro-choice advocacy is censored. Why are these forms of student expression and association denied support while the Coulter event was not? 
Is pro-choice advocacy or the Vagina Monologues more inconsistent with the University’s mission than Coulter’s hate speech you rightly decry? Are they less entitled to respect in the free exchange of ideas in the Academy? We would also appreciate a clear statement of the policy regarding advertising of events on campus, another form of speech recently censored by the University. 
 In stark contrast to your position that prohibiting Ms. Coulter from speaking would “do violence to the academy, and to the Jesuit tradition of fearless and robust engagement,” the University recently prohibited the posting of flyers for Prescribe Fordham 2, an off-campus event sponsored by a number of academic departments at which volunteer doctors provided students with uncensored sexual and reproductive health counseling and services. The event, which was banned from campus, was aimed at addressing the problems that result from the restrictions the University places on the medical providers at its student health centers and the prohibition on condom distribution.
Link (here) to "Members of the Fordham Community"

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dear author of that moronic letter: if you refuse to support Catholic faith or to adhere to the principles of Catholic education that are derived from Catholic faith, or if you are antagonistic toward Catholic faith -- as you seem to be, based on your letter -- then why are you at a Catholic university?

The explanation you seek is simple: clubs and organizations that directly contradict Catholic faith and morals do not deserve, and will not receive, financial support from a Catholic university, and their activities will be prohibited from being promoted on a Catholic campus.

Another Sandra Fluke wannabe, probably.

Anonymous said...

Oh, nice--very Christian comments from 12:41 a.m. & 2:23 pm. It''s like reading the Sermon on the Mount.

Anonymous said...

From the Sermon on the Mount, texts especially applicable to the author(s) of that idiotic letter and 4:06 p.m. Hey, 4:06 p.m., speaking the truth about people's lack of authentic Catholicity is not un-Christian, it is a spiritual work of mercy to instruct the ignorant and to admonish the sinner. I do not condone the use of the disparaging terms in 2:23's post.

The Narrow and Wide Gates

13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

True and False Prophets

15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

True and False Disciples

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

Anonymous said...

"it is a spiritual work of mercy to instruct the ignorant and to admonish the sinner."

I know--that's why I was admonishing you. Please don't play God. That job is already taken.

Anonymous said...

You never offer anything substantial. You only make snide remarks. You are a juvenile in intellect and a demon in spirit. Oh, how ugly your soul must be as a slave to falsehood and sin. Good news: Jesus can heal your blindness and ignorance. You can turn to him in Confession.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous 8:57: so anyone who disagrees with you is "playing God"? Doesn't that make you God? Grow up.

rex said...

anon at 2:23

call me a faggot to my face i DARE YOU

tell me the time and the place

Anonymous said...

Fordham in its mission statement is a private research university
Fordham is not foolish enough to be associated with the Rome . you know seminaries are trade schools and Fordham is a real university

Anonymous said...

Fordham is not catholic it gets no funding from Rome or any "Catholic " groups
The student boody which is diverse and bright enough to see the difference in the Jesuit heritage of the university. if it were to adhere to this new psudeo cult of catholicism headed by benedict its doors would have shut years ago .

Anonymous said...

"you know seminaries are trade schools and Fordham is a real university."

I agree--the right wingers would destroy true university education. This brood of conservatives distrust the intellect.

Anonymous said...

"so anyone who disagrees with you is "playing God"? Doesn't that make you God? Grow up."

No, anyone who can offer condemnation if someone disagrees with them is "playing God." Talk about "growing up."

John said...


ANON at 12:41/ 2:23/ 6:37 where did you go university ? which Jesuit school?

Anonymous said...

Sometimes it almost looks like people write offensive comments like 12:41am just to stir the pot. Is the man who wrote this a gay man himself and posting anon. so that he can comment anom. again as an insulted gay man?

secondeve said...

This is the year of faith in the church. Let's really study what the church is so we can be renewed with truly informed consciences and changed hearts we can become the men and women God has called us to be.

Anonymous said...

You all bash Fordham and its sister schools- The university had a wonderful lecture on "Europe's Mother: The Virgin Mary in the Public Sphere"
.